Public Employee Press

Political Action 2010
Mobilizing against cuts:
Educating City Hall

Dozens of DC 37 volunteers and leaders went to City Hall Feb. 3 to tell Mayor Bloomberg and the City Council: “No cuts to education and libraries!”

The midday leafleting and lobbying action opposed the massive budget cuts proposed by the mayor and governor, including the city slash of $316 million from the Dept. of Education, compounded by $493 million in proposed state cuts, and a decrease of $81 million in municipal aid to the city’s three library systems.

“Our schoolchildren cannot afford any more cuts,” said Veronica Montgomery-Costa, president of Local 372 and DC 37, who made the union’s case to Council member Robert Jackson outside City Hall. “Our members provide children with a safe environment in lunchrooms, schoolyards and hallways. They support teachers and administrators in important ways that allow them to do their jobs educating the city’s 1.1 million public school children.” Late last year, mayoral cuts caused more than 700 layoffs of Local 372 School Aides, drug counselors and School Lunch Helpers.

“These cuts threaten to eliminate 300 library jobs when New Yorkers can least afford it,” said Local 1482 President Eileen Muller, who approached the mayor as he exited his limousine.

Bloomberg’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2010 would reduce the libraries’ workforce by 35 percent, drastically reduce hours and seven-day service, and limit public access to technology and resources at branches.