PEP, September 2005: $86 million for city

Weeks of testimony, demonstrations and lobbying paid off for DC 37 members as the City Council passed 14 pieces of union-backed legislation and restored over $86 million to the budget for fiscal year 2006, which began July 1.

The funds will hire more School Crossing Guards and Park Enforcement Patrol Officers, keep libraries and museums open and help public hospitals and clinics.

Some of the new laws will improve disclosure requirements for payday loans, strengthen the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption program, improve access to information on child care and day care facilities, and provide whistleblower rewards and protection for city workers who report contractors that submit false claims.

The City Council restored $28.9 million to libraries and added $4 million in enhancements. Cultural institutions got $11.4 million restored and another $2 million to boost security, $1.34 million was restored for school dropout prevention, and CUNY got back $16.5 million. The Parks Dept. got a restoration of $7.3 million for seasonal workers plus $2 million to hire PEP workers.

Of the total $8.8 million restored to the budget for the Health and Hospitals Corp. Child Health clinics received $5.3 million plus a $700,000 enhancement of city funds. Although school nurses faced a $2.6 million funding cut, they received $2.5 million.

HHC Substance Abuse and Mental Hygiene providers got $5.9 million and the Infant Mortality program got a full restoration of $2.8 million plus an extra $2 million. The mayor eliminated full restoration of funding for the Administration for Children’s Services from his Executive Budget.

While the union hoped for but did not get $10 million added to the budget for civilianization of the Police Dept., the Council included $2.7 million for civilianizing 90 positions as well as a full restoration of $613,000 for School Crossing Guards and a $757,000 enhancement, which will help hire more guards for summer and the school year.

“We got most of what we’ve pushed for. We’re grateful that Mayor Bloomberg and the City Council have supported our members by restoring funds so we can provide the essential services that make this city run,” Roberts said.

— Diane S. Williams