On Tuesday, Adam highlighted Alex Kotlowitz's recent New York Times Magazine article on CeaseFire, the Chicago-based anti-violence program whose $6.2 million in state funding was cut last year. In the piece, Kotlowitz reports that independent researchers working for the Justice Department recently released a study demonstrating that CeaseFire's tactics resulted in significantly less violence in six of the seven neighborhoods analyzed.
According to the Tribune, those findings have caught the attention of certain state legislators, who are dismayed that Gov. Blagojevich's anti-violence funding includes no money for CeaseFire:
Earlier this week, the governor proposed a $150 million anti-violence initiative that would provide summer jobs for youth statewide and promote after-school programs and other activities. The plan made no mention of CeaseFire, a fact that frustrated some lawmakers.
"I think it's absolutely irresponsible to announce a $150 million anti-crime plan that is not spearheaded by CeaseFire," said Rep. Susana Mendoza (D-Chicago). [...]
Blagjoevich spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff said CeaseFire was cut because of a lack of money in the state budget but could benefit from the governor's new plan.
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