Council opposes city shutdowhn

Flexing its muscles in an escalating City Hall budget battle, the City Council moved Wednesday to block Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's city shutdown plan and to seize control over the Department of Water and Power.Daily News.

The aggressive posturing came amid a flurry of developments over the city's financial crisis, made worse this week by DWP's refusal to transfer $73.5 million to the city budget.

Other actions Wednesday included a downgrade in the city's credit rating; City Controller Wendy Greuel launching an audit of the DWP; and Villaraigosa attempting to wrest $20 million out of the utility to help rescue a city on the verge of running out of cash.