Friday, August 31, 2012

BROOKS: NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT

LABOR DAY NEWS UPDATE: PASS ENDA NOW

Rochester, N.Y. -- While organized labor has been able to secure many benefits for workers, from better health care to the Family Medical Leave Act, there are still protections we need in the workplace. Most states do not protect LGBT workers from discrimination and there is currently no explicit federal protection for LGBT workers. It’s enough right now to worry about having or getting a job. LGBT people shouldn’t have to also be worried about discrimination just because of who they are or who they love.


This Labor Day, unions are standing with the allied community in calling for workplace protections. Even though many unionized workers are protected against discrimination in their contracts, they know that we all need a federal law that bans discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Join this action now by telling the Senate that it’s time to bring the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to a committee vote!

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistic’s National Compensation Surveyour fight for equal treatment in the workplace is absolutely linked to the benefits given to unionized workers.

·         53% to 17%. If you’re a state or local worker with union representation you’re more likely to have access to health care coverage for your same-sex partner. 53% of state/local workers in a union had access to domestic partner benefits compared to just 17% for non-union employees. 
·         46% to 28%. In private industry you’re more likely to have same-sex domestic partner benefits with a union (46%) than if you lack the collective bargaining power of a union (28%).
·         54% to 47%. You’re more likely to have same-sex partner survivor benefits in retirement as a state/local worker if you’re represented by a union (54%) than if you are not in a union (47%).

Unions are also out front to ensure that transgender people have equal access to benefits. In May, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) passed a resolution that its local affiliates would bargain for trans-inclusive health care in contract negotiations. And, CSEA has addressed similar language for their Annual Delegates Meeting to be held in Washington, D.C. this October.

These protections through union membership are a great start, but they leave too many workers out in the cold. All of us deserve the same employment protections. And the only way to make sure we’re all protected is to pass ENDA now. Act now to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act!


Thursday, August 30, 2012

MAGGIE BROOKS: LIVING THE HIGH LIFE

REPORT SHOWS WORKPLACE DISCRIMINATION POSES SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS FOR PUBLIC SECTOR

AFSCME–CAP Report on LGBT Discrimination in the Public Sector

Washington, DC — Today as many Americans prepare to celebrate Labor Day in honor of the contributions of workers across the country, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO (AFSCME) and the Center for American Progress released “Gay and Transgender Discrimination in the Public Sector.” 

Focusing on the approximately 1 million LGBT employees working in the public sector for the local, state or municipal government, this report reveals that LGBT people continue to experience high rates of employment discrimination and are often not afforded equal benefits on the job. It also details why workforce discrimination poses significant problems for state and local governments, public sector employees and taxpayers.

“The discrimination that LGBT public sector workers still face is deplorable,” said Lee Saunders, president of AFSCME. “While some states have passed laws prohibiting employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, a majority of state workers can still be legally fired for being gay. No worker should be subjected to these high rates of harassment or be forced into unemployment, deprived of health insurance for themselves and for their families. This is a wrong that we need to right, right now.”

This joint AFSCME and CAP report finds that 57.4 percent of Americans working in state government do not have legal protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Only a minority of state employees (just over four in 10, or 42.6 percent) work in a state with a law prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation; only three in 10 (31.8 percent) work in a state with a law also prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity.

“On top of denying basic workplace protections to all LGBT workers, taxpayers are footing the bill for this discrimination that all too often continues to go unchecked, said Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress. “Simply put, it is financially irresponsible to evaluate workers based on any characteristics that are not directly relevant to job performance, especially at a time when state and local budgets are in the red. If we want to get serious about improving the economy, we need to get serious about reducing discrimination in the public sector and the numerous inefficiencies that it introduces into the functioning of state and local governments.”

To protect these workers from discrimination, Congress should pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, or ENDA, to ensure that gay and transgender workers in the public and private sector in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are afforded substantive legal protections from employment discrimination. For their part, states should continue to enact workplace nondiscrimination laws as well as extend relationship recognition rights to same-sex couples to ensure equal access to workplace benefits.

Read “Gay and Transgender Discrimination in the Public Sector
Related Resources:
·         The State of Diversity in Today’s Workforce

To speak with CAP experts, please contact Christina DiPasquale at 202.481.8181 orcdipasquale@americanprogress.org. To speak with AFSCME experts, please contact Chris Fleming at 202.429.1053 or cfleming@afscme.org.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

SOME SIMPLE TRUTHS ABOUT THE MAGGIE BROOKS CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN

A picture is worth a thousand words. Here is Maggie Brooks sitting next to David Koch (center) at the RNC, one of the billionaire Koch Brothers and architect of almost every negative and deceitful attack ad this political season.
photo provided.

Monroe County, N.Y. -- Despite what she wants you to believe, Maggie Brooks has already demonstrated that she won't stand with seniors to protect Medicare. She won't stand with women to protect choice. She won't stand with middle-class families against her own Party's draconian budget cuts. 

But we do know this. Maggie Brooks is standing with billionaire oil moguls who are propping up the radical Tea Party movement and funding efforts to gut social safety net programs to fund tax cuts for the rich. That’s the truth—anyway you slice it.

If elected, Brooks will become a pawn in the GOP chess game. She will have marching orders from Speaker Boehner and the likes of the Koch Brothers, and will not have the ability to truly represent the honest interests of the NY 25 Congressional District.

We were asked by local media reporters to comment about Speaker Boehner's visit to Rochester when he stopped by at a Maggie fundraiser earlier this month. No media outlets had the courage to air or print our response. They basically gave us a blank stare when we dropped this observation. It went something like this:

John Boehner came to Rochester for two things. One, to tell Maggie Brooks if she gets elected, he owns her vote. Two, her number two job as a Congress person would be to raise as much money as you can for the GOP House. That's it. Boehner’s visit was never about raising money for her campaign or speaking directly to the folks who live in Monroe County-- it was about putting Maggie in her place and making sure she knew what was expected from her.

It is inconceivable to think that Maggie Brooks could go to Washington and represent the interests of working people here in Monroe County-- far from it. She has taken campaign contributions from the most extreme radical elements of the conservative right wing political machine. She has been incredibly vague about her policy positions too—explaining to anyone who will listen, “you know my record.” In fact, yes-- we do know you record, Maggie. It’s one that has afforded opportunities to those insulated from any financial harm and at the same time, has lowered the standard of living for everyone else here in Monroe County.

Truth be told, Maggie's hands are already bound-- she is totally in debt to these billionaire radical outliers and she has no other options but answer only to them-- she will never be able to vote on any bill that favors the greater good. If you think otherwise, you are living in a fantasy world.

CSEA FORMALLY BACKS GILLIBRAND FOR U.S. SENATE; EXPLAINS LIMITED ENDORSEMENTS

Rochester, N.Y. -- Several New York media outlets are addressing the issue of CSEA’s role in this year’s election cycle. It has been reported in several newspapers that our union, The Civil Service Employees Association, with approximately 300,000 members strong, is yanking support for many state legislators this fall because of the "dark deal" they made with the governor on austerity budgets, a property tax cap and a reduced benefits tier for public employees. That is pretty close to the truth—and it’s for good reason.

Our endorsement normally brings financial contributions and statewide get-out-the-vote efforts such as mailings, phone calls, printing, grassroots volunteers, along with internal union resources and activities to reach the extensive CSEA membership in every part of the state.

"Many lawmakers who have long enjoyed CSEA support will not have it this year because they abandoned the working people of this state," CSEA President Danny Donohue told the Legislative Gazette. "CSEA is holding lawmakers accountable for their actions. The CSEA endorsement has to be earned or else it has no meaning."

WNY Region 6, which represents a 14 county area including Erie and Monroe Counties, only endorsed 5 statewide candidates this year. The limited endorsements come following an extensive review process of state legislators within CSEA.

According to the Legislative Gazette, our union officials accuse lawmakers of rubber-stamping state budgets they say undermine state operations and shortchange local governments and schools. Donohue also said legislators forfeited oversight responsibility on public policy issues important to our members and they imposed a property tax cap the CSEA says is causing fiscal chaos in local government and school district budgets.

Additionally, Donohue said lawmakers made a "dark deal" with Gov. Andrew Cuomo last spring, trading support for "onerous and unnecessary" public employee pension tier changes in exchange for favorable legislative redistricting.

CSEA's limited endorsements are only going to candidates "who stand with working people," says the union's president.

Ted O'Brien
For western New York Region 6, Senate and Assembly endorsements include Rochester lawmaker Ted O’Brien (NYS Senate, 55th); Buffalo Representative Michael Amodeo (NYS Senate, 60th); Mark Johns, NYS Assembly (AD 135); Crystal Peoples-Stokes, NYS Assembly (AD 141) and Sean Ryan, NYS Assembly (AD 149).

"CSEA members will aggressively campaign for our endorsed candidates," Donohue said. "Just as important, beyond this election we will work to mobilize members to be even more involved in the legislative process – regularly communicating with elected officials and challenging them when they don't do what's right for working people."

CSEA also released its endorsements for federal races, topped by support for U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. Other endorsed candidates from our district include Louise Slaughter for Congress (NY-25); Brian Higgins for Congress (NY-26); Kathy Hochul for Congress (NY-27).

"Sen. Gillibrand has been an outstanding advocate for New York and a voice of reason within the U.S. Senate," Donohue said. "Our congressional endorsements also reflect support for candidates and challengers who will stand up for reasonable and responsible government that works for all Americans."


Sunday, August 26, 2012

ETHICS WATCH: MAGGIE BROOKS IS THE PROVERBIAL FOX WATCHING THE HENHOUSE

Rochester, N.Y. – Year after year, more than 200 employees of Monroe County laid bare details of their personal finances to the county Board of Ethics in an effort to flag potential conflicts with their official duties.

County law requires elected officials and the highest-paid county workers to disclose, among other things, whether they or their spouses hold seats on boards of companies or organizations, have corporate affiliations and real estate holdings, or have an interest in companies that did business with the county or a county agency.

But a review of the disclosure forms might be more revealing for what they don’t say rather than what they report. When politicians omit details from the forms it can mean that there is a serious potential ethics violation at hand. Also, it should be noted that Monroe County uses a heavy hand to redact (or blackout) any potential information certain officials would consider troublesome—backed by New York State law.

Some time ago, with little fanfare, the Democrat and Chronicle examined disclosures for 60 high-ranking officials in county government — elected officials and top appointees — and found several instances in which they reported holding other jobs but not the income they earned.

It is particularly interesting to know how a top government operative’s outside dealings may conflict with his or her official county duties, including overlapping work schedules or potential influence over county contracts. We would argue that this information should be a matter of public record if you want to serve our community.

County Executive and Congressional candidate (NY25) Maggie Brooks, by far the most visible and influential official required to file, did not list her Webster home or the Florida condominium she and her husband owned. Some of her answers were so obviously incorrect that most experts said they should have been corrected or warranted further inquiry. Why the omissions? What are you hiding, Maggie Brooks?

She also didn’t tell us that she sold a Florida condo in December of 2011 and bought another for $280,000, financed by a $224,000 mortgage, according to other public records.

In her incomplete ethics disclosure form, Brooks reported owning a portfolio of 23 different mutual funds, but the redactions made it impossible to discern how much she has invested and with whom.

If she is a candidate for Congress, shouldn’t voters have some idea of what corporations and investments she has personally profited from—especially if and when she votes for tax breaks for these companies who stand to profit off her motive?

If Maggie Brooks can appoint the Ethics Board and County officials can legally redact any information they deem necessary, why have a Board of Ethics at all? And, it seems the Brooks campaign is going to great lengths to hide her personal investments under the guise of personal privacy. We already know, through campaign filings thank god,  that Maggie has graciously accepted campaign donations from the most extreme elements of the right wing-- and we know that she is now beholden to them. That is a given.

In any event-- Sorry Maggie, there are minimum requirements to run for public office and one of them is to be truthful when filling out ethics forms. You really dropped the ball here. This information should not be off limits and yes-- citizens have a right to know. This type of behavior hardly matches the ethical standards of the voters of Monroe County you want to represent in Congress— and frankly, it highlights your reputation as a deceptive, nontransparent, cunning political operative.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

MAGGIE BROOKS: HOUSE OF CARDS

CSEA REVEALS PAC ENDORSEMENTS FOR 2012

ALBANY, NY (08/23/2012)(readMedia)-- CSEA will endorse a limited number of candidates in New York state legislative races this fall.

The limited endorsements come following extensive review within CSEA. For two years, lawmakers rubber-stamped state budgets that undermined state operations, and shortchanged localities and schools and they forfeited oversight responsibility on important public policy issues. They also imposed a property tax cap that is causing fiscal chaos in local government and school district budgets.

Additionally, lawmakers made a dark deal with Gov. Andrew Cuomo last spring trading support for onerous and unnecessary public employee pension tier changes in exchange for favorable legislative redistricting.

"Many lawmakers who have long enjoyed CSEA support will not have it this year because they abandoned the working people of this state," said CSEA President Danny Donohue. "CSEA is holding lawmakers accountable for their actions. The CSEA endorsement has to be earned or else it has no meaning."

CSEA's limited endorsements are only going to candidates who stand with working people.

CSEA's endorsement normally brings financial contribution, statewide get-out-the-vote expertise – mailings, phone calls, printing, grassroots volunteers, and other benefits - along with internal union resources and activities to reach the extensive CSEA membership in every part of the state.

"CSEA members will aggressively campaign for our endorsed candidates," Donohue said. "Just as important, beyond this election we will work to mobilize members to be even more involved in the legislative process – regularly communicating with elected officials and challenging them when they don't do what's right for working people."
CSEA also released its endorsements for federal races, topped by support for U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

"Sen. Gillibrand has been an outstanding advocate for New York and a voice of reason within the U.S. Senate," Donohue said. "Our congressional endorsements also reflect support for candidates and challengers who will stand up for reasonable and responsible government that works for all Americans."


NYS Congressional

United States Senate – Kirsten Gillibrand
CD 1 – Timothy Bishop
CD 3 – Steve Israel
CD 4 – Carolyn McCarthy
CD 5 – Gregory Meeks
CD 6 – Grace Meng
CD 7 – Nydia Velazquez
CD 8 – Hakeem Jefferies
CD 9 – Yvette Clarke
CD 10 – Jerrold Nadler
CD 12 – Carolyn Maloney
CD 13 – Charles Rangel
CD 14 – Joe Crowley
CD 15 – Jose Serrano
CD 16 – Eliot Engel
CD 17 – Nita Lowey
CD 18 – Sean Patrick Maloney
CD 19 – Julian Schreibman
CD 20 – Paul Tonko
CD 21 - Bill Owens
CD 23 – Nate Shinagawa
CD 24 – Dan Maffei
CD 25 – Louise Slaughter*
CD 26 – Brian Higgins
CD 27 - Kathy Hochul

NYS Senate

SD 4 – Ricardo Montano
SD 11 – Tony Avella
SD 12 – Michael Gianaris
SD 13 – Jose Peralta
SD 15 – Joseph Addabbo, Jr.
SD 18 – Martin Malave Dilan
SD 20 – Eric Adams
SD 21 – Kevin Parker
SD 23 – Diane Savino
SD 27 – Brad Hoylman
SD 28 – Liz Kruger
SD 33 – Gustavo Rivera
SD 34 – Jeffrey Klein
SD 40 – Justin Wagner
SD 55 – Ted O'Brien
SD 60 – Michael Amodeo

NYS Assembly

AD 3 – Dean Murray
AD 5 – Alfred Graf
AD 6 – Phil Ramos
AD 9 – Joseph Saladino
AD 12 – Andrew Raia
AD 14 – David McDonough
AD 25 – Jerry Iannece
AD 31 – Michele Titus
AD 32 – Vivian Cook
AD 34 – Michael DenDekker
AD 35 – Jeffrion Aubry
AD 38 – Michael Miller
AD 39 – Francisco Moya
AD 42 – Rhoda Jacobs
AD 43 – Karim Camara
AD 47 – William Colton
AD 49 – Peter Abbate, Jr.
AD 52 – Joan Millman
AD 59 – Alan Maisel
AD 60 – Inez Barron
AD 66 – Deborah Glick
AD 76 – Micah Kellner
AD 77 – Vanessa Gibson
AD 78 – Jose Rivera
AD 79 – Eric Stevenson
AD 80 – Naomi Rivera
AD 81 – Jeffrey Dinowitz
AD 85 – Marcos Crespo
AD 86 – Nelson Castro
AD 90 - Shelley Mayer
AD 91 – Steve Otis
AD 92 – Thomas Abinanti
AD 93 – David Buchwald
AD 94 – Andrew Falk
AD 97 – Ellen Jaffee
AD 98 – Annie Rabbitt
AD 99 – James Skoufis
AD 101 – Claudia Tenney
AD 103 – Kevin Cahill
AD 104 – Frank Skartados
AD 106 – Didi Barrett
AD 111 – Angelo Santabarbara
AD 113 – Carrie Woerner
AD 118 – Marc Butler
AD 127 – Al Stripe, Jr.
AD 128 – Sam Roberts
AD 135 – Mark Johns
AD 141 – Crystal Peoples-Stokes
AD 149 – Sean Ryan

*targeted race

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

MEMBERSHIP MEETING NOTICE FOR MONROE COUNTY UNIT 7400


WHO:  CSEA Unit 7400 General Membership Meeting

DATE:  Monday, September 10th, 2012 

TIME: 5:30 pm

PLACE: Diplomat Banquet Center, 1956 Lyell Avenue, Rochester, New York 14606

Pizza, wings and refreshments will be provided.

Notice to members: A full copy of the signed Tentative Agreement will be sent to each member next week.


CSEA AND BROOKS ADMINISTRATION REACH TENTATIVE AGREEMENT

Rochester, N.Y. -- CSEA Local 828 Unit 7400 and Monroe County have reached a tentative agreement in the current negotiations. This agreement is only tentative and the decision is now up to the membership for ratification. 

The full text of the tentative agreement will be forwarded to each CSEA member next week.  A full membership meeting will be scheduled as soon as practical to discuss the details of the tentative agreement.

Workers have been on the job without a contract since Dec. 31, 2008. There are approximately 1,900 CSEA represented workers in this bargaining unit who are employed by the County.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

ELECTION 2012: THIS IS NOT YOUR FATHER'S GOP

2012 CSEA ADM IN D.C. OCTOBER 15-19

Albany, N.Y. -- Between the 40th AFSCME Convention and the Summer Olympics, it is safe to see that 2012 has been some year and yet there is an even more important date coming: November 6, Election Day!

I challenge all of you to "go for the gold" by attending our 102nd Annual Delegates Meeting which is, appropriately enough, being held in our nation's capital because we all have much at stake on Election Day.

Our theme, "Stand Up For Your Rights," genuinely describes our goal as working people and union activists.

It means defending our rights to collective bargaining. It means ending the partisan gridlock. It means defending the middle class. It means promoting the values highlighted in our mission statement: Honesty, Inclusiveness, Full Participation, Respect, Diversity, Open Communications, Accountability and Fiscal Responsibility.

This year, special interests will be spending, literally, hundreds of millions of dollars to promote an extreme agenda. Our only defense is people power. Get involved! Remember, we are the 99%.

In Solidarity,

DANNY DONOHUE
CSEA President

Monday, August 20, 2012

NYS AFL-CIO MAKE PAC ENDORSEMENTS AT 32ND CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION


Albany, N.Y.-- Today, August 20, 2012, the 2.5 million member New York State AFL-CIO announced endorsements of candidates running for State Senate and Assembly. The endorsements took place at the State Federation’s 32nd Constitutional Convention.
Mario Cilento, President of the New York State AFL-CIO, said, “The endorsement of the New York State AFL-CIO is not just a piece of paper. We will coordinate grassroots campaigns and get out the vote efforts throughout the state to ensure that our members understand the critical issues in these elections and just how important it is that they get to the polls and support our endorsed candidates.”
Members will be contacted on the job and at home through member mailings, worksite flyers, phone bank operations and a “labor-to-neighbor” program, where union members visit other members in the area to discuss a particular race.
The following candidates were endorsed:
New York State Assembly
Assembly District #
4
5
6

10
12 
13
14 
16
22
31
32
34
35
37
38
39
41
42
43
44
45
47
49
50
51
52
54
56
59
60
61
63
64
65
66
67
70
71
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
85
86
87
89
90
91
92
93
94
97
98
99
100
103
104
106
111
113
116
121
123
125
127
128
135
141
149
Candidate
Steven Englebright (D-I-WF)
Alfred Graf (R-I)
Philip Ramos (D-I-WF)
Joseph Saladino (R-C-I)
Joseph Dujmic (D-WF)
Andrew Raia (R-C)
Charles D. Lavine (D)
David McDonough (R)
Michelle Schimel (D-I-WF)
Michaelle Solages (D)
Michelle Titus (D-WF)
Vivian Cook (D)
Michael DenDekker (D-WF)
Jeffrion L. Aubry (D-WF)
Catherine T. Nolan (D-WF)
Michael Miller (D-WF)
Francisco Moya (D-WF)
Helene E. Weinstein (D-I-WF))
Rhoda S. Jacobs (D-WF)
Karim Camara (D-WF)
James F. Brennan (D-L-WF)
Steven Cymbrowitz (D-WF)
William Colton (D-WF)
Peter J. Abbate, Jr. (D-I-WF)
Joseph R. Lentol (D)
Felix W. Ortiz (D)
Joan Millman (D-WF)
Rafael Espinal, Jr. (D-C)
Annette Robinson (D)
Alan Maisel (D)
Inez Barron (D-WF)
Matthew Titone (D-WF)
Michael Cusick (D-C-I)
Nicole Malliotakis (R-C-I)
Sheldon Silver (D-WF)
Deborah J. Glick (D)
Linda Rosenthal (D-WF)
Keith L. Wright (D-WF)
Herman D. Farrell, Jr. (D)
Brian Kavanagh (D-WF)
Richard Gottfried (D-WF) 
Micah Kellner (D-WF)
Vanessa Gibson (D-WF)
Jose Rivera (D)
Eric Stevenson (R-D-WF)
Naomi Rivera (D-WF)
Jeffrey Dinowitz (D-WF)
Michael Benedetto (D-WF)
Carl Heastie (D-WF)
Marcos Crespo (D-WF)
Nelson Castro (D-WF)
Luis Sepulveda (D-WF)
Gary Pretlow (D-I-WF)
Shelley Mayer (D-I-WF)
Steve Otis (D-I)
Thomas Abinanti (D-I-WF)
David Buchwald (D-I-WF)
Andrew Falk (D-WF)
Ellen Jaffee (D-I-WF)
Annie Rabbitt (R-C-I)
James Skoufis (D-I-WF)
Aileen Gunther (D-C-I-WF)
Kevin Cahill (D-I-WF)
Frank Skartados (D-I-WF)
Didi Barrett (D-I-WF)
Angelo Santabarbara (D-C-I-WF)
Carrie Woerner (D-WF)
Addie Russell (D-WF)
William Magee (D-I)
Donna Lupardo (D-WF)
Barbara Lifton (D-WF)
Albert Stirpe, Jr. (D)
Samuel Roberts (D-I)
Mark Johns (R-C-I)
Crystal Peoples-Stokes (D)
Sean Ryan (D-WF) **
New York State Senate
Senate District
1
6
8
9
11
12
13
15
16
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
44
51
52
54
55
56
62
63
Candidate
Kenneth P. LaValle (R-C-I)
Kemp Hannon (R-C-I)
Charles Fuschillo, Jr. (R-C-I)
Dean G. Skelos (R)
Tony Avella (D-C-I-WF)
Michael Gianaris (D-WF)
Jose Peralta (D-WF)
Joseph Addabbo (D-WF)
Toby Ann Stavisky (D-I-WF)
Martin Malave Dilan (D)
John Sampson (D-WF)
Eric L. Adams (D-WF)
Kevin S. Parker (D-WF)
Andrew Gounardes (D-WF)
Diane M. Savino (D-WF-I)
Andrew J. Lanza (R-C-I)
Velmanette Montgomery (D-WF)
Daniel Squadron (D-WF)
Brad Hoylman (D-WF)
Liz Krueger (D-WF)
Jose Serrano (D-WF)
Bill Perkins (D-WF)
Adriano Espaillat (D)
Ruben Diaz, Sr. (R-D-C)
Gustavo Rivera (D-WF)
Jeffrey Klein (D-R-I-WF)
Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-I-WF)
Ruth Hassell-Thompson (D)
George Latimer (D-WF)
Neil Breslin (D-I-WF) **
James Seward (R-C-I)
Thomas Libous (R-C-I)
Michael Nozzolio (R-C-I)
Ted O’Brien (D-WF)
Joseph Robach (R-C-I)
George D. Maziarz (R-C-I)
Tim Kennedy (D-I-WF)
** New York State AFL-CIO endorsed prior to Convention.

MAGGIE BROOKS HAS UNFINISHED BUSINESS IN MONROE COUNTY

Friday, August 17, 2012

LIBRARIES ARE LYNCHPINS TO OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY; CALL YOUR LEGISLATOR TODAY

The Voice Reporter
By Ove Overmyer
President, CSEA City of Rochester Library Workers Local 828 Unit 7420

New York State-- For over a century, libraries have responded to what our patrons have been asking from us with even greater intensity with less financial resources since the current recession started: help with computer skills, providing tools for life-long learning, assisting folks who apply for unemployment insurance, helping citizens find a job, and just about everything else under the sun.

Here is a brief recap of New York State library funding: From 1998 to 2006, libraries and library systems received no state funding increases, while other educational institutions received generous attention. When economic conditions worsened, libraries were then the first to receive cuts. Library Aid has been cut six times in the last three years, from $102 million in 2008 to $79 million in 2011 which translates to a 23 percent reduction. In contrast, state funding for School Aid dropped by only 2% during the same period.

One would think that library leaders could easily engage our local elected delegation with a sound argument for properly funding our libraries and library systems—especially when we share common issues of importance.  Sadly, we all have experience with elected officials who do not put the library in their top-ten list of critical issues. Conversely, most legislators believe that economic and workforce development is a major priority for a healthy economy but have no clue that functioning libraries are a necessary part of that formula.

Let’s be clear here— libraries have been leading the way providing the support necessary for any economic recovery to happen. For many new legislators and business leaders, when this revelation is finally realized, it was like a light bulb when off over their head. Unfortunately and to this day, too many lawmakers still don’t get it and see libraries as just dusty depositories for books—and it is every citizen’s job to make them refocus this 19th century perspective.

Anyone can be a Library Champion

Anyone who gives a damn about libraries should be actively engaged in addressing our elected officials and explain to them what the role libraries have played in improving their quality of life—whether it was simply reading a best–seller, studying for a civil service exam at the library or attending a workshop on improving interview skills.

Library advocates are struck time and time again by how few people actually know what goes on in a school, academic or public library these days and how we operate.  Every time we speak to groups about what we do with respect to our economy or preparing a new generation for success, people begin to see libraries in a new light and are astonished at the depth and breadth of resources that are available to every citizen. 

We should find as many opportunities as possible to demonstrate to new listeners how involved libraries are in addressing the community’s most pressing issues.   We need more civic leaders from other sectors talking about the importance of public libraries too— and that’s why I am asking you to become a library champion today.

Our efforts to lobby the state legislature and governor have ramped up over the past few years. And just like other public entities, we are battling for our piece of the pie. Albeit, a very small piece of pie. To put some perspective on how much New York State budgets for Library Aid, let’s just say that it equals less than one-tenth of one percent. No kidding.

Library advocates have also been thinking about the difference between library users and library supporters.  In library circles, we spend a lot of time, as we should, talking about library users, how to identify them, serve them better, communicate more effectively.  But as we know from plenty of surveys and data, library use does not necessarily correlate with library funding dollars. 

Rather, library supporters believe that the library can be transformative for those who walk through our doors.  Increasing support for the library depends on us being active leaders focused on accurately reflecting the reality of library services and products. And therefore, convince others that libraries are truly the best return on investment of public dollars any taxpayer can spend. This-- my library friends, will remain one of our biggest challenges and top priorities for the 21st century.