DC 37 calls on the City Council to pass the Residency Bill

District Council 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts (center), joined by Norman Seabrook, Pres., New York City Correction Officers' Benevolent Association (left of Ms. Roberts), DC 37 leaders, DC local presidents, DC 37 rank-and-file members, and other city labor leaders, called on the City Council to pass a bill to expand residency during a news conference at City Hall on Monday, October 29. Under the present residency rule, 45,000 DC 37 members must reside in the five boroughs or risk losing their city jobs.

City Council Intro. 452 expands residency requirements to allow 45,000 DC 37 members to also live in the six counties surrounding the city – Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Orange and Putnam – and still keep their jobs. They would also continue to pay city taxes.

Some 240,000 city workers are already allowed to live outside the city, including police, firefighters and teachers. This bill would restore fairness and choice for DC 37 members allowing them to seek affordable housing in a wider area at a time of high housing costs in the five boroughs.

Affected DC 37 members work in the Departments of Social Services, Homeless Services, ACS, Finance, Environmental Protection, Transportation, Parks, HPD, Buildings, City Planning, Citywide Admin Services, Health, Law, Sanitation (non-uniforms), Police (non uniforms), Fire (non-uniforms), and Correction (non uniforms), among others.

DC 37 is urging its members and the public to write and call their City Council member and Council Speaker Christine Quinn in support of Intro. 452. Letters and information on residency are available at www.dc37.net.

DC 37 is the city's largest public employee union with 121,000 members and 50,000 retirees.