Public Employee Press

DC 37 celebrates
Italian Heritage

At a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 7 and again at a dinner-dance Oct. 16, the DC 37 family gathered to celebrate the heritage and contributions of members from Italian backgrounds.

Italian Heritage Committee Chair Michael DeMarco welcomed guests and spoke movingly of “the traditions our families brought from Italy and proudly passed on to us” — traditions such as hard work, painstaking artisanship, patriotism, union solidarity and strong family ties.

DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts praised the contributions of Italian-Americans “to our city, to our nation and to this great union.” She said they “have enriched the union movement with vigor and dedication” and have shared their “rich history of public service and a strong work ethic that have helped make the city what it is today.”

Political victory
Mr. DeMarco, the president of Traffic Employees Local 1455, praised the work of Committee Co-chair Diane Savino, who recently won election as a State Senator.

He brought Sewage Treatment Workers Local 1320 President James Tucciarelli to the podium to introduce honored guests including DC 37 President Veronica Montgomery-Costa, Treasurer Maf Misbah Uddin and AFSCME’s Lee Saunders, former administrator of DC 37 and Executive Assistant to AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee. In a brief talk, Mr. Saunders stressed the importance of politics to the labor movement and especially to public employees.

In the lobby at DC 37, the committee exhibited photos of Italy by Anita Sanseverino and sculptural works made of scrap metal by Gianvito Bottalico, a retired member of Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Maintainers Local 1931.

“It is gratifying to create art from discarded materials, time and passion,” said Mr. Bottalico, a former Sr. Bridge and Tunnel Maintainer.

“Italy is filled with beautiful images, but it is not enough to see with your eyes. You must see with your heart,” said Ms. Sanseverino. “Italy is my spiritual home.”