Local 983 Newsletter - Spring 2019

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DC 37 Annual Women's Forum

By DIANE S. WILLIAMS

Sisters and brothers in today’s labor movement are invited to lean in at a special International Women’s Month event presented by the DC 37 Women’s Committee as Local 420 President Carmen Charles hosts an evening of conversation with Hazel Dukes, president of the NAACP NY Conference, on Friday, March 15 at union headquarters from 6 to 8 p.m.

Ms. Dukes blazed trails in New York suburbs fighting poverty, housing discrimination and racial bias. She cracked the glass ceiling as the first woman president of a statewide chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and was the first black woman to head NYC OTB. Ms. Dukes is a longtime ally and advocate on issues important to DC 37 and labor unions.

Unabashed and unapologetic, Hazel Dukes is a vibrant octogenarian who continues to fight for access to better education, quality health care and vital public services for all New Yorkers.

All out on March 8th!

Yesterday, over 150 advocates joined the Play Fair Coalition on the Steps of City Hall to ask the Mayor and City Council to commit $100M in additional expense funding to the City budget for parks.

City parks make up 14% of NYC’s land, but last year the agency only received 0.59% of the total City budget. This disparity in the City budget for NYC Parks has existed for over a decade. It is incredibly challenging for NYC Parks to staff, maintain, and secure our parks with this level of funding. Increasing NYC Parks’ budget by $100M (only 0.1% of the proposed City budget) will accomplish so much and impact the lives of millions of New Yorkers.

Yesterday’s rally was a successful start to the Play Fair campaign. Now, we need you to help us reach your elected officials with this message. Join us in asking City Hall  to increase the Parks Department’s expense budget by $100M in FY20 and direct that funding to support much needed maintenance and operations needs citywide.  

The next opportunity to act is on Friday, March 8^th at 2pm. The Coalition will ask for this funding at City Hall,  during the City Council Parks Committee Hearing on the Preliminary Budget for Parks.

This is a critical opportunity for the public to ask elected officials to commit to increased funding, and PLAY FAIR FOR PARKS. We hope to see you there!

What: City Council Parks Committee Hearing on the Preliminary Budget

When: Friday, March 8^th at 2pm (public comment begins at 4pm)

Where: City Hall, Council Chambers

Play Fair Rally