osoab
5th January 2011, 03:08 PM
Laid-off Gary firefighter panhandles for money (http://tickerforum.org/akcs-www?post=176442)
GARY, Ind. — A furloughed Gary firefighter has turned to panhandling to support his family.
Jason Pickering is one of 34 firefighters the city laid off last week. The 34-year-old married father of four has been wearing his turnout gear while he solicits donations from passersby holding a cardboard sign reads: “Laid off Gary firefighter. Family of six. Thank you and God bless.”
In his other hand he holds a boot to collect donations.
“I was at 31st and Grant and got $400 in four hours,” the Valparaiso resident told The Times of Munster for a story today. “People were really generous, giving 20s and stuff.”
Pickering said he’s panhandling in part to protest the layoffs and raise awareness about them.
However, he said his financial need is real. His wife does not work, staying home with their four daughters ranging in age from 2 to 10.
“Unemployment only pays $350 a week,” he said. “I’ve got a house, car payment, mortgage payment, just like everyone else.”
The city delivered the layoff notices Dec. 27, saying they will save the city about $1.2 million.
City officials said they expect the state’s Distressed Unit Appeals Board to find the budget cuts necessary. The board granted the city $21 million in relief from property tax caps in each of the past two years, but the city’s tax revenue has been cut in half since the tax caps were instituted. The bankruptcy of the Majestic Star Casino also has cost the city tax revenue.
The explanations are little relief to Pickering, who doesn’t know where to find work in his chosen profession. The only department hiring anywhere in the state, he said, is in Fort Wayne.
“We just want to come back to work,” Pickering said of the furloughed firefighters. “We took an oath to help people.”
http://cmsimg.indystar.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=BG&Date=20110104&Category=NEWS09&ArtNo=110104009&Ref=V1&Profile=1001&MaxW=300&Border=0
Feel sorry for the guy who leveraged himself to the hilt. :oo-->
I wonder how much he is cutting into the regular panhandlers take?
GARY, Ind. — A furloughed Gary firefighter has turned to panhandling to support his family.
Jason Pickering is one of 34 firefighters the city laid off last week. The 34-year-old married father of four has been wearing his turnout gear while he solicits donations from passersby holding a cardboard sign reads: “Laid off Gary firefighter. Family of six. Thank you and God bless.”
In his other hand he holds a boot to collect donations.
“I was at 31st and Grant and got $400 in four hours,” the Valparaiso resident told The Times of Munster for a story today. “People were really generous, giving 20s and stuff.”
Pickering said he’s panhandling in part to protest the layoffs and raise awareness about them.
However, he said his financial need is real. His wife does not work, staying home with their four daughters ranging in age from 2 to 10.
“Unemployment only pays $350 a week,” he said. “I’ve got a house, car payment, mortgage payment, just like everyone else.”
The city delivered the layoff notices Dec. 27, saying they will save the city about $1.2 million.
City officials said they expect the state’s Distressed Unit Appeals Board to find the budget cuts necessary. The board granted the city $21 million in relief from property tax caps in each of the past two years, but the city’s tax revenue has been cut in half since the tax caps were instituted. The bankruptcy of the Majestic Star Casino also has cost the city tax revenue.
The explanations are little relief to Pickering, who doesn’t know where to find work in his chosen profession. The only department hiring anywhere in the state, he said, is in Fort Wayne.
“We just want to come back to work,” Pickering said of the furloughed firefighters. “We took an oath to help people.”
http://cmsimg.indystar.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=BG&Date=20110104&Category=NEWS09&ArtNo=110104009&Ref=V1&Profile=1001&MaxW=300&Border=0
Feel sorry for the guy who leveraged himself to the hilt. :oo-->
I wonder how much he is cutting into the regular panhandlers take?