The City Council is inviting concerned citizens to two events next week that promise to get to the heart of the recession’s rampant suckery–and provide the opportunity to fight over bread line tickets. First, on Monday (10 AM, Bertha Knight Landes Room, City Hall), Council President Richard Conlin is convening a panel of business leaders to discuss the regional economy. It’s part of the awesomely acronym-ed mouthful, the “Economic Recovery Strategy Committee of the Whole (COW).” Says the release:As the City develops strategies to address economic recovery opportunities in a recessionary economy and beyond, the Council hosts experts to discuss the jobs outlook in the region, real estate financing, mortgage lending, and capital markets.Re: the regional jobs outlook, how does double-digit unemployment sound?Then, on Thursday (5:30 PM, Council Chambers), Council Budget Committee chair Jean Godden will host a public meeting to figure out what to cut from the city budget. Basically, tax revenues aren’t what they were–or even what we thought they might be when we realized they aren’t what they were–so out comes the scalpel, or hatchet. “Designing a city budget works best when there is thoughtful and constructive input from citizens,” says Godden in the press release. “It’s going to take all of us to make the difficult choices and steer us in the right direction”.Subtext: If you’re a recipient of city dollars, you’d be wise to show up and speak up on Thursday, lest you find yourself facing the blade. Maybe you can carpool with Paul Allen.