L.A. begins layoff process

Coming to grips with the reality of Los Angeles' economic plight, the City Council reluctantly took the first steps Tuesday toward laying off up to 400 workers next fiscal year. Daily Breeze

The 9-2 vote, with Councilmen Richard Alarcon and Dennis Zine dissenting, came after more than an hour of debate over whether the city had made enough other cuts to save workers' jobs, and after union members voiced their own concerns.