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A county on the brink

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Illinois

* AP…

The only public health clinic in Illinois’ poorest county is in a former synagogue off a largely abandoned main street, a bright spot with multicolored windows where seniors can get flu shots and moms get help feeding their kids. But today the lights are off and the doors locked. A sign on the door apologizes for the inconvenience: Because of the impasse over the state budget, we are only open on Wednesdays.

A few blocks away half the sheriff’s department has just gotten pink slips. Counselors at the only place to get mental health care in miles are working for free as the waiting list for help grows. And about 20 miles up the road from Cairo, Illinois’ southernmost tip, the man in charge of keeping highways clear this winter can’t afford to buy road salt, but figures he wouldn’t be able to pay drivers to spread it anyway.

For many people in Illinois, the five-month disagreement over a state budget has been barely a blip on the radar, a sideshow of political wills between a new Republican governor and a heavily Democratic legislature.

But for residents in the low-income counties tucked between the Mississippi and Ohio rivers - a mix of farmland and forest where Southern accents are more common than stop signs - it’s a far different story. Here people and private industry are scarce and getting scarcer, and residents rely on government for everything from health care to jobs and feel the impact severely when the public sector falters.

The problems in that county are not new. But the impasse is making them worse, not better. Go read the whole thing.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Nov 3, 15 @ 1:07 pm

Comments

The new Rauner capital plan will address this problem perfectly. A little shift in the river and Cairo becomes another state’s problem.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Nov 3, 15 @ 1:23 pm
This is such a horrible tragedy and the perfect illustration of the human consequences of the heartless response from the governor. So many of us keep railing about the human consequences of the impasse and the governor and his supporters just don’t seem to give a damn, preferring to use the poor of our state as “leverage.” It’s immoral and it’s unconscionable. Please read the article and see the real pain being inflicted.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Nov 3, 15 @ 1:25 pm
=The only public health clinic in Illinois’ poorest county is in a former synagogue off a largely abandoned main street, a bright spot with multicolored windows where seniors can get flu shots and moms get help feeding their kids. But today the lights are off and the doors locked. A sign on the door apologizes for the inconvenience: Because of the impasse over the state budget, we are only open on Wednesdays.=

Simple solution, on all days except Wednesday let them eat cake!

Comment by Get a Job!! Tuesday, Nov 3, 15 @ 1:25 pm
Allowing county governments to opt-out of paying prevailing wages on construction projects will do nothing to help counties such as this. Counties like Alexander aren’t doing construction projects. They are simply struggling to perform basic, constitutional services with ever-dwindling resources.

Comment by Old Shepherd Tuesday, Nov 3, 15 @ 1:28 pm
I mourn for southern Illinois. Thanks to our workers’ compensation issues and business climate, how are they ever going to attract industry to replace the coal mines? What works for Chicago…to some degree, is economic poison down there. It’s cruel for the Chicago area to punish another part of the state like that.

Comment by Captain Obvious Tuesday, Nov 3, 15 @ 1:28 pm
So the response to this from the Rauner crew is what? Just hang in there?

Comment by sideline watcher Tuesday, Nov 3, 15 @ 1:29 pm
Alexander County isn’t the only county struggling without the MFT allotment.

For the average county highway department, the MFT allotment accounts for about 1/2 of the annual budget.

Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Nov 3, 15 @ 1:39 pm
Governor Rauner’s budget cuts, executive orders and unilateral termination of contracts are weighing heavily on low income African American communities. North Lawndale has over 17,000 people living below the poverty line (47%). Cuts to financial, medical and welfare-to-work programs have a disproportionate negative impact to our community. The Governor claims he wants to make reforms, but has not made any so-called reforms that will help build the capacity of communities like North Lawndale to move citizens towards self-sufficiency. Cutting off programs with no safety net or transitional assistance will not solve the problem.

Over 25% of North Lawndale’s workforce is in nonprofits and social services, as compared to 8% of the state’s workforce. It should be noted that we suffer from high unemployment. Our largest employer, Sinai Health System, serves a mostly indigent population and depends heavily upon the state to provide reimbursement.

We have lost early childhood education programs, and some operators have had to close their doors. We have lost funding for youth programs, homeless programs, and programs for the elderly. Low income mothers are being forced to choose between going to a low-paying job that may provide an opportunity for future advancement, or quitting the job and staying home because they no longer qualify for CCAP and can’t afford safe, decent childcare while they’re working.
Mental health facilities, which provide a low cost alternative to institutionalization, are closing. People without access to their medications are on the streets, and who knows what could happen? Low income teens with very few high quality options for after school programs or job readiness programs are no longer being served, and are at an even higher risk of delinquency. This, in a community that is already struggling with high crime and violence. Homeless youth are being turned away from shelters that don’t have the funding to maintain services at the same levels as they did before the new fiscal year.

Governor Rauner’s transition website claims that “ Bruce and Evelyn are committed to transforming state government and working for every family…” This would be laughable if the Governor’s lies didn’t have such dire consequences.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 3, 15 @ 1:42 pm
Governor Rauner’s budget cuts, executive orders and unilateral termination of contracts are weighing heavily on low income African American communities. North Lawndale has over 17,000 people living below the poverty line (47%). Cuts to financial, medical and welfare-to-work programs have a disproportionate negative impact to our community. The Governor claims he wants to make reforms, but has not made any so-called reforms that will help build the capacity of communities like North Lawndale to move citizens towards self-sufficiency. Cutting off programs with no safety net or transitional assistance will not solve the problem.
Over 25% of North Lawndale’s workforce is in nonprofits and social services, as compared to 8% of the state’s workforce. It should be noted that we suffer from high unemployment. Our largest employer, Sinai Health System, serves a mostly indigent population and depends heavily upon the state to provide reimbursement.
We have lost early childhood education programs, and some operators have had to close their doors. We have lost funding for youth programs, homeless programs, and programs for the elderly. Low income mothers are being forced to choose between going to a low-paying job that may provide an opportunity for future advancement, or quitting the job and staying home because they no longer qualify for CCAP and can’t afford safe, decent childcare while they’re working.
Mental health facilities, which provide a low cost alternative to institutionalization, are closing. People without access to their medications are on the streets, and who knows what could happen? Low income teens with very few high quality options for after school programs or job readiness programs are no longer being served, and are at an even higher risk of delinquency. This, in a community that is already struggling with high crime and violence. Homeless youth are being turned away from shelters that don’t have the funding to maintain services at the same levels as they did before the new fiscal year.
Governor Rauner’s transition website claims that “ Bruce and Evelyn are committed to transforming state government and working for every family…” This would be laughable if the Governor’s lies didn’t have such dire consequences.

Comment by Valerie F. Leonard Tuesday, Nov 3, 15 @ 1:45 pm
The Governor has refused to pay the Illinois African American Family Commission, created by State statute for 5 months. The Illinois African American Family Commission was established by Public Act 093-0867 to assist various state agencies to advocate for and promote the well-being of African American families and children through public policy.
This will be accomplished by:
Monitoring existing legislation and programs designed to address the needs of African Americans in Illinois
Assisting State agencies in developing programs, services, public policies and research strategies that will expand and enhance the social and economic well-being of African American children and families, and
Facilitating the participation of African Americans in the development, implementation, and planning of strong and vibrant communities.
Promoting research efforts to document the impact of policies and programs on African-American families.

Comment by Valerie F. Leonard Tuesday, Nov 3, 15 @ 1:47 pm
Racism destroyed this county generations ago.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Nov 3, 15 @ 1:47 pm
I hate to be so brutal about it, but a county with a declining population of 8000 is going to be hard to sustain regardless. This mess is just accelerating what I see as the inevitable. The area, Cairo in particular, is situated on a flood plain and burdened with overbuilt infrastructure from a time when they were much larger before they shot themselves in the foot. This is the same county that had its squad cars repossessed and left sinkholes open in the “downtown” a year after the major flooding.

It is indicative of much of the country with people and jobs migrating to population centers and centers of education where opportunities and training exist. At best, they could have tried to manage a slow burn, but we’ve all seen the corruption stories from that area that just fueled the fires even before the State’s debacle.

Comment by Shemp Tuesday, Nov 3, 15 @ 1:48 pm
I hate to sound like a broken record, broken record…(smiles)but this story is all across Illinois, and many spitting mad mayors and village presidents and other officials have made their points of view widely known to their legislators - especially their Republican legislators. The message is simple: grow a pair, and start representing your constituents or get the heck out! By the way, we’ll help you get the heck out in the next election.

Comment by Captain Illini Tuesday, Nov 3, 15 @ 1:49 pm
===Racism destroyed this county generations ago.===

Well said. In the best of times, Alexander County is in a depression. In the worst of times, they barely exist.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Tuesday, Nov 3, 15 @ 1:52 pm
Bruce Rauner’s budget cuts are hurting the “Least of These” all over the state of Illinois. His policies are hurting low income African American communities in disproportionately higher numbers than other communities. Now the Governor has taken to photo ops with African American children and bragging about how much he has personally given to early childhood development programs. The cognitive dissonance is mind-boggling, as low-income communities around the state are further destabilized.

There’s no question that the state’s fiscal problems were not created overnight. However, it is fair to say that some of the consequences of Rauner’s actions are upon us right now, and have occurred as a direct result of his decisions. A state that was in economic recovery before he took office is now facing a Rauner-made recession. Some communities may be unscathed now, but, if this impasse is not resolved soon, the pain will spread to more affluent communities.

Comment by Valerie F. Leonard Tuesday, Nov 3, 15 @ 1:59 pm
“Why don’t they just move to one of their other houses in a better area? That’s what I’d do.” - Fake BVR

Comment by CharlieKratos Tuesday, Nov 3, 15 @ 2:00 pm
Yeah, why did Rauner declare war on coal…er…wait

Comment by What? Tuesday, Nov 3, 15 @ 2:22 pm
Why don’t the democrat leaders high tail it down there and help these folks. Why are they sitting on their hands?

Comment by anon Tuesday, Nov 3, 15 @ 2:59 pm
Yes Cairo has had problems but there has great strides taken to move Cairo forward. To judge the people only on their past is not fair. The town is positioned perfectly for a barge rail highway terminal and efforts are in the works to do just that. Let’s stop finding blame and start finding solutions forward.

There are programs available to address communities of high poverty revitalize themselves. Will it happen over night? No

This strategic area will held Illinois company ship goods and services throughout the world.

You want to help Illinois businesses help them ship there goods to market

Comment by Publius Tuesday, Nov 3, 15 @ 3:05 pm
Winning handily.
Hang in there, alexander county.
Dems are scared.
The pain will be worth it, if we can just get rid of prevailing wage. Hundreds of millions in benefits, says bruce, flowing
downstream to cairo. No collective bargaining for the 7 remaining sheriff dept employees will save, um, hundreds?

Comment by Langhorne Tuesday, Nov 3, 15 @ 4:01 pm
Whole area will make a great huntin’ preserve. Bring in some elk and wood bison. Good jobs as guides and outfitters. Lead camera safaris in the off season. Win win.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Tuesday, Nov 3, 15 @ 4:57 pm
Just sayin…..if your in downtown Cairo, ya gotta get some Shemwell BBQ. Deeeelicious!!!

Comment by Blue dog dem Tuesday, Nov 3, 15 @ 7:52 pm