Antioch Considering Bankruptcy

With city government across the state facing massive budget deficits in part thanks to budget moves by state government as well as increase demand for services thanks to the crappy economy, bankruptcy is starting to look like an option.

The city of Vallejo filed for bankruptcy in 2008, partly to bring public employee unions to the bargaining table, and the move may prove to be a model for other cities -- even large cities like Los Angeles and San Diego.

Municipal officials in Antioch are exploring the possibility of following their neighbors into Chapter 9.

Meanwhile, East Bay hub Oakland is considering laying off nearly half of its police force, with a worst case scenario involving 350 layoffs at the Oakland Police Department, in order to close that city's $42 million budget deficit.

While in San Francisco, a new effort to win concessions from the Transit Workers Union in order to roll back the deepest cuts to Muni service in history are currently being considered by the union.

If rejected, two proposals for the November ballot both promise to bring the TWU back to the collective bargaining table, as opposed to having pay rates enshrined in the city charter.

Public employee unions have countered by asking state lawmakers to consider a bill that would require approval from a state board before a city or county could declare bankruptcy.

Jackson West wonders why public unions are getting the blame, when, hello, Proposition 13 anyone?