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Public
Employee Press
MELS speaker hits Bush bankruptcy law
DC 37 members have a union that not only fights for better
wages and working conditions but also provides them with many other important
services, including legal assistance.
The staff of MELS, the unions Municipal Employees Legal Services,
were honored May 2 for their hard work on behalf of the members. Im
very grateful that you are here for the excellent services that you provide
for our members, said DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts.
The afternoon Law Day program at the union featured guest speaker Karen
Gross, a professor at New York Law School who specializes in bankruptcy
and consumer finance. You provide a hugely critical service,
said Ms. Gross, who spoke about the new federal bankruptcy legislation.
The bill, which is expected to be signed into law by President George
W. Bush, will make it much more difficult for Americans to wipe out their
debts by filing for bankruptcy.
The law will have a disproportionately large impact on people in
New York City, said Ms. Gross. Landlords will also be able
to evict tenants faster and many consumers here will have a hard time
entering into Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
Joan L. Beranbaum, director and chief counsel of MELS, also thanked her
staff for their work and stressed the importance of the rule of law. We
have to uphold the rule of law and what it means in this country,
she said.
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