For some, his is a well crafted budget. But I have to agree with one of our witnesses at the public hearing held last Wednesday who said, “But for those who are in desperate need of affordable housing, job training, job creation and health and human services it’s not good news…as poverty worsens, as unemployment opportunities decline, as buildings that have rehab potential get bulldozed and tenants are displaced, and as neighborhoods continue to decline, who will make a way for the poor blacks and Latinos and the low-income whites in the city of Chicago?” It is truly our greatest challenge to address the disparities addressed in this comment and the inherent isolation of significant segments of our population from the resources and the tools to break that isolation.

We continue to plan the budget with built in end of year surpluses ($128 million is projected for 1998). That may allow for a sense of security, but is that really okay when a reasonable reduction in salvage could be all we need to build, the most valuable infrastructure we could ever have – the infrastructure for human development.

I will be voting no.