The city of Allen Park, Mich., is facing a
budget crisis so severe that it has issued layoff notices to all 25
members of its fire department. This puts the entire community at
risk.
“This is the new economy, welcome to it.”
said Charles Sercombe, the editor of The Hamtramck Review.
Who’s feeling welcomed into this new economy? Workers are facing unprecedented
cutbacks; capitalists are making record profits.
The budget crisis impacting cities and towns across the United
States stems from the bursting of the speculative real estate bubble.
When the inevitable collapse of the market occurred, property taxes
and other revenues declined precipitously, throwing towns like Allen
Park into crisis.
Wall Street caused the crisis, but workers are being forced to pay
the price. It will take a united struggle to put an end to cutbacks
and layoffs in city services such as firefighting.
