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 In the past decade, the City of Los Angeles has experienced a relentless increase in its annual structural deficit. When Mayor Antonio Villaraigoza took office, he told us of a $ 158 million structural deficit and his intention to reduce and cancel it. Essentially, Mr. Villaraigoza was promising us to correct our City's history of relentlessly spending every penny we receive and applying short-sighted, short-lived solutions to an ever increasing list of financial short-comings. His vision would require a partnership with the City Council and the cooperation of the 35,000-plus City Employees. His goal was to be the Chief Executive of a "world-class," financially solid City.
That did not happen. Our annual deficits continued to rise. On April 20, 2009, when the Mayor put out his Annual Budget Proposals, he told us there was a $ 530 million deficit and we were in the middle of the most severe financial melt-down since the Great Depression of the thirties. The City's income was decreasing and was expected to decrease further. The City's expenses, both short-term and long-term, were rising and was expected to increase further.
Clearly, the measures taken, so far, have not solved the problem. Some or our recent financial measuresmay actually make our deficits worse. If further, effective measures are not taken, immediately,the City WILL be bankrupt.
With a general knowledge of this unsatisfactory situation, the Neighborhood Councils (NCs) have been meeting and learning the details. This year's groups of 15 NC Budget Representatives will follow the path of the last year's group which proposed a dozen ways to redirect the City toward fiscal policy changes which would retain a maximum of our City's employees (our City's most important asset), would sustain our City services and would reverse the pattern of ever-increasing budget deficits.
On Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010, the LANC Coalition, as gathering of NC activist from all over the City, met to review and regroup around solutions to these problems. There were 80 NC activists present. They are members of 42 of our City's 90 NCs. Among them were 7 of the 15 NC Budget Representatives. In attendance, were a City Council Member (Paul Koretz, CD5), two Members of the Mayor's Staff and the General Manager of DONE (Bong Hwan Kim). The level of concern in that meeting room was intense. The desire to be part of solutions to our City's financial problems was high. There will be a formal Press Release of these proceedings.
The NCs want "a seat at the table." They want Ex Officio status at the City Council, Council Committee, Task Force and Departmental meetings so that they can fulfill their Chartered responsibilities:
1. "...to promote more citizen participation in government..."
2. "...to make government more responsive to local needs..."
3. "...to present to the Mayor and Council an annual list of priorities for the City budget..." and
4. "...(to) monitor the delivery of City services in their respective areas and periodic meetings with responsible officials of City departments..."
The NCs want the opportunity and the ability, like all City-chartered officials, to bring their understanding, opinions and suggestions to our City's decision-makers.
Here's the LANCC press release's on Sunday's meeting, more information available at BudgetLA.org Declaring the city’s financial crisis an emergency, members of the Los Angeles Neighborhood Councils Coalition (LANCC) met Sunday, January 10, to formulate strategies to ensure the peoples’ voice is heard in the coming months as municipal services are impacted by declining revenue and increasing costs. A crowd of 80, representing 42 of the city’s 89 neighborhood councils, showed up at the Hollywood Community Center to get information about L.A.’s finances and discuss ways to influence the mayor and city council as they grapple with the deepening crisis. Jack Humphreville of the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council presented data illustrating the city’s projected five-year $3 billion deficit and $10 billion infrastructure shortfall. City worker pension plans are in the hole to the tune of $11.5 billion. Despite the early retirement of 2,400 city employees, it’s estimated another 3,500 positions will have to be eliminated or the city will run out of money. Over the last few months, city council budget committee chairman Bernard Parks and Department of Transportation general manager Rita Robinson have addressed neighborhood council leaders regarding the city’s finances and just how bad things are. Neighborhood council representatives offered a variety of proposed cost-saving measures. They included everything from establishing a two-tiered pension system to chopping money the city spends operating a television station (channel 35). Following a recommendation of West Los Angeles Neighborhood Council chair Jay Handal, the group voted to establish the 15 neighborhood council budget representatives who advise the mayor as a LANCC committee. Another committee, composed of individuals with expertise in finance and accounting, was created to analyze and help translate the city’s stream of financial data. A motion expressing opposition to the sale or long-term lease of municipal assets, particularly to pay for short-term operating expenses, was also adopted. This is the result of concerns about proposals to sell or lease the city’s parking operations. Venice Neighborhood Council board member Linda Lucks, who serves on the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners, warned the group to be prepared to fight to preserve the neighborhood council system and its funding. The fifth district’s Paul Koretz was the only city council member to attend the meeting. Also on hand were Department of Neighborhood Empowerment General Manager BongHwan Kim and representatives from the offices of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and City Controller Wendy Greuel. BudgetLA.org is a website dedicated to providing information about the city’s financial mess and what individuals can do to influence the decisions that are already being made about L.A.’s future.
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