PEP, December 2008: Fighting for fairness

By DIANE S. WILLIAMS

As the Legislature met Nov. 18 to consider Gov. David Paterson’s proposal to slash $2 billion from the state’s 2009 budget, DC 37 members and retirees rallied against the plan with 1,500 activists from the One New York and Better Choice for New York coalitions.

“We support the services our members provide for seniors, children, the homeless and people with HIV and AIDS,” said Local 1797 President Charles Farrison at the Albany rally. “No cuts, no givebacks! Enough is enough!”

Under snow clouds and heavy flurries, protesters marched to the Capitol where their midday demonstration helped block a vote on the latest attempt to balance the budget on the backs of public employees and the poor.

“No action on this plan was a victory for us,” said DC 37 Political Director Wanda Williams. But she warned that another effort to modify the budget would probably come after the governor issued his Executive Budget proposal in mid-December, a month earlier than usual.

Cuts hurt the most vunerable
The rejection of the plan sent Gov. Paterson to Washington the next day seeking federal aid to close the state’s growing budget gap, which may exceed $15 billion by 2010. To cope with the loss of tax revenues created by Wall Street’s collapse and spreading layoffs, the governor focused solely on deep spending cuts. Union economists said a more balanced plan would include revenue increases, borrowing and use of reserves.

Moira Dolan, assistant director of the DC 37Research and Negotiations Dept., said the cuts would hobble Medicaid, public hospitals and schools, close senior and community centers, raise tuition at state universities and city colleges and shred the safety net for the state’s most vulnerable residents.

“These cuts would hurt us, the employees, and the children and seniors we serve,” said Local 371 member Michelle Akyempong. In a letter to the governor, one of 1,000 that demonstrators left for him, she wrote, “Seniors depend on hot meals they get at our community centers, and youth get homework help and a safe place to go while their parents are at work at the after-school centers.”

“My hours were cut from seven to four a day. There’s no more overtime,” said School Lunch Aide Sandra Elisa Rodriguez of Local 372. “I have three kids and rent to pay. Now I have to apply for Food Stamps. I don’t want any more cuts or layoffs.”

The coalitions urged Albany to protect vital services for the needy by closing corporate tax loopholes and having the wealthy pay their fair share of taxes. “A small tax increase on incomes over $200,000 as well as additional brackets for higher incomes would generate nearly $5 billion in new revenues and restore fairness to the system,” Dolan said.

“I have five grandchildren in college who cannot afford more tuition,” said Local 1549 member Thomasina Braxton.

Pointing to Albany’s $1 billion “rainy day” emergency fund, Akyempong said, “It’s time to use it. This is not a rainy day, it’s a tsunami!”