Looked around a bit more for info on LA’s finances, and they are still working with deficits and too much debt. They will need to work with the unions, and some of the currently retired employees — especially those who worked under a lower retirement formula for most of their careers, but retired under the higher plan just because they worked for one or two years after the (unjustifiable, IMHO) pension increases. These are also the employees who get retiree healthcare, while many of the employees hired since the mid-90s do NOT get retiree healthcare AND have to pay the higher contribution rates under the higher plan. These retired employees will have to help balance the budget, too, as it should not fall entirely on current and future employees to fund any shortfalls. Dangerous political territory, I know.

They also need to rein in spending on projects that have been pushed by developers and other special interests who stand to benefit greatly from this type of “private development” spending. Los Angeles has a long history of making special deals with well-connected people in the “private” sector.