I currently live in North Olmsted, OH, a suburb about 20 miles west and a few miles south of Cleveland. It's a town like a lot of others, nothing special, but pretty safe, pretty middle class, pretty average. Unless you count the number of strip malls and fast food restaurants, which is pretty much huge. It's not the prettiest town in the world, nor the most interesting. We don't have any spectacular history or important landmarks. I'm pretty sure we've never had any tourists. But it's home, and now that home is looking to get a great deal less safe over the next few years.
I know that DailyKos has a bunch of people far more active in politics and, frankly, in activism, than I am. And I need advice, from them and from anyone else who has it. There's a city council meeting tomorrow. What can I personally do to help stop this?
Our city, like many others, is experiencing a huge budget crunch. Now they're talking about laying off firefighters and policemen, nearly 10% of the city's force. North Olmsted is a city of about 35,000 people. It has 47 firefighters and 55 police officers. And now the mayor is looking to lay off 5 firefighters and 5 police officers, with (most likely) more to come.
Here's a little background on the layoffs:
NORTH OLMSTED -- Five police officers and five firefighter/paramedics are getting layoff notices because of North Olmsted's budget crunch.
...
Mayor Thomas O'Grady claims the city has streamlined operations and tightened its belt. Some operations have been privatized and O'Grady's seeking council approval to privatize snow removal in serious storms.
Income tax revenues and property tax payments are down in 2008 and steep declines are projected for next year.
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"We're doing the intelligent things reducing costs to taxpayers, but with this dramatic downtown, there's no way to stave off the necessity of personnel reductions. It's heartbreaking," O'Grady said. The city faces an estimated $2 million deficit in a $20 million budget.
Union leaders argue that the city still has other areas it could cut before slashing safety forces. Christmas lights, a municipal swimming pool, an ice rink and golf course are among the items they deemed should be lesser priorities. (link)
I've called City Council and emailed all the Council members to give them my opinion, which is that there are a dozen other things that ought to be cut before laying off first responders. I've called Representative Kucinich's office to make sure he's aware of the situation and ask him to help. I've called the local FF union, which is picketing outside City Hall tomorrow and attending the meeting. And I'm planning on attending the meeting.
What else can I do to help stop this?
UPDATE: If anyone is in the area, the IAFF Local 1267 is picketing tomorrow in front of N. Olmsted City Hall, 5200 Dover Center Rd, North Olmsted, starting at noon:
Picketing will begin at 12 p.m., December 16 outside North Olmsted City Hall.
Fire fighters also will attend the North Olmsted City Council meeting at 8 p.m. at 5200 Dover Center Road.
"We will take our message directly to this city's public officials so they understand the risk they are taking by laying off first responders," Boatman said. (link)