The mayor of Los Angeles has ordered the immediate layoff of 1,000 city employees to help to balance the city's budget.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (vee-ah-reye-GOH'-sah) took the action Thursday, after the City Council voted unanimously a day earlier to postpone any action on job cuts for 30 days while they explore other options.
Villaraigosa says his move will strengthen the city's credit rating and its long-term fiscal health.
City budget analyst Miguel Santana says the cuts are necessary because of the city's $208 million budget gap. He says delays will only result in bigger cuts later.
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