Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Thursday threatened to put a measure on the ballot raising the retirement age for new city employees if the City Council refuses to enact such a proposal.
With the city facing a $220-million budget shortfall, Villaraigosa told an audience at the City Administrative Officer Investors Conference that he would seek to lay off "a large number" of employees in the proposed budget he unveils April 20.
The mayor said he would like to see the retirement age for new employees increased to 67. The retirement age for city employees is currently 60, although those who have worked 30 years can leave with full benefits at age 55, city personnel officials said.
"I've said to our employees, either we get it through the City Council … or I'm going to put an initiative on the ballot the way they're doing in San Jose, the way they've already done in San Diego and the way they're going to do in cities around the country."
Seems even a former field rep for the United Teachers Los Angeles and president of the American Federation of Government Employees can come to understand that pensions in their current form are bankrupting governments, maybe there is hope yet.
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Politicians are like diapers, they should be changed often and for the same reason.
