Detroit mayor Dave Bing to lay off 164 firefighters in July
theGRIO REPORT - Detroit Mayor Dave Bing announced today that the city plans to lay off 164 firefighters by the end of July...
Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee said — much like Bing said about the firefighters — he hoped to offset the cuts through attrition and retirement. Godbee posted a nearly four minute long YouTube video on Friday explaining the potential cuts and attempted to reassure officers and citizens.
“I know many of you who are experiencing anxiety and uncertainty, and understandably so,” Godbee said. “In an effort to avoid any layoffs, there will absolutely be some critical sacrifices we must make. Will we all experience changes in our salaries and benefits? Yes, we will.
“Yet I implore everyone to really understand that, without these structural changes, our department will be drastically reduced even further, and layoffs would be imminent. Remember, this city depends on us. We are vital in creating a better Detroit.”
Godbee also thanked his officers for continuing to work despite the tough conditions the city’s financial issues have presented. “We have lost about 1,000 budgeted positions over the last seven years, yet we continue to go out and we perform our duties with the utmost dedication and professionalism,” Godbee said.
“For that, I commend you all for continuing to perform your duties and for exhibiting the highest level of dedication that the citizens of our great city deserve and have come to expect.” The city recently averted near financial disaster when a lawsuit by lead attorney Krystal Crittendon – which challenged the consent agreement the city entered into with the state of Michigan in April – was thrown out by a state judge.
Had the suit been upheld, the city was slated to go broke as soon as June 15. Bing’s attempts to remove Crittendon have been thwarted by the city’s charter – which was amended to make city attorneys independent of mayoral and council coercion in the wake of Kwame Kilpatrick’s abuse of power – and the Detroit City Council, which refuses to back her ouster. A majority of the council would have to support any order to force her resignation.
In terms of the firefighter layoffs, Bing said that it was something that he did not want to do but the financial situation left him with no other options.
“I have every confidence in [Detroit Fire Commissioner Donald] Austin and the men and woman of the fire department to maintain their highest standards of fire services and public safety for our citizens,” Bing said. “Laying off any of our courageous and dedicated public safety personnel is the last thing I want to do at this point, but I have to face this hard reality.”
Follow Jay Scott Smith on Twitter at @JayScottSmith
