By LILLIAN ROBERTS
Executive Director
District Council 37, AFSCME, AFL-CIO

It feels like a huge gust of fresh air has blown through City Hall and improved the atmosphere. Our new mayor, Bill de Blasio, is starting out in the right direction for the vast majority of New Yorkers. He has announced policy initiatives and issued a budget plan that together protect municipal services and the workers who provide them. And he seems to be quietly laying the groundwork for productive economic negotiations with the municipal unions.

In one of his first acts as mayor, de Blasio canceled the layoffs that loomed at the New York City Housing Authority, showing his deep concern for the well-being of the 400,000 residents - including 15,000 of our DC 37 members - and for the jobs of NYCHA workers in our union.

Now, in his first proposed budget (for the fiscal year beginning July 1), de Blasio has taken this fresh start further by suspending the payments NYCHA was making for the same Police Dept. services the city provides elsewhere without charge. This will free up more than $50 million to fund repairs and improve conditions for tenants.

His preliminary budget also protects funding for libraries and cultural institutions, which the previous administration cut regularly, bolsters homeless services and restores funds for DC 37 positions in HIV/AIDS programs and immunization clinics - vital help for parents whose children need their shots to attend public schools.

Despite the gridlock that Washington Republicans have imposed on national legislation, Mayor de Blasio has refused to take no for an answer on improving conditions for immigrants. His plan to offer city ID cards to all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, would help thousands who currently lack good identification - easing their path to bank accounts, apartment rentals, library cards and greater contributions to the local economy.

A fresh approach to negotiations

The media hyped stories saying that the mayor's budget is silent on pay increases and retroactive money for city workers. Well, as an experienced labor negotiator, I wouldn't reveal my plans on these subjects either.

When reporters pressed de Blasio for answers on the city's ability to fund new contracts for its employees, he said that will be decided in "the negotiation process" with DC 37 and the other unions.

We always tell mayors to negotiate at the table, not in the media, so his fresh start here makes me optimistic about the potential for good faith bargaining.

Another cause for hope is that this budget is the first in many years to recognize the city's improving income. It raises 2014-15 revenue forecasts by a total of almost $1.5 billion. And the new mayor has wisely prepared for the future by devoting some of this money to replenish reserve funds in the budget.

An increasing share of the rising income is generated by implementing proposals that came from the workforce and this union based on investigations by Associate Director Henry Garrido. We showed that the city could bring in hundreds of millions of dollars more without increasing taxes. And now the city is collecting fees it had neglected on billboards and cell phone towers and some undeserved tax exemptions are being cancelled. There is more to do here, especially regarding the wealthy and business owners of income-producing property who get away with evading their tax responsibilities.

In his State of the City address, Mayor de Blasio rejected past attacks on city employees, recognized "the hard work and commitment of these men and women" and praised "the services you provide every day in neighborhoods across New York."

All in all, I am optimistic because the city is enjoying better fiscal health than it has in many years and we have a mayor moving toward "government with a soul," making a fresh start with positive attitudes and a solid budget plan.