In a candid acknowledgement of New Orleans' dreary economic condition, Mayor Ray Nagin dispensed pink slips to half the city's work force Tuesday and conceded that additional layoffs could loom.
The bad news was slightly mitigated with an upbeat assessment from Nagin about the improving quality of city water. West Bank water already is.
Nagin said he will then determine if "we'll have to make another tough call."
It's tough. The layoffs were expected but nonetheless flew in the face of Nagin's recent efforts to paint New Orleans as a city slowly regaining its footing. "The reality is this city will not be the same for a while," Nagin said. Nagin staffers were unable to provide a breakdown Tuesday of how the layoffs will impact individual city agencies. Nagin said city workers singled out for layoffs will receive their last paychecks Oct. 14 and Oct. 21, depending on which pay cycle they're in. Nagin said the city is not contemplating bankruptcy at this time, adding that the strained city budget could get temporary relief if the Legislature accepts a recommendation by state Treasurer John Kennedy and agrees to assume City Hall's debt service.
Nagin said the water board is testing the water daily at the treatment plant and that "it exceeds standards." But the water is being corrupted as it runs through the city's delivery system, severely damaged in some places. Nagin said an "army of workers" is making significant progress on repairs to water pipes.
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