The Cook County Board of Commissioners has voted to amend the State's Attorneys budget, a move that restores the position LGBT/ hate crime victim specialist.
Windy City Times reported last week that both LGBT-specific positions in that office were proposed to be cut. Anne Huffman, LGBT/hate crime specialist and Vernita Gray, community outreach specialist and LGBT liaison, had both been given notice that their jobs would end on Dec. 3.
Huffman's position has been retained, reported Dan Kirk, chief of staff at the State's Attorney's office. Gray, however, is being let go.
Kirk said that his office negotiated a resolution that restored more than $2.5 million to the State's Attorney's budget, which was initially slashed by 6.7 percent. The amendment will allow all of office's 84 victim witness advocates to remain on staff ( 14 were proposed to be cut, Huffman among them ) .
"Victim witness is an incredibly vital part of our office that we can't do without," Kirk said. "We're glad that the County Board demonstrated an understanding that these services are essential."
Still, Kirk said the end result is not without significant loss for the office. More than 70 layoffs, most of them administrative positions, will be cut. Eight of 10 "community outreach" positions have also been cut, among them Gray's.
Gray has worked for the State's Attorney's office for nearly two decades. Last winter, her position survived budget cuts, despite notice that she was being laid off. Gray has been on medical leave for approximately 15 months.
Gray, reached by phone, said it was "wonderful" that Huffman's position was saved.
"I'm fine … it's not about me," Gray said. "The real issue is the services to our community … our community needs it."