Top News Assignment # 3

Mayor Chuck Reed of San Jose, Ca called on city workers Thursday to accept a 10 to 15 percent cut in pay and benefits to help fill a $100 million budget hole. According to San Jose Mercury News article “Unions so far have balked at more modest proposals to cut workers' compensation, even though city leaders have said the alternative would be hundreds of layoffs”. Due to the global recession San Jose’s ninth consecutive shortfall exceeds what the city spends on libraries and parks combined.

Reed told the crowd of 1,400 at the McEnery Convention Center that employee cost which account for two thirds of the operating budget, have shot up 64 percent in the past nine years, while revenues have climbed just 18 percent. This news article affects the lives of many local San Jose residents. The idea of a loss in pay physically puts a drain on the lives of those who are less fortunate.

I personally feel for these workers because I would hate for it to happen to me. The workers shouldn’t have to pay for something that’s going on in the city that didn’t involve them, but due to the recession it’s making living in America harder each day. The families of these workers depend on their pay checks to get the bills paid. The decrease in wage will affect many. The news values in this story would be values of impact and proximity. It also has the news value of immediacy/timeliness and emotions/human interest.

http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_14427976