The Budget Challenge

Around Los Angeles, families are being forced to make hard decisions about their personal budgets. At City Hall, the situation is no different.

We are currently facing a $212 million budget shortfall and an even greater deficit next year. We can no longer afford to provide the same level of services we once did, and we have to make difficult decisions about cuts.

Earlier today at the Silver Lake Library, I met with a group of Angelenos to discuss our City's budget, and share with them our online budget survey. I encouraged them to use the survey to educate themselves about our budget process, and voice their opinions about the choices before the city.

With this tool, every Angeleno has a chance to study the hard choices facing city leaders, and tell us how they would balance the budget.

I truly believe that the community must have an active role in this conversation, since how we decide to close this budget gap will determine the character and future of our city.

And while there are no easy solutions to solving our budget deficit, it's time for the City to step up and make the difficult but necessary decisions before us. If Los Angeles' struggling families are doing it, so can we. I urge you to take this survey and share your ideas with us by clicking here.