Public Employee Press

MELS celebrates Law Day

DC 37’s Municipal Employees Legal Services celebrated Law Day May 3 at union headquarters with a program that included several speakers, including Executive Director Lillian Roberts.

“You really don’t know how important you are to our members,” Roberts told the lawyers and staff of MELS. “I hope you realize the difference that you make and how much you’re loved and appreciated by the membership of District Council 37.”

Maf Misbah Uddin, treasurer of DC 37 and president of Accountants, Statisticians and Actuaries Local 1407, commended the MELS attorneys and staff for their excellent work.

“In 1992 I got my first house with the assistance of MELS,” he said. “You are doing God’s work. I know because my members tell me so.”

The keynote speaker for the afternoon event was City Council member Rosie Mendez, who represents District 2 in Manhattan. “I applaud the work that you do on a daily basis,” said Mendez, who spoke of the importance of everyone having access to affordable legal help.

Mendez chairs the council’s Public Housing Committee. She recently introduced city legislation to restore rent regulations and to have housing impact studies done when a development is to be sold. Mendez also supports a change in the residency laws for DC 37 members. “I think it’s unfair,” said Mendez. “Other city workers can live where they want. DC 37 members should have this right too.”

The late President Dwight D. Eisenhower established Law Day, May 1, to celebrate the country’s heritage of liberty, justice and equality under the law and to counterbalance what was then the biggest day on the socialist and labor calendar. In most of the world, May 1 is still known as Labor Day or International Workers Day and is marked with parades celebrating working men and women.