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Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti.

Big budget deficit, hard choices, brutal spending cuts—sound familiar? Last week it was California’s state government kicking off its heated budget season, this week it’s Los Angeles seeking to close a $500 million deficit through a series of program cuts that are sure to be felt with deficiencies in services across the city. Yesterday the L.A. City Council voted to eliminate 761 positions while continuing to seek concessions from the unions that represent city employees, but the cuts didn’t stop there: cutbacks in library hours, child-care positions and tree-trimming are all but guaranteed to be part of the final $6.7 billion budget. L.A. City Council Eric Garcetti joins us for this budget-special edition of his regular sit-downs with Patt to discuss how the Council and the Mayor will navigate a difficult course of closing the deficit without completely paralyzing the city. For good measure Councilman Garcetti will also bring up the boycott of Arizona, and a dog barking ordinance that could get you some extra sleep at night.

Guests:

Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles City Council President, representing the 13th District

Cheryl Parisi, Chair of the Coalition of L.A. City Unions & executive director of AFSCME Council 36