Bradley Calls Federal Budget Cuts a ‘Prescription for Urban Decline’

Testifying before a House Budget Committee hearing, Mayor Tom Bradley on Saturday predicted dire consequences for Los Angeles--especially in the city’s efforts to control drug abuse--should proposed cuts in the 1988 federal budget be enacted.

“This is not a prescription for good government; it is instead a prescription for urban decline and disarray,” the mayor said of the Reagan Administration’s proposed cuts. “In short, the Administration’s proposed budget will continue the steady erosion of the federal-city partnership . . . that was meant to assure economic development and maintenance of the urban infrastructure.”

Echoing Bradley’s sentiments was Irvine Mayor Larry Agran, who called the cuts “an undeclared war against America’s cities, towns and people” and urged the committee to write a budget that “recognizes sweeping and fundamental changes in national priorities” by emphasizing human services rather than defense spending.

The hearing, held at Los Angeles City Hall and attended by eight of the committee’s 35 members, was one of four scheduled across the country this month. The committee also heard presentations from panels of experts on proposed cuts in employment and training, and health care for the elderly and indigent.

“This gives us an opportunity to hear from people on the front lines who are dealing with the issues,” said Chairman William H. Gray (D-Pa.).

Besides seriously undermining the city’s costly efforts to control drug trafficking, Bradley said, the proposed federal cuts would:

- Eliminate federal funding for half of Los Angeles’ public libraries, more than a third of its recreation and park facilities and almost half of its supplies of water and electricity;

- Result in the loss of $7 million per year in housing and community block grants;

- Force elimination of most of the city’s human services programs by 1992;

- Result in a 50% increase in bus fares, or 40 cents per ticket.

Asked how the federal government could balance its budget without cuts, Bradley replied that the balancing act would work only if taxes are increased. “If the public doesn’t understand this,” he said, “they will. All we’re asking for is fairness. We’ve taken our cuts and lived with them, but we can’t keep taking them and continue to serve our people.”