Because the Newark City Council deferred on making a decision on creating a municipal utilities authority, the Star-Ledger reports, "Newark Mayor Cory Booker, facing a mounting budget deficit, announced a series of 'savage' cuts today, including a four-day work week for 1,450 non-uniformed city workers, shuttering the city’s pools and even banning the purchase of toilet paper." He said, "I’m going to shut down as much of city government as I can. We’re going to stop buying everything from toilet paper to printer paper. Call me Mr. Scrooge, if you want, but they’ll be no Christmas decorations around the city." Booker also Tweeted, "#Newark - we r in a budget crisis," and linked to video of his emergency budget conference. more ›

Last year, Governor Paterson gave up 10% of his $179,000 salary, "I will symbolically make the gesture for the state," perhaps to win some voter support. But this year, forget it—the Post asked a spokesperson who said, "He has no intention of giving back 10 percent of his salary this year. Gov. Paterson has already given back more of his salary than any public-employee union member." Paterson is currently trying to furlough 100,000 state workers, but a judge blocked that order. The Times Union notes how the State Senate unanimously passed a resolution criticizing the furloughs and then Senate Democrats voted to authorize the furloughs as part of Paterson's plan. more ›

A federal judge has blocked the mandatory, one-day-a-week unpaid furloughs of NY state workers which was approved by the state legislature Monday. Yesterday, three unions filed lawsuits requesting an injunction against the furloughs, which would have begun next week. U.S. District Judge Lawrence Kahn says that until he rules on the lawsuits, the state is temporarily blocked from implementing any furloughs, the AP reports. In his decision, Judge, um, KAAAAHHHN said that the unions have shown a permanent 20 percent loss in wages or salaries would constitute irreparable harm. At press time, it was unclear if this court order means Paterson's publicists can get their raises again. more ›

It's common knowledge that blind people are supposed to have superior hearing, but apparently Governor David Paterson is utterly tone deaf. One day after the Legislature approved his emergency budget plan to force 100,000 state workers to take unpaid furloughs, news broke that members of Paterson's staff are getting $70,000 in raises. But maybe he can probably hear just fine, and this is just one of the privileges of being a lame duck—no need to keep up appearances anymore! Ironically, four out of the five staffers receiving raises are members of Paterson's press team. more ›

Furloughs: They're not just for soldiers and prisoners! Starting next week, some 100,000 state workers could be required to take a one day, unpaid furlough from work. And as you can see from this photo of a massive protest outside the State Capitol yesterday, they are not happy about it. more ›

Today, Governor Paterson will ask the State Legislature to approve furloughing 100,000 state workers one a day week until a budget is passed. (The budget is now 27 days overdue.) The Times Union reports, "With the state budget almost a month late, the furlough plan is the governor's new cash-saving proposal as talks with the Legislature continue to stalemate... Although details were still being worked out, state Budget Director Robert Megna estimated roughly 100,000 workers, or 70 percent of the state work force, would be subject to the furlough. Each day of furlough would save the state roughly $30 million, he added." more ›

The Department of Correctional Services has turned down former Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress' request to take part in a work release program that would have allowed him to spend some nights at home, according to 1010WINS. Burress — who was sentenced to two-years in prison after shooting himself in the leg in a Manhattan nightclub — asked for the furlough just two months into his sentence. more ›

Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau will stand against former Giant Plaxico Burress' request to take part in a work release program that would allow him to spend several nights a week at home, the Daily News reports. more ›

Just two months into his two-year prison sentence, former Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress is eyeing a work furlough that could let him spend anywhere from one to seven nights per week at home, the Post reports. Burress has requested to take part in a work release program that might let him spend time out of jail with his wife and children and negotiate with representatives from new teams in person, "rather than via prison phone calls or visits." more ›