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Another hostage on the brink

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Illinois

* They’ve already laid off 56 employees this year…

An Illinois child social service agency is laying off 16 staffers that work with at-risk youth and expectant mothers because of the nearly yearlong budget stalemate between Democratic lawmakers and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.

Children’s Home and Aid spokesman Jassen Strokosch says the state owes the agency about $1.8 million for services since July 1, the beginning of the current fiscal year. The layoffs happened Wednesday and Thursday and will impact services in East St. Louis and central Illinois.

The staffers worked to provide alternatives to incarceration to teenagers and helped find housing for homeless youth. They also provided counseling to expectant mothers during in-home visits.

Homeless youth, pregnant women, teens in trouble. In East St. Louis, no less.

#Heroic!

Sheesh.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 4:27 pm

Comments

Children’s Home + Aid apparently didn’t get Oswego Willy’s memo about messaging.

Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 4:32 pm
Yep, taking it on the chin here. But hey, Illinois Bob says these numbers are inflated and inaccurate so I’m not going to take this seriously. s/

The perfidious sadism continues.

Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 4:35 pm
Honestly, I thought at some time I would get hardened to all of this, but it still hurts. Every. (Banned word.) Time.

Comment by Another Prof Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 4:35 pm
If only there was a bill on the gov’s desk that would help pay them with money sitting in a special fund set aside for this stuff. #heroic

Comment by Unsolicited advice Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 4:37 pm
The least the Governor could do is order a statewide moment of silence for each hostage organization that dies.

(It would be too hard to do that for each individual who suffers — or worse– because of this dispute.)

It really is despicable that Tronc hasn’t given regular coverage to the hostage killing stories.

Comment by Keyrock Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 4:45 pm
The least the Governor could do is order a statewide moment of silence for each hostage organization that dies.

(It would be too hard to do that for each individual who suffers — or worse– because of this dispute.)

Comment by Keyrock Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 4:47 pm
This is so horrid. People will become more and more desperate and this affects ALL of us except Bruce, Madigan and Rahm.
People wonder why crime and shootings are so high in the City? Here is the answer….and, it is going to get worse. How do you get food? Burglarize some middle class people.

Comment by Belle Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 4:49 pm
I can’t help thinkin’(Gov talk) that he isn’t really worried about these agencies and the services they provide. Many Republicans think that we do too much for people (til they are in need themselves).

Comment by retired guy Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 5:05 pm
“The staffers worked to provide alternatives to incarceration to teenagers and helped find housing for homeless youth.”

I thought Rauner wanted to reduce incarceration of teens, etc.. No?

I guess the homeless kids have to put out in order to have a place to live.

Comment by Mama Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 5:08 pm
Belle,

So do you think Madigan should go ahead, throw labor under the bus, and let Rauner make this a right to work state? Honest question, no snark. ‘Cause that’s what it would take.

Comment by HistProf Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 6:03 pm
–An Illinois child social service agency is laying off 16 staffers that work with at-risk youth and expectant mothers because of the nearly yearlong budget stalemate between Democratic lawmakers and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.–

What budget stalemate? When did the budget become an issue?

It’s the pre-conditions for a budget, set by the governor, that have been at issue for more than a year.

I presume Children’s Home and Aid have a contract with the state. If so, the appropriation that’s been on the governor’s desk for more than a month would provide some partial payment.

Maybe he should sign it.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 6:45 pm
yes sign SB2038 the stop gap for human service that been on his desk since mid may, and at least that might some more time for this human service provider and others

Comment by 13TH Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 9:56 pm
Illinois Bob would tell us this is just more exaggerated PR.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 11:21 pm