Assistant City Engineer Ross Hathaway and manager of current planning Bob Katai – two of the city’s most senior staff – were casualties of this week’s round of layoffs.

A total of eight staffers were given pink slips on Monday. See my updated post on the layoffs for more info.

Hathaway, who has worked for the city for 10 years, declined to comment on his own status, but praised Katai for his service to the city.

“Bob knows the code inside and out,” Hathaway said. “It’s a terrible loss. His institutional knowledge was critical.”

Hathaway expressed concern for other laid-off coworkers who face few job prospects.

“It’s the worst job market since the Great Depression,” he said.