The Mayor’s Mid-Year Budget Cuts: Cruel and UnusualPaul Hogarthbyline‚ Feb. 19‚ 2008Last June, Mayor Gavin Newsom proposed devastating public health cuts– prompting hundreds to rally at City Hall. Now, without even waiting for another budget season, the Mayor has announced $18 million in “mid-year cuts” to the Health Department – including some programs that the Board of Supervisors saved last July. Newsom blames decreased revenue projections, but there’s no reason why such programs must be slashed. And as much as the Mayor wants to fault Schwarzenegger’s cuts at the state level, we’re partly in this mess because of the City’s priorities. Moreover, allowing Newsom to impose mid-year cuts violates our system of checks and balances – just like when he refused to spend affordable housing funds just last May. Rather than just react to these latest cuts, progressives must mobilize and get to the real source of the problem. |