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Can You Solve Los Angeles' $216 Million Question?

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa released his annual budget challenge on Friday, asking Angelenos what choices they would make to trim the city's looming deficit.

To spend or not to spend? That is the question Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is asking of Angelenos with his online 2013 budget challenge.

The survey asks participants to produce a balanced budget for fiscal year 2013-2014 by trimming the anticipated $216 million deficit.

“In Los Angeles, we’re making the tough choices to ensure Angelenos get the services they expect, while continuing to invest in our future," Villaraigosa said in a statement. "As a result, crime is at the lowest levels since the 1950’s, and we’re doubling the size of our rail network. As we look towards our budget for FY 2013-2014, we want your input."

Survey participants are required to enter their ZIP code before starting the challenge. The introductory segment of the survey asks participants to prioritize city services and spending initiatives. Following that, participants must decide whether they will cut, increase or make no changes to various city departments, including animal services, public safety and transportation.

Click here to take the challenge.

The 2013 Mayor’s Budget Challenge will remain online until March 4. Physical copies must be returned by Feb. 27.

Physical copies must be mailed to the Office of Neighborhood and Community Services, Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa, ATTN: NCS, Amanda R., 200 N. Spring St., Room 303‐D, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

They can be dropped off in person at  City Hall, Office of Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa, Mayor's Receptionist Desk, ATTN: NCS, Amanda R., 200 N. Spring St., Room 303, Los Angeles, CA 90012, or at Van Nuys City Hall, ATTN: Mayor’s Office, NCS, Amanda R., 14410 Sylvan Street, Rm 211, Van Nuys, CA 91401

Joseph February 5, 2013 at 05:22 pm
Salary cap.
nonoise February 6, 2013 at 03:41 pm
They do this pretend "we care about that Angeleno's think" every year. It does no good. The mayor and city council do what ever they want. They need to stop pretending they care about what people think. it is all a show. The mayor and city council are good at putting on a good show.
Dawn February 8, 2013 at 11:14 am
5 months before he leaves he asks for help??? What has he been doing all these years?? He doesn't have a clue and never did. He has succeeded on his looks and his race way to long (sounds familiar??)
Jo February 12, 2013 at 04:31 am
The Budget Challenge doesn't ask the important question: should the politicians renegotiate the lavish pensions and lavish retiree benefits of CURRENT EMPLOYEES? Yes, I'm talking REAL reform, not the fake reform City Council did a few months ago when they only reformed pensions and benefits for NEW HIRES only, and when they EXCLUDED fire & police. That was not reform! They need to reform current employees' total compensation, and they need to include fire & police. But oh no, they don't want to do that because the unions due of CURRENT employees, and especially fire & police, go right into their campaign coffers. Why would any of you vote for the insiders Gruehl, Garcetti and Perry for mayor? They are the ones that led LA City to this point of near bankruptcy. LA City laid off 5,000 workers and thereby slashed our services. Street sweeping on open routes reduced from ev. 3 weeks to ev. 27 weeks. only 3 men clear the clogged storm drains for the entire SFV, zero dollars budgeted for sidewalk repairs, lifted tree wells, and tree trimming. They only do those services when deemed emergency. The unions would rather fling their fellow workers to the unemployment line than to give up their lavish benefits. City retirees get outrageous pensions, way beyond what people in the private sector get. LA laid off 2/3 of Street Services Enforcement staff so they rarely enforce LAMC 56.08, Parkways & Sidewalk ordinance. Now owners let parkways become weed infested, disgraceful messes
Jo February 12, 2013 at 04:40 am
When you take the Budget Challenge, be sure to enter comments and tell them you want real reform, and you want your services restored! The medians, parkways, streets and sidewalks in Santa Clarita, Simi, and T. Oaks look beautiful and they pay much lower sales taxes in those cities. The difference is LA City's unions run this city. Fill in Comments that let them know 5,000 workers have been laid off to preserve lavish pensions and it is not fair to highly taxed LA residents. Tell them you want to see real pension reform of current employees' total compensation to bring it more in line with private sector. Stop the hero worshiping of fire & police. The sky can no longer be the limit. People are moving out of LA and CA in droves for lower taxed, better run cities. We can vote with our feet if necessary. Vote for Kevin James for Mayor if you want change. If you vote for insiders Gruehl, Perry or Garcetti, you are voting for the same ole high taxation, low services, lavish pensions to the unions. And when the tsunami of baby boomers retire from LA City, instead of 1/3 of the budget being used just for pensions + retiree benefits, it will consume HALF of LA's budget. Our streets, parkways, sidewalks, are going to get very very ugly as more of the budget is consumed by pensions. Kevin James or more disgraceful decline. Mitch Englander is the only Republican, we need more at City Hall. Democrats, think outside the box; LA has been run by D's for far too long and look where we are.

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nonoise June 18, 2013 at 10:15 pm
Speeding bicyclist that do not stop for stop signs!! Cite them!! No more stop lights.
Marge Piane June 17, 2013 at 06:37 pm
Yes. And, I suppose you could call me a "newbie", I've only lived here since '87.
nonoise June 18, 2013 at 08:40 am
Dee-Aych, I want peace and quiet too. Tell Divine Saviour Catholic church to shut off their noisyRead More amplified sound system!! Hope everyone else that enjoys forcing Divine Saviour into my home all day long every day and doesn't like fireworks gets a taste of their own medicine, noise!!
AR Meza June 18, 2013 at 01:25 pm
Nonoise, it seems that after all these years of raising the Bell issue you've gotten no support.Read More Why? Did you launch a campaign against it? What did the city tell you?
nonoise June 16, 2013 at 07:16 am
And, a letter sent to the city councilmember would help. And, now CD1 has a new city councilmemberRead More Cedillo starting on July 1, 2013. And, we have a new city attorney starting July 1, 2013. So, make sure to send your letter to the new government authorities. Hopefully they will do more than the old "do nothings".
elmo June 16, 2013 at 12:33 pm
With a new mayor, council person, and city attorney, will the gang suppression/injunction stayRead More intact? Crime went down because the powers that were had grown up around, and knew the horror of gang oppression. So they did something about it. Will the new people continue the policy? Suddenly the neighborhoods felt safer. The rebirth of Highland Park, Glassell Park and even Eagle Rock wouldn't have happened without the gang suppression policies.
JosephR June 18, 2013 at 11:10 am
Often (but not always) this is a voluntary restriction that local markets agree to, in order to beRead More granted liquor licenses. The Eastside is WAY over-subscribed with ABC licenses ... at nearly every "pharmacy" (CVS, Rite-Aid, Walgreens), convenience store (7-11 and AM/PM), plus all the local mom-and-pop markets and event chain stores. You can even buy booze here in the 99-cent stores, at one-off fast-food markets, etc. The start-selling late, end stop-selling early setup is an attempt to curtail some of the transient and homeless overrrun of these retail outlets. Often, you'll see the homeless raid the local recycling blue barrels on the days when pickup is scheduled, get enough credit to buy a morning's worth of booze, and then (by noon) they've passed out in the park. You may also notice that at many local markets -- the "single-serve" options of one (large) can of beer, etc., have been removed from the menu at these stores in order to try to curtail that. It's not a "cure" ... more of a band-aid, but until society addresses the larger problem of homelessness, addiction, and ease-of-access to life-wasting substances, this may be the best we can do . . .
AR Meza June 18, 2013 at 01:20 pm
Sorry to hear that they were Latino...it seems to always be the case around here. Makes me sad.
Jeanne June 4, 2013 at 03:17 am
Just attempted sign-up/payment with Visa on-line; wouldn't go through. Any suggestions? I'm ready toRead More get going, so very ready. Thanks in advance for your assistance.
Linda Filipiak June 4, 2013 at 05:16 am
Sorry you are having issues with this. I just looked at the link and it appears to be working, asRead More others have been able to pay. If you have a paypal account I would suggest trying that instead of Visa. Let me know if that does't work and we will find another option.
Marino Pascal June 4, 2013 at 10:17 am
On Facebook people have personal profiles and family and photos that they may not want to expose toRead More their neighbors. Also what is "Mount Washington"? Mount Washington is a residential community with an elementary school, a semi-open(semi-closed?) museum and nothing else. No restaurants, no stores, no middle school, no high school. It doesn't exist all by itself. It's part of Northeast LA. I think whether we like it or not, all of us in Northeast LA are dependent on each other.
Mark Nishinaka June 2, 2013 at 06:31 am
David was really good, but I think we need to give Ajay a chance to find his groove. Have to giveRead More him credit for not melding Eagle Rock news with Highland Park. I could see that being a problem.
Nimby pimp June 2, 2013 at 11:44 am
I agree. Give the new guy a chance to learn the ropes. It is astounding to hear so much whining fromRead More people about a service they get for free.
A Proud Garvanza Teacher June 6, 2013 at 08:34 pm
Based on personal experience, David was always responsive to emails and genuinely seemed to want toRead More support a variety of organizations, schools, and topics in his selection of stories. I find myself checking out the news on the Patch must less regularly now.
Anne Colburn May 29, 2013 at 10:21 am
I agree, change is good but this new site is way way too busy plus the coloring is too light.Read More Sorry, I no longer read it on a daily basis.
KingSlav May 30, 2013 at 12:55 pm
Comments on the site have dropped precipitously since the new format was rolled out. This follows aRead More drop in the number of daily stories. Does anyone read Patch anymore?
Gma May 30, 2013 at 01:00 pm
Not really I haven't in months maybe even a year! Not very interesting. My daughter hates it too.Read More Keep on losing readers.
KingSlav May 30, 2013 at 12:15 pm
It's not surprising to read this. There are unleashed, untagged, unlicensed chihuahuas runningRead More around my street in Garvanza almost every day. I'm frequently having to call the Department of Animal Services. Irresponsible dog owners are a real nuisance to our community.
Erik May 24, 2013 at 07:31 pm
Just noticed myself the other day. This is across all Patch sites. Very disappointed in thisRead More oversight.
KingSlav June 3, 2013 at 08:14 pm
This new website format really does need an RSS feed. The site is all over the place. Please add aRead More feed ASAP.
nonoise May 19, 2013 at 11:17 am
False? Wrong!! I have the letter as proof. Did "no way, Jose" write the letter? IfRead More patch wants to see it, let me know. It is the truth.
nonoise May 20, 2013 at 08:01 am
I want peace and quiet in my home. "No way, Jose" believes I should not have peace andRead More quiet in my home. That is a dicatator.