Trutanich, council at odds over hiring

In a move some officials see as an end run around Los Angeles' hiring freeze, City Attorney Carmen Trutanich is looking to hire a squad of private investigators to help root out illegal billboards.
Daily News.
The effort has raised questions from City Council members, who were surprised at Trutanich's efforts to hire outside investigators after he was denied permission to expand his own staff because of the ongoing budget crisis. The council had authoritized Trutanich to spend $325,000 hunting for billboard violators, but thought he planned to use employees or existing contractors.