LA Mayor Gets Tough with Unions
Hard times are forcing former public employee union organizer Antonio Villaraigosa to play hardball with Los Angeles’ public employee unions. How Mayor Villaraigosa’s demands on the city’s unions play out could be a precursor to a coming give-and-take between the state and its unions.
In attempting to reduce a projected $530 million budget shortfall, Villaraigosa has told city workers that they have to share sacrifices to help balance the budget. The mayor is looking for major concessions, which could include foregoing cost of living increases or reducing the workweek for every employee. Villaraigosa plans to include public safety positions when requesting employee concessions.
Villaraigosa argued that the city workers sacrifice is the only way to avoid widespread layoffs although those layoffs could come if the city unions refuse to negotiate with the mayor. The unions can reject pay cuts that are controlled by contract. But, the contracts do not prohibit the mayor from firing workers.
Countering Fox On the Counter Proposal
Joel Fox wrongly criticizes one of the few good ideas for reforming the initiative process: legislation in Oregon to permit the legislature to add a counter proposal to each initiative on the ballot.
He seems to think this is a trick to somehow limit the popular will, to sabotage the initiative process, or at least “attempt to undermine” it. Nonsense. To the contrary, the counter proposal is an established, time-tested procedure that strengthens direct democracy. Counter proposals have long been essential features of in Switzerland and other countries that use the initiative and referendum. In fact, the counter proposal gives more choice – and more information – to the people. Here’s hoping that Oregon adopts this legislation – and that California quickly follows suit.
Has L.A. Finally Had Its Fill
Throughout its economic history, Los Angeles has been able to count on one thing above all else: growth. People have always come here for the fine weather and laid-back lifestyle. Businesses and jobs followed.
Recessions caused no long-term downturn because more people eventually flooded in. No one cared greatly if businesses left. That’s because plenty more businesses popped up to serve all the people.
But have we hit the outer limit of all that growth? Has our capacity been filled? Have we hit the wall?
The Washington Post’s Steven Pearlstein came to Los Angeles a few weeks ago and, with the sharp eye of an outsider, seemed to spot something that residents may not have noticed.