DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts's statement re mayor Bloomberg's budget

The Mayor's budget will hurt the city's middle and low-income communities by cutting vital, social-safety-net services and the jobs of the workers who provide them.

At a time when New Yorkers are already suffering, it's insensitive to try to balance the budget on the backs of the municipal employees who provide services that people need now more than ever.

It especially makes no sense to do this when the city is handing over $9 billion of its $60 billion budget to overpriced, outside consultants and contractors.

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