Page 1 - Retiree News Spring 2020

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cseany.org
Public Services at Risk!
Fight Together to Help Save New York
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NEWS Mary E. Sullivan, President SPRING 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused massive revenue losses and unemployment in New York that will worsen without an influx of billions in federal aid.
New York’s recently enacted state budget will not be able to handle the coming economic crisis, without huge cuts to vital services and
programs New Yorkers depend on every day.
The essential services
that New
Yorkers need,
particularly
during this
pandemic,
are at risk for
severe cuts or
elimination. The
very workers
who are showing up every day
to ensure our health, safety, and way of life will soon be faced with massive layoffs.
To help sustain vital public services, including hospitals and nursing homes, Medicaid, services for those with mental illness
and developmental disabilities, sanitation, highway and road
maintenance, schools, child care and public libraries, New York needs billions in unrestricted and direct federal aid to the state and local governments.
“With New York at the epicenter of this public health crisis, and the need for public services in even greater demand, our state leaders
were forced into
passing a budget
that promises State and local governments Chuck Schumer, U.S. Sen. Kirsten serious pain for are putting massive resources Gillibrand and your Congressional New Yorkers in the into fighting this pandemic on representative to tell them to
“Just as our essential workers are putting their communities first, it is time for Congress to act NOW to save New York. We need every member to act so we can fight together.”
very near future,” CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan said. “New York is bleeding revenues and workers are facing massive unemployment on a scale never seen before. Without
additional federal relief right now, the state will be forced into cutting essential services we all rely on.”
Relief needed now
Simply put, we need direct and unrestricted aid to state and local governments to fund the front lines and to cushion the economic blow from COVID-19.
the front lines. New York cannot weather the estimated $15 billion loss in revenue to our state and local governments without a commitment for robust federal aid.
Local governments are also feeling the squeeze, with experts predicting that $300 billion is needed nationally not only to pay for COVID-19 related expenses, but to sustain themselves in a changing world.
We are also urging for increased funding for school districts and higher education, as well as increased aid for Medicaid.
What you can do
We are urging all of our members to contact U.S. Sen.
immediately support unrestricted federal aid to New York. Because Congressional offices are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we urge you to contact your representative by email or via Facebook.
“Just as our essential workers are putting their communities first, it is time for Congress to act NOW to save New York,” Sullivan said. “We need every member to act so we can fight together.”
To get your representatives’ contact information and learn more about our campaign to Help Save New York, visit https:// cseany.org/help-save-new-york.
Visit https://cseany.org/help-save-new-york to take action now!