NEW ORLEANS — It's not the way any mayor wants to start, but Helena Moreno says New Orleans' financial crisis leaves her few options.

"I know that these are challenging times. I get that. I know that this budget is very grim and dire and nobody wants to talk about furloughs and layoffs," the mayor-elect said.

Moreno says she is trying to close a $222 million budget gap. She's cutting 36 unclassified positions and laying off 75% of workers who've been with the city less than a year. That's another 62 jobs gone.

Moreno, who takes office in January, is also freezing all hiring and eliminating 134 vacant positions. She's requiring non-public safety employees to take one unpaid furlough day per pay period.

Critical services like sanitation and public safety will be protected.

"The current

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