7K Layoff Notices Sent To Los Angeles Teachers

In the end, not every notice will lead to a job loss, but given the circumstances, the school district felt obligated to give fair warning.

The news rippled across the campus Friday morning, and students were falling apart. They texted their parents and sought out one another to see if it could all be true.

"I saw kids crying in the quad," said Portia Amofa, student body president at Hamilton High School in West Los Angeles.

The students were finding out that some of their favorite teachers were among roughly 7,000 in L.A. Unified who had gotten layoff notices. In addition, the directors of two enormously popular and successful Hamilton programs, the humanities magnet and the music magnet, had been told by L.A. Unified that their positions were being eliminated.

It is a cruel reality, and OS does sympathize mightily with the students.

The parents, teacher's union, legislature in Sacramento, the last six governors or so, the Federal government (which has swamped the system with unfunded mandates, and refused refused refused to enforce the border with Mexico for the past several decades--this is during administrations of both parties, ya'll--not just the Dems) need all to be sat in the corner of the classroom with the old 'Dunce' hat perched on their heads.

It isn't like this sad day was not forseen, years ago. It is a mathematical inevitability that this day would come. And everyone just pretended it would never come in their term of office/lifetime.

OS hopes the kids remember this day well, and resolve amongst themselves to never, ever let governments get so out of control as to rob their children of their futures.

This sort of thing is the imposition of a cruel tax upon those completely incapable of paying it.

USD 111 Million Spent, 55 Jobs 'Saved Or Created' In Los Angeles

HT Fox News:

This, in a word, is unsustainable.

More than a year after Congress approved $800 billion in stimulus funds, the Los Angeles city controller has released a 40-page report on how the city spent its share, and the results are not living up to expectations.

"I'm disappointed that we've only created or retained 55 jobs after receiving $111 million," said Wendy Greuel, the city's controller. "With our local unemployment rate over 12 percent we need to do a better job cutting red tape and putting Angelenos back to work."

According to the audit, the Los Angeles Department of Public Works spent $70 million in stimulus funds -- in return, it created seven private sector jobs and saved seven workers from layoffs. Taxpayer cost per job: $1.5 million.

LA Reacts To The Hope-N-Change Express: Some Comments Left By Angelenos

Now, how much money does Himself have to raise to overcome the fury of all those citizens of Los Angeles he stranded on behalf of his fundraising trip?

Doug Ross shares a few of the ones that can be printed.

One of the most poignant:

Look at a Map of Los Angeles and estimate how many people move on that Map. Would you arrive at 3pm and shut down the 405 and then move eastward and completely shut down the small streets that millions of commuters use because they are no where close to a freeway, just to have a meal? If you do not live in Los Angeles you cannot make a comment. Move here pay to live here and then live here and then make a comment about what happened tonight. Cars were over heated. People had to leave their cars to walk home. About people walking to get water. Los Angeles is one of the driest places in the United States. Again live here and then speak. Get a map, ask some of the mothers stuck for hours and then talk to us about what happened. -- matflash

And we all thought we never see worse than Jimmy Carter!

So, to lighten the mood, because only humor will do at moments like this:

How many Obamas does is take to screw in a light bulb?

One to hold the light bulb, four to turn the ladder, eighteen to assess conformity to OSHA workplace requirements, four to assess the environmental impact of the burnt-out bulb disposal, twelve to participate in a task force to evaluate green energy solutions for a replacement bulb, eight to script his actions, four to script instructions and work the teleprompter, 23 to work with the justice department to sue the light bulb manufacturer...

But, in reality, it only takes one to create utter chaos in our culture.

Because those around him will not stand up to him.

Because he still has a hard-core and well-heeled group of enablers, who host fundraiser dinners to keep him in power, who give him the Nobel Peace Prize for having accomplished nothing, who vote to spend and spend money we don't have to buy his votes for him.

Heaven have mercy on us all.

The Hope-n-Change Express Arrives In L.A.--And Gridlock Follows

OS has a hard time sympathizing. These folks voted for this clown.

However, at least one guy is rethinking his decision, actually connecting the dots between his bad decision and the quandry in which he found himself. For California, this represents progress.


One man, who did not want to give his name, said it had taken his wife four hours to drive home from Brentwood. Another man trying to walk west on 6th Street to his office shouted at the officers blocking his way and told them he wished he had voted for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Obama's opponent in the 2008 presidential race.


Well, at least The One didn't harm The Great Recovery, since a goodly portion of these folks don't have jobs to be late to, anyway. Always look for that silver lining, OS reminds his readers.

Had 'nuff, ya'll?