Public commenters and unions warn mayor’s proposed budget will cut thousands of jobs and services

The City Council Budget and Finance Committee heard more than five hours of public testimony on the mayor’s proposed budget on the second day of a public-comment hearing, with unions, community groups and residents warning the plan would eliminate thousands of city jobs and key services.

Committee president Kari Giorvlaskis opened the session, noting the meeting was the second day of public comment on the budget and reminding speakers of time limits. Testimony that followed focused on layoffs proposed across multiple departments and the impacts those cuts would have on services, safety and ongoing programs.

Why it matters: Witnesses from labor unions, neighborhood councils and nonprofit service providers said proposed staffing reductions would make it harder to deliver core city services, delay or halt planning and housing programs, worsen public-health risks and force closures or downgrades of animal shelters. Many speakers linked the cuts to long-term risks and to loss of community investments made after the 2020–21 pandemic and recent climate-related disasters.

Union testimony and workforce totals

Yanina Weiler, introduced as the regional director for a county union division, told the committee — quoting presentation slides — that “this budget eliminates 2,700 y veintiuno puestos,” and that the proposed reductions include both filled jobs and funded vacancies. She said the reductions would “inevitable[ly]” stop public services and that the…