190 HA Layoffs By Mid-April Due to Deficit

By ARI PAUL

The Housing Authority announced Feb. 29 that it will lay off nearly 200 workers to balance its budget.

GREGORY FLOYD: Decries Bush cuts.

Citing what it called "chronic" underfunding by the Federal Government, the authority said in a statement that it will "reduce its workforce by eliminating 427 positions, including 190 layoffs," and that the "action fulfills [HA]'s plan reflected in its 2007 budget to reduce headcount by 500 positions. [HA] eliminated 73 managerial positions in October 2007."

Ax Falls in Mid-April

The layoffs are scheduled for the middle of April. The HA said the reduction will save it more than $30 million per year and announced that it will consolidate "19 underutilized community centers into existing, nearby facilities."

Since President Bush took office in 2001, the HA has been funded at less than 85 percent of its operating costs. The overall loss totals $574 million. Last spring, HA officials announced the job cuts due to a budget deficit of $51 million. New state money will be phased in and will bring in $6.7 million this year and $29.5 million next year, rising to $47 million by 2010.

The HA will lay off 59 Painters from Local 1969 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. The Organization of Staff Analysts will also experience layoffs. In addition to Local 957 of District Council 37, which represents HA Clericals, the affected locals of DC 37 are 154, 371, 375, 768, 983 and 1407. One member of Teamsters Local 237 will be laid off.

Staff Spread Thinner

Local 237 President Greg Floyd, who represents 8,000 HA workers, said that his members will be adversely affected by the layoffs even though virtually all will retain their jobs, because they will be lacking support staff.

"My members will have to work even harder," he said. "It will impact on the workload."

Mr. Floyd vowed to hold a rally at City Hall in support of more funding for public housing on May 1, adding that President Bush has neglected and cut funding for public housing nationwide more than any other administration.

"This is just not a good time for public housing at all," he said. "I hope the residents of public housing who have been silent who need these services desperately begin to speak out."