Editorial staffers at several Village Voice Media publications were laid off yesterday.

MinnPost.com reports that award-winning food writer Rachel Hutton was laid off by City Pages (Twin Cities). In addition, the paper will not replace reporter Erin Carlyle, who resigned two weeks ago.

Four staffers were let go from SF Weekly: web editor Jake Swearingen, food writer W. Blake Gray, reporter Matt Smith, and calendar editor Hiya Swanhuyser.

Dallas Observer sportswriter Richie Whitt has also been laid off, and LA Observed says the cuts have claimed Seattle Weekly‘s web editor and a writer at OC Weekly.

“These layoffs were in no way a reflection on these journalists; instead, they reflected a still-brutal economy,” VVM executive associate editor Andy Van De Voorde told AAN. “Those who lost their jobs yesterday were all very talented, hard-working people. I knew nearly all of them personally, and it’s profoundly painful to lose them. I wish them all the best.”