Thread: N.Y.C. Plans to Cut 11,000 City Workers

MAY 6, 2010, 5:45 P.M. ET.

Bloomberg Plans to Cut 11,000 City Workers

By MICHAEL HOWARD SAUL

Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed Thursday a $62.9 billion budget that would shutter pools, firehouses and senior centers, and cut thousands of teachers and reduce a slew of services citywide.

Mr. Bloomberg, four months into his third term at City Hall, placed the blame for the city's financial predicament squarely on the shoulders of Albany leaders and the deep cuts in funding they've made. He accused the state of "starving" the city.

"Unless the Legislature acts, New York City residents will pay the price for Albany's bad decisions," the mayor said. "I will remind everybody who, unfortunately, may lose their jobs that it is because of Albany's fiscal irresponsibility."

Even before the mayor finished speaking, Gov. David Paterson's budget director, Robert Megna, fired off a blistering response. He accused the city of using "selective accounting" and questioned whether the proposed cuts were necessary.

"The mayor's budget uses the state as a scapegoat to shirk responsibility for their own budget choices," Mr. Megna charged.

While the city and state are traditionally at loggerheads over budget issues, this year marks the first time since Mr. Bloomberg became mayor that city leaders might have to approve a budget before Albany passes a state budget. The state budget, which faces a $9 billion deficit, is now more than a month late, and there's no sign that a resolution is imminent.

The proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 assumes Albany will cut finding to the city by $1.3 billion.

The mayor did not to propose any tax increases, but the budget would impose roughly $87 million in new or higher fees, such as increasing parking meter rates.

The administration plans to slash the city headcount by nearly 11,000 employees, with more than 6,000 coming from layoffs and nearly 5,000 from attrition. There will be no layoffs at the city's uniformed agencies.

Twenty firehouses are scheduled to be shuttered. This summer, four pools will be closed and the pool season will be shortened by two weeks.

Hit hardest in the budget is the city's Education Department, where the mayor proposed eliminating 6,414 teachers and other pedagogical positions. The cuts will also result in more than 600 layoffs at city libraries and nearly 300 layoffs at cultural institutions.

The cuts to city services will affect many of New York City's most vulnerable constituencies, including the elderly, the poor and children.

New Yorkers can also expect more pot holes, the mayor said, because the city will have less money to repave streets.

The administration balanced the budget, in large part, from a $3.3 billion surplus from the current fiscal year, which officials said comes from years of budget cuts.

Mr. Bloomberg said there is no money for raises for city workers, unless unions come up with so-called "givebacks," ways to save the city money.

The budget is expected to be negotiated with the City Council during the next eight weeks. The council plans to hold a series of public budget hearings, beginning Thursday.

"These cuts are real, these layoffs are real and the absence of $1.3 billion is real," City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said. "The proposed cuts announced today are, to put it lightly, devastating."

Write to Michael Howard Saul at michael.saul@wsj.com

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... sNewsThird

Yeah he's gotta have the money for his beloved illegals.