Today’s departments were El Pueblo (Olvera Street), Cultural Affairs, Aging, Disability, Information Technology, Community Development and Neighborhood Empowerment.

Public comment featured janitors who missed yesterday’s General Services Department hearing. They showed up today waving toilet brushes and making clear that L.A. government would be an even dirtier place if their numbers are diminished by layoffs.

Olvera Street merchants stung by planned rent increases of 100 percent voiced displeasure with the city’s management. El Pueblo commissioner David Louie took a lot of heat from Budget and Finance Chairman Bernard Park who wanted to know why the commission did not heed the city council’s recommendation to delay rent hikes. Louie held his ground saying a “$170 million tenant subsidy is inappropriate” referring to the commissioners’ position that rents have been too low for too long.

Cultural Affairs was up next and the hot topic was the mayor’s “earmarking” of grant money. Public comments opposed the plan to take a big chunk of funds doled out to artists and designating them for channel 36, El Grito, Pan African Film Festival, and the Latino Film Festival.

Aging and Disability got off relatively unscathed as they took their turns in the spotlight.

The Information Technology Agency got questions about the cable bill taxes Angelenos pay and the fact that 40 percent of that money is designated for city’s TV stations, yet it doesn’t seem to be enough or is too much or may be the right amount, but the numbers don’t add up. Any way, Councilman Bill Rosendahl provided a history lesson about cable TV and ITA was told to report back.

Community Development and Neighborhood Empowerment rounded out the day’s deliberations. Committee members questioned CDD general manager Richard Benbow about effects of a merger with DONE. Benbow explained how things would work and asked for more money to cover NC education and training programs that had been left out of the budget. None of the committee members proposed to cut individual NC funding. So far, so good.

Neighborhood Council budget advocates Stephen Box, Ginger Damon, and Doug Epperhart were present at Friday’s meeting.