the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
Apr 1, 2002
Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley’s new budget eliminates 100 city jobs. The biggest cuts will be in the Department of Recreation and Parks, with 45 custodial jobs to be contracted out, and city landscaping eliminated.
These cuts come on top of several hundred jobs eliminated last year including a good number of custodial jobs in schools and parks. In both cases jobs were out by layoff and attrition.
The budget goes into effect July 1, during the heat of summer, when parks are most popular with people of all ages. Baltimore has several potentially wonderful parks. But custodial upkeep and landscaping are critical if parks are to be pleasant, let alone habitable.
Mayor O’Malley repeatedly cries the blues that the population of Baltimore City is shrinking.
Well, the impact of budget cuts in parks and schools and city services–under O’Malley’s own administration–continues to drive down the quality of life for everyone in the city. Small wonder that people look elsewhere to live.