Thousands of New Yorkers Rally at City Hall Demonstration for Fair Share Tax Reform

Civic Groups, Non-profit Organizations and Labor Unions Unite
To Protect Families, Children and Communities From Budget Cuts

NEW YORK, March 5, 2009 — Thousands of New Yorkers from neighborhoods across the city rallied at City Hall today to push for fair fiscal alternatives to the devastating budget cuts being considered in Albany and New York City. In a show of solidarity, the broad coalition of labor unions, community groups and families held a "Rally for New York" to protest the proposed state and city budget cuts to public services, education, health care and other programs that would have a devastating impact on the children, families and economy of New York.

The group is calling for "Fair Share Tax Reform" in the state's personal income tax structure to create a more equitable share from the state's wealthiest taxpayers. The coalition is also advocating for the governor and the legislature to take steps that will ensure the federal stimulus funding is spent efficiently and effectively.

Coordinated with simultaneous community rallies taking place in Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, White Plains and Binghamton, labor leaders, community activists and parents urged Governor Paterson, the Senate and the Assembly to do their part to prevent devastating cuts to schools, hospitals and other services.

To help prevent these cuts, the coalition is pushing for tax reform by increasing the income tax on high-income New Yorkers earning $250,000 and more, which would generate an estimated $6 billion annually.

The diverse group of community groups, advocates, non-profit organizations and labor unions includes the One New York Coalition (representing over 200 local agencies and non-profit organizations), 1199 SEIU, 32BJ, ACORN, AFSCME District Council 37, AFT Local 2 United Federation of Teachers, the Alliance for Quality Education, Citizen Action, the Citizens' Committee for Children, the Communication Workers of America, the Hispanic Federation, the NAACP, the New York City Central Labor Council, New York Immigration Coalition, the New York State AFL-CIO, the New York State United Teachers, United Neighborhood Houses and the Working Families Party.

More information on the group's platform can be found at www.fairsharereform.org.

BACKGROUND

Governor Paterson has proposed closing an estimated $15 billion state budget gap by making devastating cuts including:

• Over $2.5 billion in cuts to schools and classrooms which would lead to larger class sizes, fewer programs, and less funding for books, school libraries, computers, science labs and new technologies;
• $10 million in cuts to the Substance Abuse Prevention and Intervention Specialists (SAPIS Program), resulting in the layoffs of 300 of the 500 employees who work with 1.1 million children in the city's 1,000 public schools;
• $3.5 billion in healthcare cuts affecting every hospital, nursing home and home care facility in the state;
• A $350 million cut affecting Medicaid reimbursement and the overall delivery of services to the city's uninsured and underinsured population that the Health and Hospitals Corp. is mandated to serve;
• A gradual elimination for all funding to cultural institutions beginning with 50% in FY09 and culminating in a total elimination of all funding in FY10;
• A $18 million cut to the largest public library system in the country-- the New York Public Library (which includes libraries in Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island), the Brooklyn Public Library and the Queens Public Library -- leading to a reduction of hours and possible full-day closures;
• Billions in cuts to vital programs many New Yorkers depend on such as senior services, disability services, eviction prevention programs, legal aid, emergency homeless services, housing assistance, veterans services, youth services and crisis intervention programs.

Mayor Bloomberg has proposed closing an estimated $4 billion city budget gap by making devastating cuts including:

• A $127 million cut to the largest public health care system in the country, the Health and Hospitals Corporation, which would result in severe cuts to clinics and ambulatory preventive care for populations who are more often than not uninsured or underinsured. This system often serves as their primary care facility;
• A 7% funding cut to all of New York City's world renowned cultural institutions;
• A $2.5 million cut to all Oral Health clinics, which amounts to a total elimination of all 46 school-based dental clinics that service city school children which are in many instances their primary dental care facilities;
• Over $940 million in reductions to New York City public schools for next year, on top of $640 million already taken.

ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERS & IMPACTED NEW YORKERS

"Today is a show of strength and solidarity from working people and families across the city," said Jack Ahern, president of the New York City Central Labor Council. "We are taking it to the streets to say loud and clear, we will not accept budget cuts that hurt working people. We will not accept attacks on our hard-earned pensions, reductions in our children's education, or economic pain and risks to our healthcare plans. Times are tough, but workers are tougher and we will fight for our fair share of the economic pie."

DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts said: "Governor Paterson and Mayor Bloomberg have proposed cutbacks that strike at the heart of a quality of life that 125,000 members of DC 37 works so hard to protect. State cuts to Medicaid and school aid, and city cuts to NYCHA community centers, dental clinics, libraries, cultural institutions, education support services and more weaken a safety net New Yorkers depend on, especially during an economic recession. Cuts in public services are not the answer. There are better choices, such as curtailing wasteful spending on private consultants and contractors and calling for a millionaire's tax asking the wealthy to pay their fair share of taxes. How can we ask the Have-nots to get us out of this mess when the Have's brought us to the brink of disaster? There needs to be shared sacrifice. The Have's must pay their fair share."

Zakiyah Ansari, a public school parent : "As a parent I am horrified to hear that $2.5 billion dollars will be cut from education statewide, and totally confused as to why the Governor has not already proposed the Fair Tax reform on persons making $250,000 or more. My daughter Zaire is one of this year's incoming 9th graders that will have to meet a much higher standard in order to graduate from high school. The state can't raise expectations and at the same time take away the funding that would enable programs to help her and students like her meet the new regents graduation requirements. It is totally irresponsible. As a parent leader with the NYC Coalition for Educational Justice (CEJ), we support high standards but with the resources and supports to ensure that young people meet them."

"Many seniors need public services in order to live a decent life," said Ana Berroa is a member of the Hispanic Senior Action Council and the Institute for Puerto Rican and Hispanic Elderly. "Some are choosing between medication and food. Without Fair Share, many people will suffer."

"Enrollment at the City University is at a record high, as thousands of New Yorkers turn to CUNY in this frightening economy," said Dr. Barbara Bowen, president of the PSC/CUNY, who teaches English at Queens College. "Without Fair Share Tax Reform, they will be out of luck - CUNY is being brought to its knees by budget cuts. The sane solution is for those can afford to it to pay a little more in taxes. By enlarging the state's tax base and enriching public life, CUNY graduates will repay New York's investment a thousand-fold."

"New York City is already setting new records for homelessness - including all-time high numbers of newly homeless families entering shelters," said Ellen Brenes, former client and current staff member at Queens Community House. "Governor Paterson's plan would eliminate homeless prevention and reduce support for aftercare and support services and send homelessness to new highs in the city, costing taxpayers more in the long run. As a New Yorker who faced eviction and someone who has worked for 13 years to house our City's homeless, I know that the human price of these cuts will be just as high."

"I'm a student at City Tech, and the budget cuts would mean my dropping out of school because of the economic strain," said Selah Brown from the New York City College of Technology. "That's why I'm for Fair Share Tax Reform - I think people at the top should pay a little more, and when I'm at the top, I'll pay more, too, to help students like me succeed."

Dan Cantor, Working Families Party Executive Director said: "The Governor's budget asks everyone in New York to sacrifice, except the wealthy who could most afford to do so. There's cuts to classrooms, hospitals, homeless shelters, and hundreds of other essential services. Today, tens of thousands of New Yorkers took to the streets across the state to declare that there's a better way. By asking the wealthy to pay their fair share in taxes, we can prevent some of Gov. Paterson's devastating budget cuts to our communities."

"Passing city and state budgets this year requires higher taxes on the very wealthy," said Hector Figueroa, Secretary Treasurer of 32BJ, which represents 5,000 public school cleaners. "Cutting back on jobs and services is not the answer during an economic crisis."

"Working New Yorkers from all across the city came together today to tell our elected leaders that cuts are not the answer," said George Gresham, President, 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. "During these difficult economic times, we have to do everything possible to protect our communities. Working families should not have to bear the burden of this budget deficit alone. Hospitals, schools and human services are all part of the social safety net New Yorkers will need to rely on now more than ever. Fair share tax reform will help save these essential services from drastic cutbacks."

"Governor Paterson's budget will cut funding for programs that serve immigrant New Yorkers by almost 50%," said Marta Hernandez, an immigrant mother, member of Make the Road New York and an ESL student. "If these cuts take place, millions of immigrant New Yorkers like me, who are trying to learn English to help our kids in school and have access to better paying jobs, will no longer be able to access educational opportunities or support services to resettle in the United States. The work and intelligence of immigrant men and women help fuel local economies and will be essential in helping our city and state get out of this crisis. However, that will only be possible if our Governor and Mayor protect basic services and make sure that we ALL share the sacrifice, not just the poor. I am here to urge Governor Paterson and the legislature to enact Fair Share Tax Reform."

"Working men and women across this city and state are more united than ever before," said Denis Hughes, President of the New York State AFL-CIO. "With one loud, strong and purposeful voice, working people are demanding that the pain inflicted by this historic economic downturn be shared by all. Today, the labor movement joins with all New Yorkers in calling for a fair and even handed approach to solving this crisis."

"If the choice is between increasing class sizes, cutting programs and laying off teachers, or asking the wealthiest New Yorkers to pay their fair share, the answer is clear," said New York State United Teachers President Richard C. Iannuzzi. "It makes more sense to make our income tax rates more progressive so middle-class families can avoid deep and painful cuts to the programs and services they rely on."

"We have to make sure that New York State balances its budget without cutting services to those who can least afford it," said Ernest Logan, President of the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators. "Above all, we have to stand up for our schools, our communities, and the children and working families of New York State by protecting essential services, and finding a way to more equitably share our economic burden."

"All the people here today are evidence that New Yorkers understand the most equitable way to face this economic crisis is with truly shared sacrifice- including a contribution from the state's highest earners," said Jennifer March Joly, Executive Director of Citizens' Committee for Children of New York. "Fair Share Tax Reform is in all our best interest because the revenue will allow our state leaders to protect investments in cost effective programs that keep children and families healthy, housed, educated, and safe."

"The cuts that have been laid out in the Executive Budget proposal will hurt all New Yorkers, but will hurt working families, low-income people, the middle class, and people of color the most," said Karen Scharff, Executive Director, Citizen Action of New York. "Today, tens of thousands of voices from around the state called upon the Governor and the Legislature to bring fairness and sanity back to the budget and the state tax code. It's time that the wealthiest New Yorkers pay their fair share too. Our elected officials must do what's right for our state, for our economy, and for our families - they must pass Fair Share Tax Reform."

Maranda Sloan, a teenager who uses the Educational Alliance's Edgies Teen Center:
"The Edgies Teen Center is my second family and the staff pushes me everyday to become a leader for tomorrow. I will succeed because of support and guidance I receive here. It is unfair and wrong for the State and City to cut money for after-school and teen programs, like the Edgies Center, that help me and my friends so much. We need our government leaders to raise the money necessary to fund these very important programs."

"Today we are standing up to prevent profound and lasting harm to our safety-net services and to clear a path to a more equitable solution to the state's budget crisis," said Nancy Wackstein, Executive Director, United Neighborhood Houses. "State leaders cannot abandon their commitment to our most vulnerable residents by cutting millions from youth programs, services for older adults, preventive services, or home visiting programs."

"As President Obama has said over and over, we cannot simply cut our way out of this economic crisis because that would be a recipe for disaster," said United Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten. "That is why we pushed so hard for passage of the stimulus package, which can be a lifeline for teachers and other educators if it is spent wisely to protect the classroom. The difficulties New Yorkers face today will require each of us to step up and help our city get through these hard times while protecting core services. Shared sacrifice means we all have to give a little to keep our collective ship afloat, and those who can afford it should give more to spare our most vulnerable the pain of devastating budget cuts."

District Council 37 is New York City's largest public employee union, with 125,000 members and 50,000 retirees.