By Bill Brown, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-859913.mp3
Dallas, TX –
On Thursday, KERA reporter Bill Brown checked in on a Career Fair hosted by the City of Dallas. The fair attracted hundreds of city workers about to lose their jobs.
Former Dallas Police Officer Deborah Goodman, who lately has been a civilian with DPD in Crime Prevention, is one of 800 city workers losing her job due to a big budget shortfall. She's come to this city-hosted Career Fair, hoping to nab one of 670 new city jobs that could be created in next year's budget.
"I'm gonna go through the process and see if there are other jobs out there, but I prefer to keep the one I have, because that's the one I have a passion for."
Almost 500 city employees being laid off lined up to talk with leaders of a couple dozen-city departments that may later be hiring. Some workers have been with the city 30 years. Each had a personal interview with the recruiters.
Dan Pesina said all this has been tough on his family.
"It's been difficult. We've had to stop and figure out our budget, had to really budget our money and cut back on certain things."
David Etheridge, head of the city's Human Resources department, helped put the career fair together. He said he's sure a lot of the laid-off employees will be hired back.
"This is the first day, where we're actually, since the RIF notices, interviewing people and subsequently within a week or so, we hope to see some offers go to the various employees."
Officially, all the city workers will get the ax September 30th. The city council will vote on the proposed new budget in two weeks.