Rally protests state cuts

Analysis:

This story is based upon a rally held on Calder Plaza in Grand Rapids to protest the state budget cuts that will impact social services. The story cites four sources, a retiree, a current member of the Grand Rapids School Board, Rockford School Superintendent, and GR Chief of Police Harry Dolan. The commentary from all four sources focuses either on the issue of taxes, a statement about the need for unity, and the frustration over such a small turnout. Is it clear from this story what services other than government and education are at risk with the state budget cuts? According to independent coverage of this event, people also addressed the issue of health care and that many people felt frustrated that their issues were being “pitted against education.” There was also mention in the independent coverage that comparisons were made with how much the state spends on incarcerating people compared to social services, a point that was omitted from the GR Press version. There are also no perspectives from those who would be most affected by the cuts, particularly the socially vulnerable, even though they were in attendance.

Story:

Marge Gavigan is not afraid to let people know it: She wants her taxes raised.

Holding a sign reading “Tax is not a four-letter word,” Gavigan was part of a gathering of about 300 people rallying Tuesday to show lawmakers they want a budget deal that maintains services.

“We pay lower taxes than anyone in the developed world,” she said. “You can’t get great services for nothing.”

Gavigan, a Grand Rapids retiree, said she attended the event as a concerned citizen, but the crowd was dominated by school and government employees.

There were frequent calls to raise taxes, few to trim state pensions or other expenses.

Grand Rapids Board of Education member Arnie Smithalexander was one of the event’s organizers and said she expected 10,000 people crammed onto Calder Plaza. But she was “sickened” by the turnout.

“I expected wall-to-wall people here,” she said. “Every school in the county should have 20 people here. I’m really upset about it.”

But other organizers said they believe the deal reached by Gov. Jennifer Granholm and lawmakers last week to spare schools, Medicare and revenue sharing to municipalities for this year might have prompted some to stay home, believing the problem was solved.

But Rockford Superintendent Michael Shibler said most of the elements of the deal are one-year fixes that do not offer long-term plans.

He said Kent County schools collectively have cut more than $100 million from their budgets in recent years and cannot cut more without eliminating needed programs.

Shibler said state taxes have been lowered so much that there isn’t enough money in the coffers.

“They either need to restore revenue generated by those taxes or come up with new taxes — whatever it takes,” he said to cheers from the crowd. “They’ve gotten by with smoke and mirrors, but we need them to come up with true reform.”

Grand Rapids Police Chief Harry Dolan said his department has eliminated 75 positions, which he said makes it more difficult to keep officers on the street, preventing crime before it happens.

“This is a time for courage,” he said. “We need to stand tall and stand together.”