Public Employee Press: PEP Talk
Snapshots
Union, city celebrate Parks budget victory
A cool breeze on a hot afternoon at the dawn of another New York summer fit the moment when DC 37 local presidents Dilcy Benn (1505), Joe Puleo (983), Dan Clay (1507), and Edward Morales (1597) joined NYC City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, Department of Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver, Council members, and community leaders to celebrate the big budget win for city parks at a press conference held by the Play Fair Coalition at Queensbridge Park on June 27.
This includes baseline (permanent) funding of $9.5 million to create positions for 100 seasonal park workers, 50 gardeners, 50 Urban Park Rangers, and 80 PEP Officers. In total, $43 million has been budgeted for city’s parks. Libraries also received a much-needed, and historic, $33 million boost that will expand services and buttress staffing, including $19 million in baseline funds.
