Public Employee Press

At City Hall
Budget pressure builds

By ALFREDO ALVARADO

DC 37 activists joined thousands of school teachers, students and parents as they took to the streets in front of City Hall on a cold rainy afternoon March 19 to protest Mayor Bloomberg’s budget cuts to city schools. The following week DC 37 local presidents went to City Hall to testify at City Council hearings on the mayor’s budget for fiscal year 2009.
“The mayor has proposed budget cuts — 5 percent so far, and possibly more later,” said Eileen Muller, president of Brooklyn Public Library Local 1482, at a March 24 hearing. “The library’s plan to open mini-libraries has already been put on hold because of looming budget cuts.”

Carol Thomas, president of New York Public Library Guild Local 1930, advocated an increase in staff. “Last year we supported the library’s decision to provide six-day service,” said Thomas. “But the library has failed to provide the resources to support its commitment to expand services to the community. Six-day service is a terrific idea, but we are in dire need of more staff to run the individual libraries.” Thomas also pointed out that with an endowment of over $800 million, the NYPL is “flush with money.”

Cuthbert Dickenson, president of Local 374, which represents several titles that work in the city libraries, expressed concern over the pending closing of several library branches.

He called for “a collaborative process that could be embraced by both sides” to “ensure that hard-working employees do not loose their livelihood.”

The American Museum of Natural History also faces budget cuts — 8 percent for fiscal year 2009. “If the city goes forward with this cut, the museum might have to reduce hours, shut down exhibits and limit the educational programs provided to schoolchildren,” said Peter Vreeland, president of Local 1559.

Child care threatened
The mayor’s preliminary budget also calls for areduction of approximately $2.1 million to the New York Aquarium, the Wildlife Conservation Society at the Bronx Zoo and three of the city’s zoos. “If these reductions in city support are allowed to go forth, the results could be devastating layoffs for my members,” said Robert Herkommer, president of New York Zoological Society Employees Local 1501, in written testimony submitted to the City Council on March 20.

The Oral Health and Hygiene Program, which provides dental care for children at school-based clinics, frequently finds its funding threatened. Last year the City Council Health Committee prevented layoffs of the Dental Assistants, members of Local 768, who work in the clinics. At the committee’s hearing April 10, Local 768 President Darryl Ramsey and Chapter Chair Dale Brooks raised concerns over the lack of communication between the Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene and the union. “The lack of communication is a clear message that the agency and the Oral Health Program leaders are not concerned with improving their own program,” said Ramsey.

Speaking on behalf of DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts, Marilyn Charles, political and legislative analyst for the union’s Political Action Dept., objected to proposed cuts to child care centers. “We strongly protest any possible closure or planned budget cuts to child care centers funded by the Administration for Children’s Services,” she said.