LA Mayor Orders 1,000 Layoffs to Close Budget Gap

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.