Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said he intends to layoff a large number of city employees as part of his budget proposal next month but didn't say how many. He made the announcement Thursday at the City Administrative Officer Investors Conference.

"I've said to our employees that either we get it through the City Council or I'm going to put an initiative on the ballot the way they've done in San Jose, the way they've already done in San Diego and the way they're gonna do in cities around the country," Villaraigosa said.

Robert Larios, vice president of operations at City Employees Club of Los Angeles, said this is very common for government agencies like LA's, which try to expand in the financial plight and bad economy. With low tax revenue, government jobs are no longer stable and unshakable.

“It’s unfortunate," Larios said. "We know many of the employees and we are displeased. I don’t think the mayor wishes to do this. They would rather keep the employees and continue their plans to make it one of the greatest cities in the world.”

“If [the mayor’s office] cannot manage a billion-dollar budget, they need to step down and let somebody come in who can actually manage the city of LA properly,” said Paul Castro, spokesman at LA City Workers.

Keith Giles said on the association's Facebook thread: "Amazing how he does this every budget season, and whenever they start talking to the unions."

Larios said the layoffs will impact the current projects of the city due to the labor loss, which may end up being delayed or canceled. While a large number of workers losing their jobs will affect their lives and families, the ones who remain will also have to bear more responsibility at work and less pay with the increased work load.

“Look at the budget cut," Castro said. "Even the general public doesn’t support getting rid of workers and cutting the salary the way [Villaraigosa]’s talking."

 

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Reach staff reporter Shako Liu here.