Budget Woes for Los Angeles
There is a strange sickness permeating our city government--one for which I can think of no descriptive word other than to coin one. That word is “politicalitis.” Basically, it is a poisoning of our governmental system for which there seems to be no antidote. What gave rise to this?
A few short weeks ago, the City Council passed an ordinance which was approved by the mayor to give major pay increases to department heads. A few short months ago, council members (with the mayor’s approval) placed on the June ballot, a humongous pay increase for themselves.
And yet, Bradley announces a severe city financial crisis and his approach to solving it is a doubling of monthly household rubbish pickup taxes and a 10% tax on parking lot fees.
Is there no rationale in the thinking processes of the mayor and his band of councilmanic thieves? Has our political process become so inflamed that there is no way to extract the poison that has been festering and appears to be getting worse?
It seems that gangrene has infected us politically, hence the word “politicalitis.” There is only one solution. Amputate.
BEN URMAN
Van Nuys
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