Final Draft: Petition to Recall Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

PETITION TO RECALL MAYOR ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA

Committee of proponents who are registered voters of the City of Los Angeles who are proponents of this Recall declaration: Phil Jennerjahn, David Hernandez, Augusto Bisani, Gloria Sheftel, Manny Aldana

STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR PROPOSED RECALL

We, the undersigned voters of the City of Los Angeles do hereby petition The Los Angeles City Clerks Office for redress of our grievances and do hereby request a Recall Election to be held - for cause - against Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Mayor Villaraigosa has continually ignored the warnings of City financial officers for several years. He is a direct cause of the current financial crisis.

Despite record income over the last five years, Mayor Villaraigosa has led the City down a path of reckless and irresponsible spending that would have been avoided by a more professional and competent City Official.

In the face of a crushing recession, the Mayor actually accelerated spending and hiring to the point that the City may have to declare BANKRUPTCY before the end of 2010. While he is now asking City officials to eliminate 4000 City jobs, the Mayor has selfishly refused to fire a single member of his enormous staff - including 16 Deputy Mayors and 93 personal staff members.

Mayor Villaraigosa is now planning to have the DWP enact a “Carbon Fee” to increase rates to help cover the massive City deficit and to pay for the excessive pay raises given to DWP employees.

Voters of this City cannot afford 3 more years of this. His efforts so far have brought about job losses and financial ruin.

We, the undersigned, do hereby solemnly swear or affirm that the statements made in this document are truthful and factual, to the best of our knowledge.