Rochester, N.Y. / Nationwide - If Sequestration cuts go through as planned on March 1, Rochester will feel the effects along with the rest of the nation.
Massive cuts totalling $85 billion are scheduled to take effect Friday if Congress doesn't act to delay them.
Those cuts could devastate programs like Meals-On-Wheels Programs for seniors and nutrition programs for children.
They would also hurt programs that serve victims of Domestic Violence. Alternatives For Battered Women CEO Jaime Saunders said: "These are the most vulnerable people in our society...women, children and men who are victims of abuse."
Air travelers would see delays at the airport and could see flights grounded. The F.A.A. says it will have to furlough thousands of workers, close 100 air towers and eliminate the midnight shift for air traffic controllers at 60 airports, including Rochester's.
That could impact the popular morning flights. There are 17 departures before 8 in the morning. Airport Director Mike Giardino said that although Rochester is on a list to lose its midnight shift for air traffic controllers, he has not received anything from the F.A.A. about the impact of these cuts.
Giardino said: "This is, of course, an F.A.A. thing. We don't have any control over it. It is a strategy they could put in place. We want to keep the airport operating 24/7 and hope everything can be resolved."
Passengers also worry about safety if air traffic controllers and screeners are cut. Amelia and Dave Keller travel to Florida about six times a year.
Right now they don't worry about their security. But they don't want to see airport workers lose their jobs or any less security because of budget cuts.
The Kellers said they want to believe this is all a political threat that can and will be settled in Washington.
But Rep. Chris Collins (R-Buffalo) told 13 WHAM News: "The Sequestration cuts will go through on Friday. I suspect the public will be feeling this, but it doesn't have to be so."
Collins blames Democrats in the Senate and the President for not coming to the table to work out spending cuts that he says are less drastic.
"I share the frustration. We should not be in this pickle...we can replace the cuts with less drastic ones...it's not fair to punish the public by politicizing this."
Democrats, including Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-Fairport), point the finger at Republicans and some Democrats. Slaughter said they voted for "draconian" cuts back in 2011, to balance the budget and reduce the $16 trillion national debt.
