Deputy Chief of Staff to Mayor Villaraigosa
Former spokesman, now Deputy Chief of Staff, for Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
PROFILE
Matt Szabo
Guest
FROM Matt Szabo
Which Way, L.A.?
LA City Unions Vote on the Mayor's Labor Deal LA Mayor Villaraigosa has been telling the anti-labor Governor of Wisconsin that "collective bargaining works." He gave 19,000 city workers a choice between a four percent pay cut to finance health benefits when they retire as opposed to seven weeks of furloughs that would cost them even more. Today, the vote was announced, and more than 6,000 of the 19,000 said, " no deal ."
Which Way, L.A.?
Is Villaraigosa Going AWOL on the Job? The Daily News, which circulates mainly in the San Fernando Valley, has declared that Mayor Villaraigosa has " checked out ." In yesterday’s front-page editorial, Marielle Garza writes, "Just one year into his second term…Villaraigosa seems to have run out of steam." We speak with Garza and others close to the Mayor.
Which Way, L.A.?
City of LA on Brink of Bankruptcy, in Conflict with DWP Mayor Villaraigosa has threatened to implement a plan to close down all Los Angeles City departments except police and fire for two days a week, starting next Monday. It's all part of his dispute with the City Council over raising rates for the Department of Water and Power. This, after the DWP announced yesterday it would not contribute $73 million to the general fund.
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Mayor Says without Electricity Rate Increase, It's Lights Out! Mayor Villaraigosa has been pushing for higher electricity rates to help the Department of Water and Power convert to renewable energy. Some city council members are skeptical. Today, in a briefing paper, the Mayor issued a warning: if the rates don't go up, Los Angeles might go bankrupt.
Which Way, L.A.?
DWP Looks to Raise Rates to Pay for Green Energy Last year, Los Angeles voters turned down Measure B , Mayor Villaraigosa's plan to raise rates charged by the Department of Water and Power to create jobs and increase the use of solar energy. Today, the DWP Board took up the Mayor's latest proposal, which sounds much the same. The DWP has been taking heat because its workers are getting increases in pay while other city employees suffer pay cuts and lay-offs. It also makes so much money it contributes a surplus to the City's General Fund.
Which Way, L.A.?
Union-City Showdown over Budget Cuts In July, at Mayor Villaraigosa's urging, the City of LA agreed on an early retirement plan to avoid furloughs and massive layoffs of so-called "civilian employees." Now, financial advisors to the both Mayor and the City Council are saying that plan is unaffordable. The revenues just aren't there.
Which Way, L.A.?
City-Labor Deal Los Angeles City workers have voted unanimously to defer pay raises and increase pension contributions , a move that could save the city big money. LA is facing a budget deficit of $530 million. Matt Szabo is senior press secretary for Mayor Villaraigosa.
Which Way, L.A.?
Looming Budget Troubles in Los Angeles The City of Los Angeles faces a record shortfall of $530 million. Mayor Villaraigosa won't produce his new budget for two weeks, but he's telling city workers that, if they don't make some concessions, it'll cost them 2800 jobs. He's prepared a videotaped message to members of municipal unions that proposes three cost-saving options.
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Trump plays scolder-in-chief with NATO allies At the opening of NATO’s dramatic new headquarters in Brussels today, President Trump acknowledged that Article 5 — promising that “an attack on one nation is an attack on all” -- has only been invoked one time: in the aftermath of September 11. But the President failed to provide what 27 other Alliance members have been waiting for: a re-commitment by America’s new leader to Article 5. Instead, they got a scolding.
To the Point
Terrorism and tweets, hate speech and murder Just days before an election, Britain is coping with a rash of deadly terrorism, and Prime Minister Theresa May is on the defensive. And again today, President Trump has tweeted criticism of the Mayor of London. Later, a double murder in Portland, Oregon has revealed the ugly past of a supposedly “progressive” city. One immediate question: is “hate speech” protected by the First Amendment?
To the Point
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.