City Budget Sings the Blues
As we prepare for the holidays, our elected officials are preparing for a fierce budget season in Albany and City Hall. With a 3.5 billion dollar deficit facing the City this coming year, and a cumulative deficit of 5 billion dollars for the following year, painful choices are going to have to be made. In Albany, chaos prevails because the elected officials who are facing re-election battles in 2010 don’t want to raise taxes or cut services, fearing the wrath of the constituents they represent. Just like in City Hall, mayor Bloomberg kicked the can on many issues in the last budget, to help himself get re-elected for a third term. He is now forced to cut services and raise taxes and fees to balance the widening budget gap.
In Greenpoint and Williamsburg, newly elected Council Member Steve Levin and third-termer Diana Reyna will be put to the test right away as this budget battle is guaranteed to get ugly.
One might remember in 2003, when former Council Member David Yassky was forced by then Council Speaker Gifford Miller to approve a budget that included a record property tax hike and the closing of Local Engine Company 212. The former speaker threatened Council Member Yassky and other Council Members’ discretionary budgets, if they did not get in line to support his budget. Go figure, this year NYC faces an even larger deficit than it did in 2003.
Our community faces certain cuts to police, fire, and sanitation services. Our parks will lose funding; our schools will face major cuts as well as after-school programs. Cuts in schools have already been ordered by year’s end (as witnessed recently by the cuts to school aids), as well as all other city agencies. It’s going to be a major test of the City Council to make certain that the budget treats all services fairly while eliminating waste and improving efficiency of all City agencies and services.
A major city service that will also be subject to cuts is the MTA. Although MTA officials have stated that transit fares are safe for 2010, significant maintenance and painting programs, that will be just getting started, will be put on hold. My organization, The New York Community Council and many other groups who care about our great city will be at City Hall and Albany fighting for a fair budget. But we can’t do it alone. Come to City Hall when the budget hearings begin and get involved. Our local elected officials will need all the help they can get.
