Nov 14, 2023; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass speaks at a press conference on Nov. 14, 2023, after a fire under Interstate 10 severely damaged the overpass in an industrial zone near downtown Los Angeles, Saturday on Nov. 11, 2023. The large blaze burned trailers, cars and other things in storage lots beneath a major highway near downtown Los Angeles, forcing the temporary closure of the roadway. Mandatory Credit: Yannick Peterhans-USA TODAY
Los Angeles, California – In a sobering address and budget release Monday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass unveiled a $13.95 billion spending plan that proposes laying off 1,647 city employees and shuttering departments to close a staggering $965 million budget gap, marking the city’s most austere financial blueprint since the Great Recession.
“This was a decision of absolute last resort,” Bass told city workers during her State of the City speech, acknowledging the pain the proposed cuts would inflict. The plan, which still has to be approved by the City Council, includes staff reductions across numerous departments and the elimination of nearly 1,000 vacant positions.
Though as many as 3,500 layoffs had initially been considered, officials said that number was halved through cost-saving measures like delaying capital projects and consolidating departments. The proposed layoffs will hit nearly 5% of the city’s 32,405-person workforce if they’re put into place, and are expected to impact core services ranging from sanitation and street repairs to civilian positions in the LAPD.
“This is a devastating blow,” said David Green, president of SEIU Local 721, which represents 10,000 city workers. “We’re going to fight for every single job.”
Despite the grim fiscal outlook, Bass highlighted key victories during her speech, including a 10% drop in street homelessness, a 14% decline in homicides, and rapid progress on rebuilding after January’s Palisades Fire. She announced a self-certification permitting program and a plan to waive fees for fire victims — a move met with applause from local groups like Pali Strong.
Still, the mayor’s budget plan quickly drew criticism. Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, a vocal critic of Bass’ Inside Safe homelessness initiative, questioned the trade-offs. “When you tell me 1,600 layoffs of city workers — I am tired of watching city resources get prioritized for contracted work and undermining our city workforce,” she said.
Bass defended her homelessness spending, declaring, “The cost of doing nothing is not just inhumane, it is also financially unsustainable.”
Her proposal avoids layoffs in sworn police and fire positions, and notably increases funding for the fire department by 13% following criticism of her initial response to the Palisades Fire. The gesture appears to have eased tensions with the firefighters union, whose president praised the added resources while warning that staffing levels remain dangerously low.
To further offset costs, Bass is calling for the elimination of several commissions and the consolidation of departments related to aging, youth, and economic development. Funding for the Bureau of Street Services could be cut by nearly 20%, slashing basic infrastructure maintenance.
Despite the gloom, Bass ended her speech on an optimistic note, urging Los Angeles to look toward the 2028 Olympics. “The games are a stage for courage, for potential, for dreams,” she said. “So, LA — let’s go win.”
The City Council is expected to begin reviewing the proposal in the coming weeks, setting the stage for intense debate over the balance between fiscal discipline and public service.
