LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Monday proposed laying off more than 1,600 government workers in an attempt to close a nearly $1 billion budget gap amid a slumping economy while the city contends with the costly job of rebuilding a seaside neighborhood leveled in a January wildfire.

Since budget planning began, layoffs have been called "inevitable" with 3,500 positions on the chopping block. The final affected workforce number announced Monday included 1,647 filled position layoffs,

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass says “my proposed budget, unfortunately, includes layoffs, which is a decision of absolute last resort.” She blamed city personnel costs and wildfire