Chicago’s Faux-Streamlined 2009 Budget
Interesting how this AP story makes it seem like Chicago’s 2009 city budget is really cutting costs and streamlined.
Aldermen have approved Chicago Mayor Richard Daley’s $6.2 billion budget amid worries over the economy.
The budget, approved 49-1 on Wednesday, calls for as many as 635 layoffs, selling city assets and new fees and taxes.
It requires the hiring of fewer police officers, but stipulates that no officers or firefighters will lose their jobs. The city also won’t fill 1,600 vacant positions.
Yet, it’s $300,000 more than last year’s budget…
More! What up with that?
My guess is dishonesty on the part of the city and journalistic laziness on the part of the AP.
Still, one alderman – my old one, in fact – voted against it. Hot damn! Was it because the alderman in question pierced through the charade, the misrepresentation, and wanted to stand up for the taxpayer? No. No, he was protesting the severity of the “cuts”.
Alderman Billy Ocasio cast the lone dissenting vote. He says most of the layoffs affect “people who do the work and get paid the least.”
Blech.
