The embattled city of East St. Louis has 19 fewer police officers patrolling its streets and 11 fewer firefighters.
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (AP) — The embattled city of East St. Louis has 19 fewer police officers patrolling its streets and 11 fewer firefighters. The city council voted Friday to lay off nearly 40 workers, including the firefighters and police. The layoffs take effect Sunday. Keith Randolph, vice president of the police union, says the layoffs leave the city with about 30 officers. Mayor Alvin Parks Jr. says the cuts were necessary to stop the state-appointed Financial Advisory Authority from intercepting state funding. Four public works employees and three administrative workers were also cut. The police and firefighters unions have said the layoffs will make the city unsafe. Parks says the cuts could’ve been avoided if the unions had agreed to take furlough days. Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
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