Public Employee Press

Members meet with legislators on DC 37 Lobby Day May 3
Sending a message to Albany

"You helped elect these legislators. Now it's time for them to take action on your behalf." — Lillian Roberts, Executive Director.

By ALFREDO ALVARADO

Making the wealthiest New Yorkers pay their fair share of taxes, renewing rent regulations and winning legislation to help laid-off and retired Off-Track Betting workers were top priorities for the 800 activists who bused to Albany May 3 for DC 37 Lobby Day.

The members and local leaders pressed state legislators for support on critical issues. "We have to work together and fight together," said Lobby Day veteran Thomasina Braxton, a retired Clerical Associate from Local 1549.

Executive Director Lillian Roberts addressed the activists before they met with the lawmakers. "You helped put them in the position they are in. Now it's time for them to listen to your issues, take action on your behalf and do what's best for the city," she said.

Addressing the DC 37 activists, State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver called for extending the Personal Income Tax surcharge known as the Millionaires' Tax, which is scheduled to expire in December.

Ending the surcharge would eliminate a $5 billion annual stream of revenue and leave working people and the wealthy paying the same tax rates. "It is not fair to put people who earn $40,000 a year in the same tax bracket as millionaires," he said.

State AFL-CIO President Denis Hughes told the union group, "What makes DC 37 great is that you never give up, you keep fighting, just like you're doing for your people from OTB."

NYC OTB closed in December and laid off its entire workforce; a state court temporarily extended retirees' health benefits, but the union wants legislation to guarantee the benefits.

Legislators back union

On Lobby Day, OTB Employees Local 2021 President Lenny Allen, who chairs the DC 37 Political Action Committee, led a group of members who met with Gary Pretlow, chair of the Assembly Committee on Racing and Wagering. "The struggle for OTB is not over," assured Pretlow. "I'm going to continue fighting, especially with DC 37 in my corner."

Renewing the rent regulations that are set to expire June 15 "is vital for many of our members," said DC 37 Political Director Wanda Williams. "We have 39,000 members living in apartments that are impacted. Without these limits, they would face skyrocketing rents and terrible financial strains."

State Senator John L. Sampson also supported the union's position. "The expiration of rent regulation laws is a direct threat to the economic well-being of 2.5 million tenants," he said.

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli backed DC 37's tough stance against contracting out city jobs to the private sector and said he would investigate agencies that break the rules for awarding private contracts. DiNapoli dismissed the idea that city pensions are to blame for the fiscal crisis. "New York has the best funded pension plan in the country," he said.

"Mayor Bloomberg and Gov. Cuomo needed a strong message from our union. Today we did a good job of sending them that message," said Williams.