07-09-2009, 06:43 PM
I didn't see this on the online Daily Herald today -but just got a link on my Waukegan google alert.
Waukegan mayor lashes back over sheriff's critique of layoff plans
By Thomas Edwards | Daily Herald Staff
Published: 7/8/2009 1:04 PM | Updated: 7/8/2009 4:59 PM
Waukegan Mayor Bob Sabonjian rebuked Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran for a media briefing earlier this week in which Curran decried the proposed layoffs of Waukegan police, firefighters and service employees.
The city has a soaring budget deficit, which officials have estimated at $3.5 million. Under the proposed cuts, 19 police officers would lose their jobs, in addition to the 15 vacancies that already exist on the 120-person force. The fire department would lose 16 firefighters.
Curran stated on Monday that "the blood of Waukegan's citizens could potentially be on (Sabonjian's) hands" if police and fire personnel were reduced.
Sabonjian responded by citing Curran's "flair for the dramatic" and calling his words "premature" and "inflammatory."
"My goal has always been to keep people working and with that in mind we are going through our budget to look at every possible solution," Sabonjian said. "That includes nonunion management salary cuts, making sure management pays for health insurance and deferring vehicles and capital improvements. There are no sacred cows here and there is no secret 'rainy-day fund' that the public doesn't know about - everything is on the table."
But even with substantial expense reductions, a deficit exceeding $1 million is still likely, Sabonjian said. He stated that the ball is in the court of union employees, who either must take a 4 percent to 7 percent pay cut or accept layoffs.
"At that point it becomes more of a moral question of loyalty than a fiscal one," Sabonjian said. "Will they be willing to take a slight pay cut to keep everybody on the job?"
Waukegan's revenues have plummeted in recent months, with virtually no recent activity on the residential and commercial markets and no projected growth on the immediate horizon. Sabonjian called the city's financial wounds "wide and deep."
Curran defended his statements and pointed out that the Chicago area was recently named the nation's top region for gang activity and membership by the U.S. Department of Justice. He also said that the 40 percent reduction in Waukegan's crime rate since 1996 can be attributed to the hiring of more police officers.
Sabonjian said that Curran's comments were "inappropriate" since he is not a Waukegan police officer but instead an elected countywide official.
Curran defended his comments.
"I feel that it is imperative that the Sheriff weighs in; especially when he has opinions based on fact that are well-reasoned in terms of the potential impact dramatic cuts will have on the public safety on Waukegan and Lake County as a whole," Curran responded.
Angry residents did not mince words when asked about the potential layoffs on Monday.
"I have never seen as many burglaries as I have in the past three months," said Bany Marlowe of Waukegan's Crescent Hill subdivision. "The police already are saying they don't have enough officers and the mayor wants to get rid of more?"
"If they go through with this, may God help us all," said Wally Sczygielski, a Waukegan resident for the past 68 years. "I have always felt safe and secure, but crime is contagious... "
Sabonjian made it clear that the resolution to this problem will require concessions from both sides.
"We hope that Waukegan residents will keep watching the situation in a rational fashion and understand that it's a give and take on both sides," he said. "This is not a management lockout by any means. Hopefully everybody gives a little bit to keep working and after 18 to 24 months we'll see where we are at."
comments at link
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=305517&src=3">http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=305517&src=3</a><!-- m -->
Waukegan mayor lashes back over sheriff's critique of layoff plans
By Thomas Edwards | Daily Herald Staff
Published: 7/8/2009 1:04 PM | Updated: 7/8/2009 4:59 PM
Waukegan Mayor Bob Sabonjian rebuked Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran for a media briefing earlier this week in which Curran decried the proposed layoffs of Waukegan police, firefighters and service employees.
The city has a soaring budget deficit, which officials have estimated at $3.5 million. Under the proposed cuts, 19 police officers would lose their jobs, in addition to the 15 vacancies that already exist on the 120-person force. The fire department would lose 16 firefighters.
Curran stated on Monday that "the blood of Waukegan's citizens could potentially be on (Sabonjian's) hands" if police and fire personnel were reduced.
Sabonjian responded by citing Curran's "flair for the dramatic" and calling his words "premature" and "inflammatory."
"My goal has always been to keep people working and with that in mind we are going through our budget to look at every possible solution," Sabonjian said. "That includes nonunion management salary cuts, making sure management pays for health insurance and deferring vehicles and capital improvements. There are no sacred cows here and there is no secret 'rainy-day fund' that the public doesn't know about - everything is on the table."
But even with substantial expense reductions, a deficit exceeding $1 million is still likely, Sabonjian said. He stated that the ball is in the court of union employees, who either must take a 4 percent to 7 percent pay cut or accept layoffs.
"At that point it becomes more of a moral question of loyalty than a fiscal one," Sabonjian said. "Will they be willing to take a slight pay cut to keep everybody on the job?"
Waukegan's revenues have plummeted in recent months, with virtually no recent activity on the residential and commercial markets and no projected growth on the immediate horizon. Sabonjian called the city's financial wounds "wide and deep."
Curran defended his statements and pointed out that the Chicago area was recently named the nation's top region for gang activity and membership by the U.S. Department of Justice. He also said that the 40 percent reduction in Waukegan's crime rate since 1996 can be attributed to the hiring of more police officers.
Sabonjian said that Curran's comments were "inappropriate" since he is not a Waukegan police officer but instead an elected countywide official.
Curran defended his comments.
"I feel that it is imperative that the Sheriff weighs in; especially when he has opinions based on fact that are well-reasoned in terms of the potential impact dramatic cuts will have on the public safety on Waukegan and Lake County as a whole," Curran responded.
Angry residents did not mince words when asked about the potential layoffs on Monday.
"I have never seen as many burglaries as I have in the past three months," said Bany Marlowe of Waukegan's Crescent Hill subdivision. "The police already are saying they don't have enough officers and the mayor wants to get rid of more?"
"If they go through with this, may God help us all," said Wally Sczygielski, a Waukegan resident for the past 68 years. "I have always felt safe and secure, but crime is contagious... "
Sabonjian made it clear that the resolution to this problem will require concessions from both sides.
"We hope that Waukegan residents will keep watching the situation in a rational fashion and understand that it's a give and take on both sides," he said. "This is not a management lockout by any means. Hopefully everybody gives a little bit to keep working and after 18 to 24 months we'll see where we are at."
comments at link
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=305517&src=3">http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=305517&src=3</a><!-- m -->