Ralph E Smith  Publisher

GUARDIAN CHRONICLE   One disappointed Correction Officer  Date: 8/8/03 4:08:19 PM Pacific Daylight Time  From: Officer Wash To: Ralph E Smith- Publisher of the Guardian Chronicle Hi Mr.Smith, I am one of the 315 laid off correction officers who would like to share my feelings about the layoffs to anyone that cares.I am not a person heavenly involved in politics but I do know when the race card is being played.I am very surprised that no one seems to believe that race played a part in the layoffs or no one cares to address it.Mr.Bloom berg said that due to the city's budget crisis the layoffs were necessary. Why is it a Police Academy class of 1500 Officers  that was supposed to be postponed due to the crisis went ahead as planned.$45 million dollars went to the Fire Departments Academy at Randalls Island Mayor Bloombergs response was "we will not skimp on public safety and that's money well spent".Bloomberg seems to have only invested money in Departments that are predominately white so of course The Department of Corrections and the Sanitation Department never stood a chance.The only reason some Sanitation workers got their Jobs back was to benefit Bloomberg.He wanted the garbage picked up in Manhattan twice a week and when their was a dispute the only way to prevent people from saying it was discrimination was to have the garbage picked up in all boroughs. Norman Seabrook made it perfectly clear to each and everyone of us that he presented a plan to the Mayor that would save the city 30 million dollars a year and at the same time save our jobs.Bloomberg agreed that his plan would save the city money so why are we now unemployed? We are unemployed because our contract expired January 31-2003 and Bloomberg thought that it would be a good idea to try to get Seabrook to sign a bogus contract in exchange for our jobs.I'm glad Seabrook did not sign it.It's sad when the person who runs the city claims he's for the people what people are he for his own kind? Signed one very disappointed former CO

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