Local 237 Takes Initiative
Thousands Rally Against Housing Authority Cuts

By MICHELLE FRIEDMAN

A rally organized by Teamsters Local 237 to protest the Bush administration's lack of funding for public housing drew several thousand people to City Hall Park May 1, where they called on the Federal Government to provide increased aid.

The Chief-Leader/Pat Arnow 'YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH US': Teamsters Local 237 President Gregory Floyd accuses the Bush administration of sharply reducing Federal aid to 'starve public housing developments out of existence.'

"New York has the largest public housing system in the country. If we fail here; we fail everywhere," Local 237 President Gregory Floyd declared.

As a result of the continuing impact of $611 million in budget cuts during the seven-plus years of President Bush's administration, the Housing Authority was recently forced to lay off 131 employees as part of a planned elimination of 427 jobs.

The 500,000 residents of public housing in New York City are faced with dwindling building maintenance as the HA's core services decrease. Teamsters 237 claims that the underfunding by the Federal government has left the city and state with a bill they cannot afford to pay. Mr. Floyd decried what he characterized as a "blatant attempt by the Bush administration to starve public housing developments out of existence."

The Chief-Leader/Pat Arnow JOB INSECURITY: Although Teamsters Local 237 has been largely untouched by recent Housing Authority layoffs, its members massed at a City Hall Park rally across from the HA's Broadway headquarters partly out of concern that the ax could be swinging for them in the near future.

Mr. Floyd described the city's public housing population as a force to be reckoned with. "We are 500,000 strong. We are larger than most cities; you have to deal with us," Mr. Floyd said.

Local 237 is pursuing a voter registration campaign among public housing tenants to make sure that their voices are heard in the upcoming election.

Several prominent union officials addressed the gathering, which began as Mayor Bloomberg was unveiling his Executive Budget less than a hundred yards north in City Hall. "There is no institution more important to the character of this city than public housing," said New York State AFL-CIO President Dennis Hughes. "Labor will be here today, tomorrow and every day to protect public housing."

'Can't Turn Backs on Them'

Jesse Epps, an activist and leader of The National Union for American Families, asserted that, "We cannot and must not permit this nation to turn its back on its own."

"If we don't stand together they will pick us off one by one," added New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson Jr., emphasizing the importance of sending a message to Federal officials.

John Murphy, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters' eastern regional vice president, who was in town from Boston for the rally, said Mr. Floyd had done something historic in involving tenants in the rally. "No longer will residents of public housing be ignored or trampled on," he said. "These residents were essentially powerless. Now, by organizing public housing with Teamsters, a powerful political coalition exists. Public housing residents getting the short end of the stick ends today. The power of this coalition is unlimited."

Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion called Mr. Floyd "the new labor leadership in New York."

Puts Onus on President

"It is good to see the support the rally is receiving," Mr. Floyd said in an interview. "We feel good that people are paying attention and care about the plight of public housing."

Mr. Floyd emphasized that his union faults the Federal Government for the state of public housing. "We want the Bush administration to live up to its obligation. We fault Bush, not the Housing Authority. They are doing the best they can given the circumstances."

A statement released by the Housing Authority in response to the rally expressed optimism about the future of public housing. "We are encouraged by the strong support voiced today by organized labor, our residents, local electeds and others who have joined together to seek full funding from Washington for public housing." a spokesman said. "The message is clear: we must preserve this extremely critical affordable housing resource for all New Yorkers."