“Wrong choices were reversed. The Legislature restored $2.7 billion to NYC and overrode the governor as a result of our members lobbying for taxing the wealthy and closing corporate loopholes.” — Wanda Williams, DC 37 political director

By DIANE S. WILLIAMS

A record-breaking 700 DC 37 members assembled in Albany May 6 for the union’s annual Lobby Day. The largest DC 37 contingent in recent memory cheered as Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver announced their non-partisan budget, which would restore $2.7 billion to New York City. If implemented, the budget would avert Mayor Bloomberg’s “doomsday plan,” saving thousands of unionized, public sector jobs and preserving vital city services.

“Our friends and allies in Albany came to an historic agreement today,” said DC 37 Political Action Committee Chair Leonard Allen. “Republicans and Democrats came together to restore a fair budget and to protect the families of our state.”

Although Gov. George E. Pataki has vetoed the revised budget, the legislative leaders say they have enough support from both sides of the aisle to override him. However, the governor might file a lawsuit to block the budget or refuse to spend the allotted funds.

The night before the DC 37 contingent bused to Albany, Sen. Bruno and Speaker Silver agreed to replace the governor’s “slash and burn” budget with what unions said was “a better choice.”

The predominately Republican Senate and the Democrat-controlled Assembly restored billions in state funding to New York City, which has lost an estimated $36 billion in damages and recovery costs, 100,000 jobs and 2,795 human lives as a result of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The revised budget restores $1 billion to public schools and retains universal pre-kindergarten. It restores $1.7 billion to health care. The new budget calls for temporary tax increases including a 1/8 percent hike in the sales tax and an income tax surcharge for individuals who earn more than $100,000 and couples who earn more than $150,000 annually.

The revenue generated would be a lifeline to preserve city services and public sector jobs. Political leaders said the budgetary revisions are “a giant step on the road to economic recovery.”

“By restoring $2.7 billion to the Big Apple,” Sen. Bruno said, “Albany recognized New York as the financial capital of the world.” “In these tough and challenging times, layoffs are not the answer,” he continued. “Rather than doom and gloom, we are recognizing that we are partners in the city’s recovery.”

Averting layoffs, Speaker Silver said, insures the quality of life and gives New York strength to overcome this fiscal crisis. “Cuts to schools and hospitals are the governor’s wrong choices,” he added. “We came together to rescue thousands of public employees from the unemployment line.”

Senate Minority Leader David Paterson exposed the governor’s job-killing taxes ploy. “Lowering taxes will not rev the engine of the economy,” Sen. Paterson said. “To correct the economic shortfall, the wealthy should pay their fair share.” While President Bush proposes to spend $100 billion to rebuild Iraq, Sen. Paterson said, “In his arrogance of power, Bush wants for Iraq what he’s failed to provide New Yorkers: Education, jobs and opportunity.”

Buoyed by the union’s successful lobbying efforts, DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts reminded members, “Politics plays a vital part in our livelihood.” Ms. Roberts credited the 30,000 members who rallied April 29 at City Hall for sending the right message to politicians. “It took all of us at Tuesday’s rally to get politicians to see we mean business — and they heard us,” Ms. Roberts said. Now that the money is promised, she said, “The city cannot keep private contractors on the payroll when our members are being laid off. The city should pull back the pink slips.”