With a budget deficit nearing 500-million dollars in Los Angeles, the mayor has ordered several city departments to freeze all spending. The "Los Angeles Times" reports Antonio Villaraigosa and City Controller Wendy Greuel sent out a letter on Wednesday to every department telling them to curb expenses, with the exception of five. The freeze doesn't apply to the D-W-P, the Port of L.A., the airport and two agencies that oversee pension funds for retired and civilian city workers. The mayor is in Washington, D.C. on a lobbying trip attempting to get more federal funds for the city. One thousand jobs will be cut in the next few months with the possibility of up to three thousand city workers being laid off by the end of the year. The first 15 pink slips are set to go out today.