By LEE SAUNDERS
Administrator, District Council 37, AFSCME

Even as the fires continue to smolder at Ground Zero, the debate over how best to rebuild New York City has begun.

Everyone can agree on one point: the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center has devastated the city’s economy. Econo-mists estimate that, within a month of the attack, the city lost more than 100,000 jobs. And Governor Pataki and Mayor Giuliani have predicted that, because of the decline in economic activity, the State and City will lose $12 billion in tax revenues over the next 18 months.

While it is clear that sacrifices must be made in order to get the city back on its feet, slashing government budgets and city services are shortsighted options that could have devastating consequences.

Thoughtful, creative solutions will be needed to help the city through this profoundly difficult time.

New York City cannot afford further reductions in the services that make it a viable place to live and work. As the West Nile virus proved even before anthrax became a threat, the city needs a first-rate public health department. The city needs a public hospital system that provides all residents with access to basic care. The city needs quality schools, well-maintained parkland and outstanding cultural institutions. The city needs a social safety net for its most vulnerable citizens. These necessities are not possible if budget cuts alone rule the day.

Sisters and brothers, DC 37 and other municipal unions expect to be at the table — representing our members — helping to develop the plans for reconstruction. In this spirit, we stand willing to help our city maintain its fiscal stability and, just as importantly, its quality of life.

But the commitment must cut both ways — we expect to be treated as full and equal partners in the rebuilding effort.

It seems apparent that there are two roads to take in rebuilding New York City. The low road is paved with risky, short-term fixes, such as tax breaks, that are designed solely to keep businesses here, while ignoring the people, services and institutions that make New York a great city.

The high road, however, is a far-reaching, accountable approach to rebuilding that works to the benefit of workers, taxpayers, communities and business. On the high road, we ask questions like these:

• What if rebuilding PATH and subway stations included enhancing transportation between Wall Street and Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island?
  
  
• What if the company winning the franchise to provide fiber optic services to a new World Trade Center complex was required to help fund a new associate degree program in telecommunications within our public university system?
  
  
• What if all tax subsidies for rebuilding the city came with the requirement that compensation for the jobs created by these subsidies would have to include health insurance?
  

There is, unfortunately, no way to turn back the clock and undo the damage inflicted on September 11. But now is the time for innovation, so that we can rebuild our city in ways that improve the quality of life for everyone who lives and works here.