Cleveland mayor says all departments affected by city layoffs

CLEVELAND - Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson released details of the previously announced layoffs for city workers during a news conference Monday morning.

A total of 466 positions are being cut --- 321 current positions and 145 unfilled positions. Of the positions currently filled, 275 are full-time, 1 is part-time and 45 are seasonal.

The cuts are affecting every city department, safety services included. Here is a breakdown of the cuts affecting currently held positions:
- 81 police officers
- 42 cadets (will be allowed to graduate, but then will be immediately laid off)
- Police demotions: 4 sergeants
- 51 firefighters
- Fire demotions: 4 battalion chiefs, 3 captains, 10 lieutenants
- 6 employees in building and housing (5 full-time, 1 part-time)
- 17 in public affairs, finance & law
- 79 public works employees (34 full-time, 45 seasonal)
- Municipal court: 37 in judicial, 8 in clerk of court

During a news conference Monday, Mayor Frank Jackson said the cuts are due to a lack of flexibility in the state's proposed budget, which had been used during the past five years to balance the city's budget. Jackson said the state's proposed budget imposes a $35.7 million deficit on the city.

Here are the public services that will be affected by the cuts:
- Police: Reduction in number of 1-officer and 2-officer neighborhood patrols
- Fire: Close 5 of the 40 fire companies (note: fire companies are not the same as fire stations)
- Public works: Relies on seasonal employees to handle seasonal service delivery
- Waste collection: Trash will still be collected weekly, but collection will be delayed during the day
- Waste collection: Bulk item pick up will be delayed from same-day to 3 to 4 days
- Waste collection: Delays in dead animal collection, public receptacle service downtown and in neighborhoods, special event cleanup, recycling drop-off location service
- Streets: Scaled back maintenance of crack sealing program
- Streets: Main street sweeping reduced from 6 sweeps to 2 sweeps
- Streets: Elimination of leaf pickup
- Streets: Will NOT significantly reduce the level of snow removal service
- Recreation: 20 playgrounds will be unstaffed -- only playgrounds attached to recreation centers will be staffed
- Recreation: Lunch program will only be available at rec centers and staffed playgrounds
- Recreation: Outdoor pools will be be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, regardless of temperature
- Recreation: Recreation centers will close on Saturdays
- Public works: Reduction in 2nd shift emergency traffic light repairs
- Public works: Street painting will be delayed by two months
- Public works: Fewer trees will be trimmed at parks, delayed response to storm damage
- Public works: Reduction in routine ground maintenance and snow operations at parks

Keep checking newsnet5.com for more information.