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Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is calling for a three-day workweek for all city services except for those concerned with public safety, and those that generate income. Yet another attempt to ease the difficulties caused by the budget crisis that the whole state of California is in. This call to shut down city services twice a week came at the heels of the city's Department of Water and Power's refusal to transfer funds into the municipal general fund until a utility rate increase is agreed upon....   >>>

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is calling for a three-day workweek for all city services except for those concerned with public safety, and those that generate income. Yet another attempt to ease the difficulties caused by the budget crisis that the whole state of California is in. This call to shut down city services twice a week came at the heels of the city's Department of Water and Power's refusal to transfer funds into the municipal general fund until a utility rate increase is agreed upon. Time is of the essence as without this transfer, the mentioned general fund will be in the red.



Taking cues from the corporate world where the economic recession has caused shorter work days to cut on costs, the Mayor of Los Angeles doesn't recognize that he is running a city where the shutting down of city services may greatly harm his constituents. The budget crisis in California and all its cities is by no means something to be ignored, yet this move may prove to be more harmful than beneficial. It's not a mere matter of convenience, but these city services do deal with the everyday lives of the Angelenos.



Budget cuts are necessary, but isn't there a better of solving this problem?