Sunday, January 31, 2010

Massive Layoffs Coming in NYC, Nevada, California, Colorado, Arizona, Everywhere

Cities, states, and municipalities are sinking by the minute. And unless unions agree to concessions (which they won't) massive layoffs are coming everywhere you look. New York City is a prime example.

Please consider NYC May Lay Off 19,000 Workers If State Cuts Aid http://kgmi.com/NYC-May-Lay-Off-19-000- ... id/6201356

New York City will have to lay off more than 10,000 public workers, in addition to 8,500 teachers, if the state legislature approves the $1.3 billion of cuts the governor proposed in his deficit-closing budget, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said on Monday.

The mayor, in a speech to the legislature, estimated 3,150 police officers would be cut, reducing the force's "operational strength" to 1985 levels.

About 1,050 firefighters would have to be let go, along with 900 correctional officers, and the city would have to cut its daily inmate population by 1,900, he said. The number of at-risk children that service workers monitor would fall to 2,700 from 9,000, Bloomberg said.

The mayor, an independent, said Governor David Paterson's budget "utterly fails the test of fairness." He told lawmakers: "You can't lose control of the streets in terms of safety or cleanliness. You can't lose control of the streets in terms of an ambulance or a firefighter showing up."

NYC mayor: State budget would force city layoffs

Check out the spin in this version of the same story: NYC mayor: State budget would force city layoffs http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financia ... F1VAO0.htm

The proposed state budget would force thousands of layoffs and could reduce New York City police staffing to the level of 1985, before the city emerged as a terrorism target, Mayor Michael Bloomberg warned legislators Monday.

Gov. David Paterson's proposed 2010-11 budget would cut $1.5 billion in funding to the city, Bloomberg said -- forcing layoffs of 9 percent of the city's police officers; layoffs of 1,050 firefighters and the closing of some firehouses; and 8,500 teachers as part of what Bloomberg says is a $500 million cut in school aid.

In addition, aid for other services such as soup kitchens, homeless shelters and transit cards for students will be sapped with no way for the city to make up the funding.

"This executive budget would have devastating effects on essential services in New York City," Bloomberg said.

Pointing The Finger

It appears mayor Bloomberg does not have the courage to point the finger where it belongs.

Not a single public servant needs to be laid off. All they have to do is take a pay cut like workers at GM, Ford, or anyone in private industry had to do. If there are layoffs, unions are totally responsible.

Bloomberg's Grim Budget

Inquiring minds are reading Bloomberg Unveils a Grim Budget. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/29/nyreg ... et.html?hp

Declaring grimly that the city’s finances were “between a rock and a hard place,â€