Can L.A. afford pet projects in times of budget crisis? City Council owns up its “slush funds”
City Council pet projects
When you’re grappling with a $212 million deficit there aren’t many areas of the budget are off limits to cuts. But when politics are involved, and the pet projects of politicians are in jeopardy, suddenly budget deficits pale in comparison to things like pedestrian walkways, baseball parks and the other kinds of special projects that are near and dear to the members of L.A.’s City Council. At today’s City Council meeting Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa went before the 15 members asking to borrow $40 million from their pet projects accounts, which are off the books, to help close the city’s budget shortfall. The Mayor lacks authority to seize the Council members’ accounts and in the past they’ve been closely guarded, but these are desperate times. Would you sacrifice artistic bike racks in Hollywood to help close the city’s deficit?
Guests:
Frank Stoltze, KPCC reporter watching the City Council meeting today.
- Patt Morrison for February 9, 2010
- Fritz on the weather
- Can L.A. afford pet projects in times of budget crisis? City Council owns up its “slush funds”
- Redistricting – reform a must or a mess?
- The pain gap—pain management disparities by race, gender
- What came first: science or democracy?
Also on this episode
Events
Comedy Congress Live
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
7:30 p.m.
- 9 p.m.
The comedic material emanating from Washington D.C., and state capitols across the country, is enough to make any sitcom writer jealous, even if most of that comedy is unintentional. Our motto on Comedy Congress is that just when politics makes you want to cry, it’s usually best to laugh.
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