Another hostage about to go belly up
Monday, Apr 25, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* People, this war has to end now…
The list of victims related to the state’s budget impasse continues to grow, as officials with an Elgin-based drug treatment center traveled to Springfield last week to announce they will close shop July 1 without state help.
About 160 people are at risk of losing their jobs should the Latino Treatment Center, which also has locations in Chicago and West Chicago, go under.
The state owes the center $56,326, on top of $60,690 cut from the group’s budget by the Rauner administration in 2015.
To get by without state funds, agency officials said they cut staff salaries and exhausted credit lines and cash reserves. Without a budget agreement, employees will begin to be laid off on May 15, and two facilities will close by June 15. The third will follow by July 1.
Once more, with feeling: Find. Another. Way.
- Jack Stephens - Monday, Apr 25, 16 @ 10:27 am:
Its just so much more cost effective for the Illinois Dept of Corrections to treat substance abuse. With their Union jobs.
/snark intentional/
- wordslinger - Monday, Apr 25, 16 @ 10:28 am:
Part of the plan, the “necessary shakeout.”
Once they’re out of business, they won’t be pursuing the money the state owes them.
And, as we all know, drug addicts who can’t get treatment don’t cost anything at all.
Right?
- Honeybear - Monday, Apr 25, 16 @ 11:17 am:
Another permanent hole in the social safety net.
- Fairness and Fairness Only - Monday, Apr 25, 16 @ 11:59 am:
As we read about the terrible social service closures, we also read that most “have exhausted credit lines”. Across the state, this has to a hefty chunk of looming defaults.
- Ghost - Monday, Apr 25, 16 @ 12:14 pm:
Rauner needs to issue a press relase about how this needs to end; but actually introduce no bills ornsolutions, and the fo off an enjoy some liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti.
- Jerry - Monday, Apr 25, 16 @ 12:31 pm:
All of these cuts to mental health, homeless, drug addiction centers is only going to lead to more incarceration, which will costs us all more anyway.
Also, it’s the wrong way to handle treatable illness, and puts too much pressure on police officers, court systems, jails.
This whole approach of not doing anything is only going to require a bigger effort to clean up.
- Anon221 - Monday, Apr 25, 16 @ 12:51 pm:
The epidemic is not going to go away… And you cannot just ignore the ramifications of clinic closures-
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/60-minutes-heroin-epidemic-ohio-bill-whitaker/
- DuPage Bard - Monday, Apr 25, 16 @ 12:57 pm:
Another group done. Is there an actual total anywhere of agencies that have shut down. I know there have been many mentioned here but has anyone actually put all of them together?
May be an interesting graphic if anyone really wants to drive a point home.
- @MisterJayEm - Monday, Apr 25, 16 @ 12:59 pm:
This weekend’s Tribune piece about the victims of Richard Speck was an unwelcome reminder about the nature of some hostage situations.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-richard-speck-chicago-mass-murder-victims-20160421-story.html
– MrJM
- Formerly Known As... - Monday, Apr 25, 16 @ 1:05 pm:
Any way some of the vendor assistance programs could help them get through this? Sell the $56,326 invoices to get 90% of the $ now and the remaining 10% whenever the state pays?
- Anon221 - Monday, Apr 25, 16 @ 1:10 pm:
“I’m ready to take up human services, that’s my commitment that I made to the Democrats and I intend to keep it,” said Minority Leader Jim Durkin- wics news channel 20 report
*****
Just two words- Do.It!
- Formerly Known As... - Monday, Apr 25, 16 @ 1:12 pm:
There is also a new $100 Mill low-interest loan program being announced today by the MacArthur Foundation and Chicago Community Trust that could help now.
- Mama - Monday, Apr 25, 16 @ 3:46 pm:
== Jerry - Monday, Apr 25, 16 @ 12:31 pm:
All of these cuts to mental health, homeless, drug addiction centers is only going to lead to more incarceration, which will costs us all more anyway.
Also, it’s the wrong way to handle treatable illness, and puts too much pressure on police officers, court systems, jails.
This whole approach of not doing anything is only going to require a bigger effort to clean up.==
I don’t know for sure, but I think he simply wants more control over who is offering/ running the social programs.
- Finances - Monday, Apr 25, 16 @ 4:31 pm:
$56,326 should not be the cause of 160 people losing their jobs. A $352 annual pay cut could save their jobs then…