July 2, 2025
Parks advocates are criticizing Mayor Eric Adams' latest $116 billion budget for shortchanging funding for green and open spaces that they argue are critical to New Yorkers’ quality of life.
Roughly 700 positions lost to budget cuts under Adams have not been restored despite increased total spending on parks, which is driven by new programs, according to city officials. The Adams administration and parks advocates have been locked in a battle for months over whether the latest spending is sufficient.
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May 27, 2025
Local 983 President Joe Puleo and the entire Members for Real Change slate were overwhelmingly re-elected on Tuesday, May 27 to lead the union for another three years.
When the polls closed at 9 p.m., the American Arbitration Association, which ran the election, announced the official results: Joe Puleo, 360; Noe Jolifier, 92.
"I want to thank all our members who came to DC 37 to vote. We know it was not easy to make time to do so in person," Puleo said. "Your votes confirm your trust in the leadership we have provided you in the past and will continue to provide you moving forward. We have many battles ahead of us but know that we will always fight for our members to make sure you have the rights, benefits, and salaries to which you deserve and are entitled."
A total of 455 ballots were cast.
CLICK HERE to see complete election results >>
March 20, 2025 - NYC Council Committee on Parks and Recreation
Last summer, the city’s parks were flush with maintenance crews as New Yorkers streamed into green spaces after a long pandemic winter.
"We're in a crisis situation when it comes to both cleanliness and safety in our parks. It is probably the all-time worst and what I find most frustrating is it's not coming from enemies; this is coming from friends. These are people who were elected and told us they were going to do things for us, like the 1%. Not only did we not get the 1%, but we got a reduction in workforce, just the exact opposite of what we were promised. So this, from my standpoint, is frustrating and it's outrageous how we could put our people out there in harm's way. Not only the patrons but also our PEP Officers with a reduced force. That means that they are scattered thin," Local 983 President Joe Puleo testified.
CLICK HERE to watch his testimony before the Committee on Parks and Recreation
