Page 4 - Work Force February 2016

The
President Danny Donohue in touch with
The
Work Force
State budget proposes wrong priorities
Work Force
ISSN 1522-1091
Official publication of
CSEA Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO 143 Washington Ave. Albany, NY 12210-2303 Danny Donohue, President
STEPHEN A. MADARASZ Communications Director & Publisher
EMILY COTE
Deputy Director of Communications
LOU HMIELESKI Executive Editor
JANICE GAVIN Associate Editor
JANICE M. KUCSKAR Graphic Production Specialist
JASON D. HOSIER Graphic Production Specialist
BETH MCINTYRE Communications Assistant
CommuniCations speCialists
CSEA Executive Statewide Officers
Vice President Mary E. Sullivan
Secretary Denise Berkley
Treasurer
Joe McMullen
CSEA Region Officers
Long Island Region President
Nick LaMorte
3 Garet Place Commack, N.Y. 11725
Metropolitan Region President
Lester Crockett
125 Maiden Lane, 5th Floor New York, N.Y.
10038
Southern Region President
Billy Riccaldo 569 State Route 52 Beacon, N.Y. 12508
Capital Region President
Kathy Garrison
1 Lear Jet Lane, Suite #2 Latham, N.Y.
12110
Central Region President
Colleen Wheaton 6595 Kirkville Road East Syracuse, N.Y. 13057
Western Region President
Flo Tripi
120 Pineview Drive Amherst, N.Y. 14228
Long Island Region: Wendi Bowie
(631) 462-0030
Metropolitan Region: David Galarza
(212) 406-2156
Southern Region: Jessica Ladlee (845) 831-1000
Capital Region: Therese Assalian (518) 782-4400
Central Region: Mark M. Kotzin (315) 433-0050
Western Region: Ove Overmyer (716) 691-6555
Headquarters: Jill Asencio (518) 257-1276
T
Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposed state budget.
Plenty of money is lined up for corporate welfare and so-called economic development programs that cost taxpayers millions and fail dismally at producing the jobs they promise. Billions of dollars
are proposed for infrastructure projects, with only smoke and mirrors explanations on how to pay for them.
But, once again, the budget proposals shortchange localities, underfund state agencies and leave human needs unmet. That doesn’t create a better New York for all.
A repeatedly rejected and discredited scheme for local government consolidation is back. Local governments across the state don’t like it and financial experts agree it won’t save taxpayers money. But there it is.
Deficient vision and inadequate funding for state mental health care has undermined services and led to more misery for seriously vulnerable people and saddled local taxpayers with an unfunded mandate. There are more people receiving mental health care in jails than there are
in state psychiatric centers, costing localities tens of millions of dollars!
Likewise, the lack of staff
and resources has strained developmental disabilities services to the breaking point, but there is no budget relief, even as 11,000 individuals and families are on waiting lists for help.
The horrendous examples go on and on throughout the budget proposal.
None of these issues are new, so enough is enough. The governor needs to get real.
here are bad choices and
misguided priorities throughout
The Publications Committee: Jerry Laricchiuta Robert Pyjas Theresa Reagan
Lee Reynolds
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4 The Work Force
February 2016