Local: Unemployment bureaucrats find themselves looking for work
As someone who has been there — often — I don’t relish the idea of anyone losing their job. That’s that’s what’s facing some city workers at the the Workforce Network. The feds have apparently reduced their grant funding by $1.5 million, and as a result some 11 people are getting laid off, and there’s some concern about cuts in services.
While this agency is funded by grants, the employees are carried on the city of Peoria’s books. So, it’s Peoria City Hall that’s sending out the layoff notices.
Let me be the first to say that under NO circumstances should there be any consideration for Peoria taxpayers to pick up the tab for these workers. In actuality, Peoria taxpayers already were picking up the tab, since they were paid with taxes paid by Peorians, and more than likely the money being used to keep these 11 people employed possibly would have been used for more essential services.
I’ve found myself down at the Workforce Network more than once, at various job fairs and the like. I was unimpressed. There is no job training service that they offer that already isn’t being performed or should be performed by some other already existing government entity.
And those job fairs? They are cattle calls. Usually the jobs being offered are for low paying positions that have high turnover. Job fair and job training do NOT increase the number of jobs available. I cannot imagine any of these employers increasing the number of positions they will offer because Workforce Network offers a job fair.
Here’s the bitter truth: When politicians talk about cutting the fat out of bloated government bureaucracy, Workforce Network is exactly the sort of thing they are talking out.
If there is any luck, this monstrosity and all similar agencies like it throughout the state will lose all their funding. Good riddance.
Look at it this way: Since all these people losing their jobs are such experts at helping other people find work, I’m sure it will be no burden on them to find one of their own in the private sector.
Repeat after me: Government is not the solution to high unemployment; government is the cause ofhigh unemployment. Government is not the solution to high unemployment; government is the cause of high unemployment ….
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
Gawd yes!