EDITORIAL TIME TO SLASH SLUSH.IF things seem chilly down in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. City Hall, it's because the City Council members are up to their necks in slush slush n. 1. Partially melted snow or ice. 2. Soft mud; slop; mire. 3. Nautical Grease or fat discarded from a ship's galley. 4. A greasy compound used as a lubricant for machinery. . First, they gave themselves $20,000 each. Not content, they tossed in $250,000 more into each so-called discretionary fund. Still not sated sate 1 tr.v. sat·ed, sat·ing, sates 1. To satisfy (an appetite) fully. 2. To satisfy to excess. , they also have skimmed people's hard-earned tax dollars in other ways. In a particularly dirty deal involving a contract for advertising on city bus shelters and toilets, they took a cut for themselves for each facility in their districts. Throw in the cut they take for selling public property in their districts, and you're talking big bucks. They spend that money pretty much any way they like - usually to curry favor to seek to gain favor by flattery or attentions. See Favor, n. os> to seek to gain favor by flattery, caresses, kindness, or officious civilities. See also: Curry favor from vested interests vested interest n. 1. Law A right or title, as to present or future possession of an estate, that can be conveyed to another. 2. A fixed right granted to an employee under a pension plan. 3. in their districts or provide their staffs with bonuses and pay raises. The slush funds are an obvious abuse of power, especially while the mayor and council move to raise taxes while slashing city services. Shameless, as always, the closest thing to a reform the council is even considering would require that the whole council vote on specific appropriations of $5,000 or more. We have a better idea. Give the money back to the public by cutting taxes or improving services. |
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