Walters’ Remarks
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* Your article, “Council Makes Few Changes in Riordan Budget” (May 16), inaccurately portrays my statement about Mayor Richard Riordan’s budget proposal as “unleashing a diatribe.”
During the City Council debate, I cited several factors within the mayor’s proposal, especially an over-reliance on debt financing, which could place the city in a very precarious financial predicament. I also questioned the extensive substitution of private contractors for trained city workers, who have history of providing quality service to our constituents. My concerns were shared by the chief legislative analyst and detailed in the Ad Hoc Budget Committee report adopted by the council.
In light of the financial devastation that occurred in Orange County because of speculative investment practices, it is imperative that government officials closely examine and question the financial commitments that their annual budgets entail. Such was my goal in voicing unease about the proposed budget. Raising such concerns was hardly a “diatribe.”
RITA WALTERS
City Council, 9th District
Los Angeles
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