This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

CITY COUNCIL ANTICIPATED TO MAKE SEVERE BUDGET CUTS WEDNESDAY

Ellen Vukovich issues a call to the public about upcoming City Council Budget Hearing, Wednesday, May 18th. Most people don't realize what the City Council is contemplating doing...

 

Possible Elimination of Ambulance Service, Fire Stations and Police on the Streets

By Ellen Vukovich

Find out what's happening in Sherman Oakswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 

Did you know that on Wednesday, May 18th, the City Council is scheduled to consider the following cut backs to necessary core city services?  (And, this is probably a very short list). 

Find out what's happening in Sherman Oakswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Closure of fire stations.  Elimination of Ambulance services.  Reduction of police on the streets.  Increase in fees (Trash. Tickets. Permits). Further reduction in city services - parks, recreational facilities, libraries, etc.  No street tree trimming for a third year (currently it’s two).  No funds allocated to repair and/or upgrade 75 to 100 year above and below ground infrastructure (roads/streets water pipes, electrical lines, etc.).

I found out about the upcoming public hearing thanks to an email from a well-respected community activist - the former editor of the Daily News, Ron Kaye (www.ronkayela.com).  He asked that the public to attend Wednesday’s hearing explaining that he “…truly believe(s) this is likely  to be our last chance to head off a calamity caused by City Hall's failure for the last three years  to confront the budget crisis honestly and courageously and with the full participation of everyone in the community.” 

The City Council has made some attempts to grapple with its declining revenue, escalating employee pension and medical costs though insignificant employee furloughs, shifting of employees from one department to another, significant cut-backs to local services and city departments, and more. However, it hasn’t been sufficient leading to what many feel are just the first of many severe cutbacks we can expect for services the public is entitled and expects to receive.

Sadly, the recent much-publicized cutbacks have yet to take into consideration the 300 to 400 Million Dollar budgetary shortfall that is projected to grow to 500 to 600 Million Dollars by next year! 

If you are wondering where the money is being spent, most of it goes to public safety  - police and fire, followed by employee payroll and related costs.  About one-third of the remaining budget is allocated to city departments, i.e., Parks and Recreation, Building and Safety, Planning, City Attorney, etc.

Should City Hall watchers like Kaye prove correct, things aren’t going to improve in Los Angeles for many years.  Sacramento, followed by the federal government, is anticipated to further reduce funding to all cities.  Therefore, unless the public begins a serious dialog with all of its elected officials how limited resources are to be allocated, i.e., for the public’s benefit, they will continue to think that we don’t care how they spend our hard-earned tax dollars. 

I know you probably have a million things to do before Wednesday. So, if you can’t make it to the hearing, please consider sending off an email, fax or make a telephone call to Sherman Oaks’ two Council Members about how you’d like to see the City go about its fiscal business BEFORE Wednesday’s budget hearing (contact info follows).

Budget hearing  - Wednesday, Wednesday, May 18, 2011, at 10:00 a.m., in the City Council Chambers, 200 North Spring, Los Angeles.  You will need to fill out a speaker’s card in order to speak.

Contact Info - Sherman Oaks’ City Council Members:

Councilmember Paul Koretz paul.koretz@lacity.org

(818)971-3088, Fax (818)788-9210
(represents Ventura Boulevard and South).

 

Councilmember Paul Krekorian: councilmember.Krekorian@lacity.org

 (213)473-7002,  (818)755-7676, Fax: (213) 680-7895 

 (represents Ventura Boulevard and North).

 

                                                    ###

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?