remember to duck when the bullets fly

Gov hit for dumping gang-mediation funds

CHICAGO | CeaseFire program aims to reduce shootings

August 25, 2007

BY ANNIE SWEENEY Crime Reporter asweeney@suntimes.com

Funding for an inner-city program that tries to defuse gang conflicts and reduce shootings was eliminated by Gov. Blagojevich as part of his budget cuts, drawing fierce criticism and warnings that violence will spike.

This week, Blagojevich cut $463 million from the state budget passed by the General Assembly, including $6.2 million for CeaseFire, whose workers negotiate conflicts between gang members in neighborhoods across the city.

"It's shocking the governor would do this," said state Rep. Harry Osterman (D-Chicago). "I look at this as a health care issue. The governor wants health care, and yet he is taking a program off the streets that has helped young people from getting shot."

» Click to enlarge image

A group prays at the start of the Ceasefire rally held in March.
(Thomas Delany Jr./Sun-Times)

Osterman said workers would likely be laid off early next week, just as students are returning to school and summer violence could spill into classrooms.

CeaseFire began in 2000 in Chicago but since has branched out into the suburbs.

It now runs on an $8 million budget, said CeaseFire executive director Gary Slutkin.

CeaseFire workers have mediated more than 900 conflicts over the last three years, the group's records show. In addition, CeaseFire employees work closely with gang members and their families to prevent future conflicts.

"Instead of remaining the important public safety initiative, [CeaseFire] became a political bargaining chip," Slutkin said.

Blagojevich said Friday in a statement that the state could not afford the program.