Letter to the Editor: Farewell to Health and Well-being?
Redacted Opinions: Trimming Health and Other Commission Budgets Is an Erroneous Approach to Address Los Angeles' Finances
Hey there, editor! Here's a thought on Mayor Karen Bass' proposed budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year. It's aiming to cover a whopping $1 billion deficit with some serious staff reductions—1,647 layoffs of filled positions and 1,074 vacant roles eliminated, accounting for over 5% of the city’s workforce[1][2][3]. For the interested, Animal Services (62 layoffs), Transportation (260+), Sanitation (159), and Street Services (130) are some departments feeling the impact[2].
However, what concerns me is the potential impact on community health resources. With fewer public workers, we could lose vital support for food access programs, mental health services, and housing resources[4]. As a rather aggressive approach to balancing the budget, this proposal might widen the existing health disparities in Los Angeles by dismantling the very infrastructure meant to assist our most vulnerable citizens.
It's essential to prioritize long-term well-being, and health isn't merely about treatments; it's about prevention, too. By cutting the people who keep our systems in balance, we set the stage for future crises[4]. Instead, let's think differently about solving our budget woes.
Take a gander at reducing the mayor's expanded PR department, perhaps by slimming down the team dramatically and saving some serious cash[4]. Or, ditch the extravagant salary north of $300,000, plus benefits for Bass herself and save the city some major dough.
But don’t just take my word for it. As a public health student at UC Berkeley, I've learned that economic security, housing, and access to public services are significant factors in overall health. Turning a blind eye to these aspects could hurt our city in ways we might not even see at first[4].
On the other hand, if you're a taxpaying citizen like Christopher Sherwood from Woodland Hills, you'd probably prefer a more thoughtful approach to the budget mess. Maybe instead of slashing public services, we could boost revenue through aggressive fines for speeding vehicles, running red lights, or disobeying stop signs, following the example set by other major U.S. cities[4].
In closing, the proposed layoffs should consider the long-term repercussions on our community's well-being. Let's remember that slashing health resources can result in more pressing issues down the line.
Howard C. Mandel, Los Angeles
More to Read
- The budget implications are causing ripples, and you'll want to hear from the civilians at LAPD, too[1][4].
- Union leaders are connecting the dots, vowing to oppose all layoffs to preserve important services like trash pickup and street repairs[2][4].
- Bass is making moves to seek state aid to help ease the load, but no specific packages are confirmed[2][5].
- Appealing to our inner capitalists, some argue that deferring capital projects reduced initial layoffs from 3,500 to 1,647[1].
- Howard C. Mandel, from Los Angeles, offers an opinion on Mayor Karen Bass' proposed budget, suggesting that the significant staff reductions could negatively impact community health resources.
- Mandel expresses concern about the potential loss of vital support for food access programs, mental health services, and housing resources due to the proposed layoffs.
- Mandel argues that the proposed budget might exacerbate existing health disparities in Los Angeles by dismantling the infrastructure meant to aid vulnerable citizens.
- Mandel suggests prioritizing long-term well-being and considering alternative methods, such as reducing the mayor's expanded PR department or increasing revenue through aggressive fines for traffic violations.
- Mandel comments that as a public health student, he has learned the significance of economic security, housing, and access to public services in overall health, and turning a blind eye to these aspects could harm the city.
- Union leaders are actively opposing all layoffs, aiming to preserve important services like trash pickup and street repairs.
- In a city where the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is also affected by the budget implications, citizens within the LAPD may also have valuable insights to share.
