Mayor issues ultimatum

Facing the worst financial crisis in the city's history, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa made a new plea on Wednesday for city unions to return to the bargaining table or face the prospects of thousands of layoffs, along with unpaid furloughs for all civilian workers. Daily News.

At the same time, the City Council's top analyst recommended a freeze on the mayor's priority of hiring more police officers and said the city's situation could grow even worse next week if voters turn down a series of ballot propositions designed to balance the state budget.

"I do not want to do this," Villaraigosa said during a City Hall news conference where he sought to explain his call for a fiscal emergency by the city, clearing the way for officials to order layoffs and furloughs.