'I've given up what I'm going to give up....'
It was one of those moments all officials hate _ being asked about their personal sacrifices as they call on others to give of themselves.
As Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was talking Thursday about the city's financial problems and his call for employees to volunteer to take five days off at no pay, he was asked if he would be foregoing his pay while he is out of the city campaigning for Sen. Hillary Clinton.
“I think I've already give up pay,” Villaraigosa said. “I gave up my salary increase. I've given up what I'm going to give up.”
Villaraigosa, and all city elected officials, were schedueld to receive pay hikes retroactive to last July 1, but the mayor said he would not accept his because of the city's budget problem.
For the mayor, it amounted to $8,283, which would have boosted his salary to #232,425 a year.
And, Villaraigosa indicated again he has no plans to scale back his political activities this year.
“This is the most important election of my lifetime,” Villaraigosa said.
And, with the Iraq war draining resources and all levels of government suffering in the poor economy, he said he believes it is part of his job to be active to try to get more funds for Los Angeles.