The possibilities are dire, indeed, for approximately 12,000 organizations throughout Illinois. According to Valle, “cuts mean fewer over all services and programs for Center on Halsted including its Anti-Violence and HIV programs resulting in fewer HIV tests, less prevention work and more new cases of HIV/AIDS.” Sarah Frick of YWCA Metropolitan Chicago e-mailed Windy City Times that ” [t] he state budget has us in complete crisis mode…. We are facing a 75% reduction in programs and staff.” At the rally, many of the attendees chanted “No more cuts” and “People before politics.” Photos by Andrew Davis and from Maude Carroll
In light of a state budget crisis that has even led the Illinois Department of Human Services to advise funeral directors that the state can no longer afford funeral and burial payments, thousands of individuals protested posible budget cuts at the Thompson Center, 100 W. Randolph, June 18. The budget for state-funded human service programs will be cut by 50% ormore beginning July 1 if legislators do not act immediately to increase revenue, according to a statement from Center on Halsted Executive Director Modesto Tico Valle.