The mayor of Flint, Michigan recently laid off 46 police officers and 23 firefighters. The layoffs come after months of failed contract talks between the mayor's office and public safety unions. The mayor's office has been demanding 15 percent wage and benefit cuts from the police and firefighters unions.Since that announcement on March 24 there have been 50 fires in the city.
Firefighters union president Raul Garcia accuses the mayor of trying to be a union buster...
Mayor Walling says the city has little choice but to make cuts in public safety. Flint's facing a 6 million dollar deficit and public safety is 60 percent of the city's budget...
But Flint's public safety unions say the city will be less safe. In addition to the layoffs, the city will be closing two fire stations.
Firefighters union president Raul Garcia says if any Flint police officers or firefighters die in the line of duty, it will be Mayor Walling's responsibility.
Via Metafilter
The reason I love your blog is that it's oriented around some states I like to follow, but rarely get attention in my other news sources. (I've family in Duluth, scattered over Wisconsin and the U.P.)
ReplyDeleteI've some questions about Flint, raised by the article.
How many people live there? What was the incidence of fires prior to the layoffs? How many of these fires are arson-caused? what portion of the deficit was due to fire and safety expenses?
Out here in CA the State employees (including fire and safety) have been ordered to take furloughs. Fire and safety take furloughs on an as-time-available basis. It's been the equivalent of a 15 % pay cut.
PS The Edmund Fitzgerald item below is really wonderful. I'm sending to folk who need to know about the Central North (?).
I don't know the answer your questions, but please note that you are sitting in front of the most powerful information-gathering technology in the history of the world. Some simple Google queries should provide answers.
ReplyDeleteYou know it's generally a nice idea to attempt to contact a person before using their personal accomplishments in a private blog..
ReplyDeletePhotos credited or not
My apology. Photos deleted.
ReplyDelete