The mayor and City Council continued to expand L.A.'s workforce and award generous union contracts even as they were being warned of the looming recession and the need for cutbacks.How bad?:
The city's core 35,000-member workforce increased by at least 3,000 between 2000 and 2009. During the same time, Los Angeles' yearly pension contributions more than tripled to $723 million, fueled by investment losses but also by the larger payroll.Great moments in Blue America.
