Politics

CeaseFire Funding Could Be Cut Again

Group Says If That Happens, City's Violence Is Sure To Continue To Skyrocket

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Operation CeaseFire said Tuesday shootings are up in Chicago and will keep rising if the group's funding is again caught in the political crossfire in Springfield.

But despite a large downtown rally, the governor isn't making any promises.

CBS 2's Rob Johnson reports the group, which enters Chicago's most violent places to defuse deadly tension, tried to defuse the bitter budget battle between Gov. Blagojevich and House Speaker Mike Madigan.

"We'll work with the governor's office, we'll work with the speaker's office, we'll work with everybody in order to get the violence down 'cause right now people are standing to lose their lives," CeaseFire's Tio Hardiman said.

The feud led Blagojevich to cut $6 million last summer that had been promised. And it could happen again this week in Springfield.

"I support Operation CeaseFire but there's no investment if there isn't any money," Blagojevich said.

CeaseFire says with 30 fewer volunteers to interrupt street confrontations there's been a dramatic rise in shootings.

Before the funding cut last August there were 159 fewer shootings. After the funding cut there were 170 shootings more.

"This was a triple homicide," said CeaseFire interrupter Ameena Matthews. "CeaseFire is not funded over here which is this is a state of emergency."

The proposed state budget is about $52 billion. Still a spokesperson said there's not enough money to guarantee CeaseFire its promised funding.

"This is just one of a number of programs that could be affected if the revenue is not found," Katie Ridgway, of the governor's office, said.

"It's been a very effective program because they use individuals that formally were involved in some criminal activity," Mayor Richard M. Daley said of CeaseFire.

The group says there will be a lot more criminal activity on Chicago streets if it loses its funding again.

The state budget is $2 billion short of funds. By law it has to be balanced.

Unless the House comes up with the needed funds during the special session Wednesday, Blagojevich says he'll spend Thursday cutting programs like CeaseFire.

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