Public Employee Press

Rally defends the city's parks

STOP CUTBACKS: Pres. Dilcy Benn at City Hall June 1 with Local 1505 members.

Protesting Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's deep budget cuts at City Hall June 1, Local 1505 members chanted, "Save our parks! Save our community! Stop the cuts!"

"Public parks are the jewels of this city because our members keep them clean and safe," said Local 1505 President Dilcy Benn. "We take pride in our work." Together with members of Local 983 and other DC 37 unions, Local 1505's 750 City Parks Workers care for 1,700 parks and playgrounds, beaches and pools, bike paths, recreation centers and dog runs.

Mayor Bloomberg's proposed budget for the year beginning July 1 called for wiping out jobs by hacking $30 million from the Parks Dept., destroying work options by cutting $10 million from the Parks Opportunity Program for Job Training Participants, closing swimming pools two weeks early and slashing hours at recreation centers. Some officials estimate that about 175 Local 1505 positions are at risk.

"In this tough economy, layoffs would upend families and communities and cost the city more for welfare and unemployment benefits," said Benn.

In a show of union solidarity, Local 983 President Mark Rosenthal and Vice President Joe Puleo joined the rally.

The mayor's cuts, which seem to target facilities in poorer neighborhoods, "will hurt workers and residents who can least afford it," said DC 37 Field Operations Director Barbara Edmonds. Before and after the protest, Local 1505 members and DC 37 staff leafleted outside City Hall and lobbied City Council members.

Apparently hearing the union's cry, the City Council provided funding to prevent the pool closings and restored some of the funding for POP in the budget approved June 30.