Results tagged “budgetcuts”

With Mayor Bloomberg asking for $1.750 billion in budget cuts from agencies for this year and next, Deputy Mayor Ed Skyler tells the Post, "It is serious, and it's serious for every agency," and didn't rule layoffs out, "So whether it's attrition or layoffs, some sort of personnel savings is going to be necessary in order to close the $5 billion deficit. It is hard to balance a budget of that size without dealing with the size of the city." The Citizens Budget Commission's Charles Brecher said, "In some ways, it's reassuring that they're at least, at the city level, facing up to the magnitude of the problem we have. We didn't have this discussion during the [mayoral] campaign."

There’s one thing you don’t mess with while on the grounds of school that’s struggling financially: a parent and their homemade brownies and cookies. But it seems as though the city Department of Education doesn’t know the deal. Parents in School District 21 in Brooklyn are heated over the DOE’s new regulation that allows only one bake sale a month and desserts to be sold after 6 p.m. on weekdays.

After his $3 billion in budget cuts weren't warmly received by some lawmakers, Governor Paterson continues to be on the offensive. The Post reports that yesterday, Paterson called lawmakers who opposed his $1 billion in cuts to education and Medicaid "selfish" and "obtuse." And he had this to say to special interest groups: "We are in a recession. You can't say, 'I understand we're in a recession,' and not have any idea of what that actually means in terms of sacrifices we all have to make."

As he suggested—and as everyone expected—Governor Paterson's deficit reduction plan was indeed grim: He proposed cutting a total of $5 billion from the budget over two years, $3 billion for this fiscal year and $2 billion from next. Paterson pleaded for the State Legislature to work with him, "During a time of uncommon difficulty, we need to work together for the common good and enact a consensus plan that helps us avoid the severe consequences faced by other states that failed to swiftly address their budget problems. This will mean hard and painful choices, but that is exactly the type of leadership New Yorkers deserve from their public officials."

More woes for the everyday commuter: the MTA will soon cut nearly 282 "customer assistants" from 86 stations in the city. The action, which the MTA hopes will shave $52 million from its budget, is set to take place in less than two weeks—and over the next several years the MTA will be getting rid of as many as 772 additional agents. “The plan to eliminate some secondary full-time agent booths is just one part of larger cost-saving efforts,” wrote Howard Roberts, Jr., president of New York City Transit. Both the subway fare hikes and the reduction of subway agents are a result of the MTA's messy deficit, and have left many New Yorkers beyond disgruntled. "They're going to make the subways scarier and less convenient and it's no way to treat their customers," said Gene Russianoff of the Straphangers Campaign. In Manhattan, 63 booths, including tourist hubs along 42nd Street, will be affected. Myrtle-Wyckoff Avenues in Brooklyn, Queens Plaza and Yankee Stadium will be among the others who will feel the pinch. But with daily headlines about subway pervs whose private parts just "fell out" and serial muggers, the issue may feel less like a pinch and more like another punch to the gut.

After criticism over the 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. closings of four firehouses across the city, the Staten Island Advance announces the Fire Department has come up with "an ad hoc addendum: The companies will be staffed with surplus firefighters, when available."

There's more bad news for New York's animals, and the humans that take care of them: The Daily News is reporting that Bronx Zoo and New York aquarium staffs are facing layoffs in light of the proposed budget cuts. "As many as 130 staffers could be laid off," they told the paper, who reiterates that "The Wildlife Conservation Society, which runs the facilities, is facing $15 million in government funding cuts from its $103 million annual budget this year, and the state will cut off all funding in 2010." The layoffs will hit everyone (and the porcupine was already let go), from administration to sales to groundskeeping—sending both union and non-union employees to the unemployment office. The news was delivered to staff yesterday by WCS President Steven Sanderson, who told the paper that, in the end, if they can't afford to keep the animals, "then we have to try to find a better place for them."

A Bronx firefighter has been arrested for making calls about non-existent fires, apparently in protest of FDNY budget cuts that will eliminate a night tour at his City Island firehouse. Nicholas Vrettos allegedly made a dozen calls about fires, including one in a school cafeteria, on December 4 (when the cuts were announced). Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta said, "You're taking a unit away from what might be a real emergency where somebody is having a heart attack or there's a fire or any other life-threatening emergency and that's the danger and that's why this is a felony," but a City Island resident, who did not condone calling in false alarms, told NY1, "If it in any way illustrated our plight, it at least had that effect." Vrettos could face up to seven in prison.

'Tis the season for depressing news: The Bloomberg administration wants to cut another $1.4 billion from the city's upcoming budget (he announced the first round last month). Each city agency face the same percentage of cuts, either 5% (or 7% if the city needs to spend less). The Daily News reports, "The Fire Department has been told to postpone a scheduled academy class of 110 new Bravest next month. The NYPD lost one class in the first round of cuts." And today, Mayor Bloomberg said this second round of cuts might not be enough: “The next cut is firehouses." The FDNY recently announced cutbacks for night tours at four units.

The Fire Department announced four fire units across the city will no longer have night tours plus the Governors Island unit will close. The moves are expected to save $8.9 million. The units affected are Engine Companies 4 (Manhattan), 161 (S.I.), 271 (Brooklyn), and 53 (Bronx); the FDNY says those firehouses have two units assigned, "one unit will remain in service 24/7, while the other will remain in service during the day tour (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.), but go off-line during night tour (6 p.m. to 9 a.m.)." While Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta called this a "prudent" decision given the city's dire budget concerns, many are upset. Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion Jr. pointed out Engine Co. 53 serves City Island, “To leave an island community, with only one point of access, without adequate fire protection is a recipe for disaster." And a firefighters' union said, "In this post-9/11 world, the F.D.N.Y.’s expanded responsibilities to protect New Yorkers cannot be accomplished by service reductions."

If the MTA's service cuts announced earlier this week do in fact go into effect, 1.3 million New Yorkers will be affected by the changes. During the press conference Thursday, MTA heads Elliot Sander and Dale Hemmerdinger encouraged straphangers to contact their reps in Albany as a last resort to bail out their 1.2 billion deficit. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver must have heard the call because yesterday he suggested a tax to help alleviate the burden on the MTA saying, "I am not afraid of a reasonable, responsible tax being part of the solution." The only additional good news following the announcement of cuts is that with the W train gone, plans are to extend the Q to Astoria.

After much speculation and the local papers preparing commuters for what was to come, the MTA made their official budget proposal today and as expected, the cutbacks were dramatic. In addition to the slashing of the W and the Z lines among other cuts listed Tuesday, today's 2009 budget also included the following:

With the MTA's budget deficit now being projected at 1.2 billion (after an original prognosis of 900 million), the Daily News has learned that a report to be released Thursday will include what some are calling "Doomsday" cuts. The big one for many commuters is the elimination of the W line.

Governor David Paterson, frustrated by not getting a deal for the state's troubled budget before today's special Legislative session, described state lawmakers as being "out of touch," according to NY1. Paterson said, "Looking at Albany, and Albany not being able to cut $2 billion off of a $15 billion problem that has to be addressed in four months is more than irresponsible, it doesn't make any sense." He is particularly unhappy with Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R), who will introduce Paterson's unpopular budget cuts for a vote without offering any ideas of his own for cuts. For the record, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver didn't offer any ideas for budget cuts either, and Paterson told the Post, "I'm not going to take the blame if we come out of the session without a budget-cutting package."

Governor Paterson unveiled his proposed $5.2 billion in cuts (or savings, depending on how you see things) yesterday to close the deficit. He said, “This is the worst economic crisis in this country since the Great Depression. That’s not an alarming statement, as it may have been when I said it in July. It’s now real.”

We'll sift through more of the details tomorrow, but here are the highlights from Governor Paterson's budget cuts: According to NY1, "Reducing the growth of education budget 9% to 5%"--savings of $585 million-- and reducing growth of Medicaid from 2% to 1%--a savings of $572 million. Also, cutting $41 million in aid to NYC and higher education cuts of $115 million. Assembly Speaker Sheldon SIlver and State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli both praised Paterson's leadership; DiNapoli's press release said, "The economy will probably get worse before it gets better. The sooner we take action to control spending and address the out year budget gaps, the better New York will be in the long run."

After Governor Paterson made it clear he may cut billions from Medicaid and schools, the critics came out. Teachers union head Randi Weingarten tells the Post, "Core public services such as education and programs for the most vulnerable in our society must be maintained," and the Greater New York Health Association's Kenneth Raske says to the Times, "We will fight in an animated and energetic way if somehow health care is being targeted, because lives are at stake here." Well, Paterson will unveil $2 billion in cuts tomorrow morning; his office released a statement saying, "This proposal, as well as our executive budget in December, will include reductions across virtually every area of state spending. Given the magnitude of this crisis, the only way we are going to be able to get New York's fiscal house in order is through shared sacrifice."

The state's fiscal crisis is so dire that Governor Paterson confirmed he "would almost certainly seek billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid, as well as midyear reductions in school aid," according to the NY Times. Paterson said, "There’ll be protests, and because of the drastic nature of the cuts, those who protest will have very valid points, for which I don’t have any answer, other than ‘What’s your idea?’ We’re not going to close a $12.5 billion deficit with 5 percent cuts to health and education.” Unions (and the Republicans) are likely to fight the cuts, but Paterson said he was ready to take drastic measures, "I don’t need a protest for it to bother me; I used to fight for some of these causes... I'll feel pain in my stomach but my conscience will be clear."

In announcing an update to the city's $59 billion budget today, Mayor Bloomberg detailed a wide range of painful budget cuts. With a "cumulative $4 billion budget gap for FY 2009 and FY 2010," the cuts include "$1.5 billion in savings achieved through spending reductions and other measures, rescinding the 7 percent property tax reduction immediately, and not issuing the $400 property tax rebate." After voting yesterday, Bloomberg told reporters that the cuts were needed to plug an anticipated $4 billion budget shortfall, saying, "We don't know just how deep this recession is going to go or for how long."

Governor David Paterson yesterday continued to deal with what has been the defining issue of his administration thus far, making tough budget cuts in the face of a growing state deficit. The governor vetoed 49 pieces of legislation yesterday, including a bill that would have imposed a one-year moratorium on cuts to the medical benefits of retired public employees and one that would have made it easier for students to receive more state tuition assistance if their parents’ income shrinks because they are called to active military service, become ill or disabled or because of other unforeseen circumstances.

Among the many cuts making up Governor Paterson's latest request that $1 billion be cut from the state budget is one to cut $51 million from the City University of New York. That amounts to a 7% cut, which is in line with the cut the SUNY system is making. CUNY told the Daily News the cut is "very significant" and it's unclear whether tuition will be raised, but added "We have an obligation to work diligently to minimize the impact on the academic program." So far, per the Wonkster, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos said, "It’s important that the Governor and Legislature not take any actions that would force local governments to raise their local taxes to make up for a shortfall from Albany," while Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver simply said the Assembly will "review" Paterson's wishes. Here's a breakdown of Paterson's proposals.