CHICAGO - "When they started talking about the ending of the subsidies, I said I felt like I have one (foot) already in the grave," said Dorothy Harding, 70, a retired Chicago Public Library employee of more than 33 years. "Now the mayor is cutting us out, [and it's] starting to feel like I got two feet in the grave."

Harding was one many city residents to testify about the impact of Mayor Rahm Emanuel's proposed 2014 budget to a standing room only hearing Oct. 29 convened by the Progressive Reform Caucus of the City Council held at the UE Hall.

For the third year in a row Emanuel is seeking to solve the city budget deficit by starving city services and imposing steep hikes in fees and fines, taxes by another name. They will adversely affect working class communities.

Coupled with an expansion of privatization of public education and city services and an insulation of powerful financial and monopoly corporate interests and the wealthy from paying higher taxes, Emanuel has been dubbed, "Mayor One Percent."

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