The city budget crisis is commanding a lot of attention in the media, as well it should. Countless news stories, commentaries and editorials have been written and broadcast locally and even nationally. One of the best-framed commentaries we’ve read on the issue appeared recently in – of all places – the Daily 49er newspaper of California State University, Long Beach.

Noting that Villaraigosa wants to keep hiring police officers even as he proposes to cut the pay of the existing city workforce, the newspaper said: “In other words, those already working for the LAPD will be punished and others would be brought in to share in the burden. Apparently, he just wants to reach his 10,000-officer quota. Doesn’t it make more sense to stop hiring? The LAPD has already carried out several cutbacks such as relinquishing overtime pay and pay for unused sick days.”

The Daily 49er nailed it and we thank them for it.