East Cleveland Mayor Gary Norton announced a massive layoff of city workers, including police and fire/EMS, at Tuesday night’s East Cleveland City Council meeting.
44% of police, 31% of firefighters and 44% of city service workers received layoff notices Tuesday, that’s nearly half their police force and 1/3 of their firefighters.
To say East Cleveland is having money issues is a major understatement.
But one positive source of revenue has been the red light cameras bringing in about a $1 million a year.
The mayor swears the announcement is not a scare tactic. If the cameras are voted out here’s what the city will lose:
- 36 police staff, of those 26 will be officers
- Of the 45 firefighters 14 will be cut
- Among the 55 in city services 18.5 positions cut
Layoff notices were sent out Tuesday because the city has to give a 30 day notice.
Some on the city council do not support the mayors doom and gloom report saying depending on the cameras revenue was a bad move.
Most of the East Cleveland residents at Tuesday night’s meeting say if keeping the cameras means keeping the police and fire so be it.
But still others say its the city’s fault for not budgeting better.
Courtesy Of WOIO.COM
