Councilmember Holds Community Congresses on Budget

Councilmember LaBonge convened emergency community meetings this week to discuss the city's $212 million budget shortfall in the current fiscal year. The Councilmember is looking for ways to cut back in this difficult economy, and reached out to the public to have open discussions about where cuts are possible.
"Because of the seriousness of the situation, we have to put everything on the table, look at every possible way to cut costs while preserving core city services," Councilmember LaBonge said. "When I was elected, I promised to bring government to the people, and that's what I'm doing with these budget meetings."
The city is experiencing a budget shortfall because of a greater than anticipated drop in property and sales tax revenue. The City Council voted last month to lay off 4,000 city workers to fill the budget gap.
On Monday, the Councilmember met with community leaders from the Wilshire and Hollywood areas of the Council District. He had met with the leadership in Toluca Lake and North Hollywood prior.
On Thursday, March 11 at 8 a.m., he will meet with leaders from Los Feliz and Silver Lake. That meeting will be held at Griffith Park Adult Community Center Nutrition Room, 3203 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles. He also held a district-wide Community Congress on Tuesday to discuss the budget. Residents asked that staffing for libraries, parks, and youth programs be preserved.