Wednesday, March 20, 2013 A city council in New Jersey voted to slash the police and fire departments to close a $5 million budget gap on Tuesday night.

The layoffs will take effect July 1 in the Union County City of Linden.

21 police officers and 32 firefighters will be let go.

At Tuesday night's vote, the police and fire unions argued the layoffs will compromise safety.

The mayor said there was no other choice because unions are refusing to make concessions.