Public Employee Press

Library funding, NYCHA jobs at stake
Union gears up for tough budget fight

The union is pushing for more funding for libraries and public housing as the City Council considers next year's budget, which must be completed by the end of June.

Mayor Bill de Blasio released his $78.3 billion proposed budget for fiscal year 2016 on May 7. It provides $10 million less for library operations than last year, and $65 million less than was budgeted in 2008.

"We are disappointed that this budget fails to adequately fund critical services provided by our public libraries," said DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido. "That means fewer poor children reading; fewer immigrants learning English; fewer job-seekers with access to computers and fewer library hours for everyone."

DC 37 is working with a coalition of library supporters to restore funding to its 2008 level. Front-line staffing in the three public library systems has plummeted by 21 percent since 2009.

For the first time, $300 million is in- cluded in the city's 10-year capital plan, to make repairs and maintain buildings. Garrido called that a step in the right direction but noted that, after years of neglect, the library's infrastructure needs closer to $1.4 billion over the next 10 years.

The 2016 executive budget also proposes the privatization of 57 community and senior centers at the New York City Housing Authority.

Five days after the mayor released the budget, Garrido joined Local 371 President Anthony Wells and union activists for a news conference and rally at City Hall to denounce the plan.

"Local 371 SSEU members have done an exceptional job in providing services for needed programs at NYCHA senior and community centers," Wells said. "We know what works and the city should recognize that by funding these centers through NYCHA. The new plan would create a complicated bidding process that will result in worse service at higher costs and the loss of good union jobs."

— GNH