PAINFUL PLAN: CITIES CRY FOR FUNDING
The national financial crisis has forced many city governments into drastic rebalancing of fiscal budgets. Yesterday morning, a report called “Layoffs, Furloughs and Union Concessions: The Prolonged and Painful Process of Balancing City Budgets,” discovered that union leadership has forced city governments to choose between job losses or reduction of compensation.
According to the Detroit Free Press, “Detroit, Philadelphia, Boston, New York, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Baltimore, Columbus, Ohio; Los Angeles, Phoenix and Seattle were included in the report.”
In Pennsylvania, the Senate approved Philadelphia’s $700 million relief package. But the budget crisis is not over according to Senate President Joe Scarnati. Metro reported that the budget will not be complete for another week.
This financial predicament creates numerous issues within the city. In late August, Nutter announced that there will be a necessary revised budget that will result in the largest lay off of Philadelphia public servants ever.
Fortunately for many Philadelphia city workers, the crisis was averted and these layoffs did not happen.
In comparison, Pittsburgh predicts a major financial deficit in its city budget by the year 2013. According to Pittsburgh’s City Council 2009 Operations and Capital Budget, various initiates will be eliminated. Pay as you Go will end 2011, Reserve plans will diminish and deficit spending will return by 2013. Additionally, Police department pension funds will be exhausted by 2011 and Fire department pension will deplete by 2014.
Even Pittsburgh school districts are waiting for a consultant to value the Rivers Casino—which is set to generate revenue through property tax. The casino has been opened about two months ago and no progression has been made of assessing its value.
Across in Ohio, Governor Ted Strickland anticipated a $3.2 billion revenue deficit within the next two years. Even with the $2 billion cut since January 2008, there will be a 50 percent reduction of state funding to libraries. Hospitals in the state warn the governor of the potential loss of 400 jobs cuts.
The national recession has tempted Strickland to legalize gambling which will give $765 million to the state through racetracks and video lottery terminals. This decision is unlikely, because of voters reject.
Detroit Mayor, Dave Bing, will reduce the jobs for 1,000 people “unless unions agree to take a pay cut.” The Detroit Free Press also reported that “Detroit is facing a $300-million accumulated budget deficit and up to an $80-million cash shortfall this year.”
Even nonprofits are struggling to stay afloat this economic storm. According to The North Carolina Center for Nonprofits report, “400,000 jobs in the state depend on community support.” Additionally, “10 percent of nonprofits won’t make it to the other side of the recession.” The nonprofits in the state of North Carolina earn “$29 billion a year for the state’s economy.” Imagine the numerous local organizations in the community.
Major cities are in serious search for financial reform in their city budgets. Many are receiving relief as others scramble for funds through gambling and casino revenue. Either way, much needed public programs are being cut and reduction in public safety is being slashed. Can these major cities afford these drastic losses? Definitely not, but it is a common crisis nation wide.
Trenae McDuffie
NEW OLIVET TEEN CENTER A PLACE FOR LEARNING AND GROWING
Chapter on Clinton Street serves about 125 who attend daily activities
By Darrin Youker
Reading Eagle
9/13/2009
- For Luis Cedeno, the Olivet Boys and Girls Club chapter on Clinton Street is a second home.
Cedeno, a 15-year-old freshman at Reading High School, has been coming to the club in northwest Reading for several years.
On Saturday Cedeno discovered yet another reason to keep coming, as the club unveiled a new teen center featuring computers, game systems and television sets.
The center was funded with a $15,000 grant from the clothing chain Villa.
The center will serve as a hangout, but also as a place where kids can do their homework and take advantage of software to help them study for their SATs.
“It is like a home away from home,” Cedeno said. “I can come here and just chill.”
Jason Lutz, chief executive officer of Villa, and leaders of the Olivet Boys and Girls Club came to the chapter Saturday to officially open the center.
The center will go a long way toward helping the club achieve its goal of having every member graduate from high school, said Jeffrey M. Palmer, club president.
“We hope this will keep our kids here and off the streets,” Palmer said. “Kids will stay where there is a safe, caring, place.”
Deloris Reviere, unit director of the Clinton Street chapter, said the boys and girls clubs had competed against other organizations for the grant. Clinton Street was chosen because of the number of teens who actively participate in events, she said.
“This center has a lot of heart and soul,” said Andrew Lutz, who manages the Villa store in Reading.
The club has more than 1,200 members, with about 125 who come to daily activities, Reviere said. Many of those students participate in the Keystone Club, which promotes community service, she said.
“Our focus is on education and increasing the number of children who graduate,” Reviere said.
Cedeno, who is a member of the Keystone Club, said it has been raising money for Opportunity House and for malaria research.
Joshua Ramos, 16, a member at the Olivet club, predicted the teen center will be popular.
“You make good friends here,” he said.
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IS THE STIMULUS PACKAGE WORKING?
Unemployment has skyrocketed in the recent years. It is currently at 8.9%, which is higher than President Obama predicted it would be when he introduced the bill. When he debated the importance of the bill, Obama made clear that the bill would help prevent an extreme unemployment rate however the stimulus package has yet to help the growing rate. Many people are continuing to lose their jobs at alarming rates. some believe that the stimulus package has yet to begin to help the countries economy and others believe that the unemployment rate would be far worse without the stimulus package.
MONEY TO GO TO AMERICORPS
President Obama passed the Serve America Act, which is being called “the most sweeping expansion of national service programs since the creation of AmeriCorps.” AmeriCorps was created in 1993 by President Clinton as a way to provide adults of different backgrounds with the opportunity to help those in their communities. Recently, Obama has declared that he will be stepping in to help the non profit organization. He has stated that by helping AmeriCorps he will be creating new jobs for graduating college students and many others. On April 21, 2009, President Obama signed the legislation to dump almost $6 billion over the next five years into AmeriCorps.
