Public Challenge to Deke Copenhaver

Mayor Copenhaver will have a hard time keeping his sunny, nice-guy image if he accepts for his office $15,000 as a payroll increase that could instead continue to help people in urgent need. That $15,000, Mr. Mayor, can prevent these proposed budget reductions: a $1000 cut to Safe Homes- the city's only certified shelter for battered women and children, a $3000 cut to court advocates for abused children, the $5000 cut to Miracle Making Ministries which will force them to forgo the expansion of an asthma clinic, and a $5000 cut to Community Medical Outreach, with $1000 left to put toward the $3000 cut to DFACS.
Administrator Fred "I feel their pain" Russell thinks we all have to share the costs of these hard financial times. Well, he thinks that these organizations do anyway, not the mayor (and it's discouragingly difficult to find out exactly what Mr. Russell slates for himself out of our public funds). Some of us may feel that abused children and sick poor people suffer enough. Mr. Russell last night begged and implored the commission for guidance. It's up to us to help Mr. Russell; he does need guidance. Tell your commissioner what you think of this proposed budget.
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