"City to Cut Watchdog Programs to Save Layoffs"

Here is an audio link to an interview I did on a local NPR station about the Los Angeles city budget:

http://www.kcrw.com/news/programs/ww/ww090511city_to_cut_watchdog

From the KCRW website:

"The LA City Council's trying to close a $530 million shortfall in a $7 billion budget, and major cuts are expected. The big stuff includes possible layoffs, a reduction in hiring new police officers and closing parks and libraries. But some relatively “little” things, including cuts to the Ethics Commission, are raising political questions. Created by a vote of the people, it's being slashed by almost 18% percent compared to an average of less than 10% across the board. Another proposal that has raised a firestorm of protests would cut the budget of neighborhood councils from $50,000 to as low as $11,200."