Chicago Sun-Times: CTA layoffs derail lives

[marmar]

CTA layoffs derail lives
1,057 OUT | Jobless bus driver caught in a downward spiral

June 21, 2010

BY MARY WISNIEWSKI Transportation Reporter


Vanessa Garrett loved driving the 79th Street bus for the CTA -- she thought this was the job she'd retire from.

But Feb. 7 Garrett became one of 1,057 CTA workers who lost their jobs when the agency cut service on bus and L routes to fill a budget hole caused by declining tax revenues. Since that day, her life has spiraled down.

Because of an error involving her Social Security number, Garrett's unemployment benefits were delayed, and she fell behind on her homeowners' insurance. She has jobless benefits now, but in the meantime her house was damaged by an electrical fire in March, and she can't live in it or pay to have it repaired.

She stayed for a while with a girlfriend, who got sick and fell into a coma. Now Garrett is staying in her daughter's crowded Sauk Village home, along with her daughter's husband, two other grown children and five grandchildren.

Housing isn't her only trouble -- Garrett's 85-year-old mother became ill in the last few months and died. Garrett buried her last week -- other laid-off CTA workers helped with the funeral expenses. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.suntimes.com/news/maxedout/2414130,CST-NWS-Maxedbus21.article

[KharmaTrain]

1. Another Victim Of "Booosh Delayed" Syndrome...

The dirty secret behind the booosh tax cuts was how it ruined state budgets...by giving big tax breaks to the rich that meant not only they paid less to the federal government but state ones as well. Add to that the collapse of local retail and real estate taxes in the wake of the boooosh-induced bank bust of 2007-08 and budgets are hurting all around with less money for the most needed and needy in our society.

There's no way to paint a rosey picture for those who continue to suffer or make empty promises of a quick turnaround...our country is flat broke as is our infrastructure...along with a morally bankrupt corporate culture that Americans still fail to see.

[Nikki Stone1]

2. This is why the social safety net is so important.

And why the Dems need to act like Dems and pass the extension of unemployment benefits.