Bloomberg Orders Hiring Freeze Because of Senate Gridlock

[NYCAPO]

Bloomberg Orders Hiring Freeze Because of Senate Gridlock

NEW YORK (AP) -- Mayor Michael Bloomberg is ordering an immediate hiring freeze because he says the state Senate gridlock is holding up new tax revenue for the city.

The freeze delays indefinitely a class of 250 police recruits who were to be sworn in on Wednesday.

The city is also putting off planned hires of firefighters, traffic agents, school crossing guards and EMTs.

The state must approve new tax measures that were included in the city's budget for fiscal year 2010, which began July 1.

Without them, the mayor says the city is losing $60 million a month.

[NYCAPO]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 314-09
July 6, 2009

MAYOR BLOOMBERG FREEZES CITY HIRING AFTER STATE SENATE'S INACTION IMPERILS CITY'S BUDGET

Hires of Police Recruits, Firefighters, School Safety Agents, 911 Operators Immediately Frozen

All Contracts Being Reviewed to Delay Entering into Non-Essential Agreements

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced an immediate freeze of personnel hiring to ensure the City meets its legal obligation to maintain a balanced budget, while the State Senate remains unable to act on any legislation. Additionally, the Mayor has ordered a review of all City contracts so the City does not enter into non-essential obligations. Contracts under review include the entire universe of City contracts with independent agencies that provide services to the public. The contracts are typically entered into at the start of the fiscal year.

“I’ve instructed the City’s Budget Director to immediately freeze all hiring while the gridlock in the State Senate imperils the City’s budget,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “This includes a class of 250 Police Recruits, who were set to enter the academy this week, along with Firefighters, School Safety Agents, 911 and 311 call takers, and EMTs. Further, we will be reviewing all City contracts to ensure we do not enter into non-essential contracts. We have a legal mandate to produce a balanced budget – something we’ve done for seven consecutive years – so we have to act responsibly.”

The Fiscal Year 2010 budget, adopted by the City Council in June, included new revenues that require approval in the State Legislature. The lack of action in the State Senate on the new revenue package has cost the City to $60 million in the month of July and $60 million will continue to be lost each month without State Senate action, which would necessitate further reductions in City spending. If the State Senate is unable to act on the revenue package this year, the City stands to lose nearly $900 million.

The hiring freeze is going into effect immediately, although certain hires will be permitted for extraordinary needs that may arise. The hiring freeze will indefinitely delay the Police Department’s class of 250 recruits who the Mayor had planned on swearing in on Wednesday, July 8th. It also puts plans to hire other important City workers on hold, including:

* 150 Firefighters
* 151 Traffic Agents
* 34 Emergency 911 Operators
* 175 School Safety Agents
* 150 School Crossing Guards
* 90 Emergency Medical Technicians
* 20 3-1-1 Operators

“I urge Senators in both parties to put aside their political differences and approve theCity’s revenue plan so we can move forward with providing the core services that New Yorkers rely on,” Mayor Bloomberg concluded.

http://nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.c0935b9a57bb4ef3daf2f1c701c789a0/index.jsp?pageID=mayor_press_release&catID=1194&doc_name=http%3A%2F%2Fnyc.gov%2Fhtml%2Fom%2Fhtml%2 F2009b%2Fpr314-09.html&cc=unused1978&rc=1194&ndi=1

[Sense0Purpose1]

I say we hold a protest rally right in front of the albany legislature. And tell them to get their proverbial crap together.

[teot]

i have no complaints about this! :)

[oflove13]

so what happines to the lists? do they freeze them also or do they still allow the clock to roll on them and allow them to expire when the time is up?

[teot]

so what happines to the lists? do they freeze them also or do they still allow the clock to roll on them and allow them to expire when the time is up?

they expire

[Sense0Purpose1]

i have no complaints about this! :)

And why sir, do you have no complaints about this?

[teot]

And why sir, do you have no complaints about this?

because the class might be bigger now

[CAnde]

because the class might be bigger now

Doubtful...he's just stalling to whack you with a 25 year retirement.

[teot]

Doubtful...he's just stalling to whack you with a 25 year retirement.


well see, i still have a couple years off because im prior military, so i win either way

[PAPD 8-2]

Bloomturd is a ******

[BarXone]

so i win either way

What? How do you win either way? When tier 5 comes people looking for this job lose.

[Keith686]

What? How do you win either way? When tier 5 comes people looking for this job lose.

I'm not sure, but I believe he may be referring to this from the NYPD Recruit website -

"Veterans who have been awarded an expeditionary medal for service in support of an U.S. military conflict will be able to buy back three years of their military time to be applied to their NYPD retirement. This will enable the veteran to collect his or her 20-year NYPD pension after only 17 years of NYPD service."

So if they do manage to shove Tier V down our throats, which is very likely, people who fall into this category (myself included) would hopefully be able to collect our pension after 22 years instead of 25.

[BarXone]

Yeah I can see how that would benefit.. but 17 years is better than 22 if you decide to do something else in life after that point lol

Also, the required years is not even half of it.. the big thing is the no OT into pension, no VSF and can't collect until 50 regardless.. you also have to put in 3%. But I guess the majority of people will be 50 after the 25 years anyway.

[Keith686]

I agree 100% BarXone, I'm just reaching with trying to find any positives...

You could see this coming from a mile away with the way Bloomy was manipulating the papers into hammering home that civil service jobs are the reason the city is in financial peril and not the utter mismanagement and corruption that has wrapped its tentacles around this dying city.

Are there anymore perfectly good bridges to rename for several mil? I'm sure there's money for that....