Hiring Freeze In Effect
July 6th, 2009
Two can play at this game.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced today that the city will enforce a hiring freeze thanks to the State Senate’s failure to pass a .5 percent increase in the city’s sales tax, delaying the hiring of more than 1,000 city employees, including 250 new police officers, who were scheduled to start the academy this week. The mayor says the Senate stalemate will cost the city $60 million this month.
In addition to the hiring freeze, the city will also kick off a review of all city contracts in hopes of weeding out any that are “non-essential.”
In a prepared statement, Bloomberg said: “I’ve instructed the city’s budget director to immediately freeze all hiring while the gridlock in the State Senate imperils the city’s budget.This includes a class of 250 police recruits, who were set to enter the academy this week, along with firefighters, school safety agents, 911 and 311 call takers, and EMTs. Further, we will be reviewing all city contracts to ensure we do not enter into non-essential contracts. We have a legal mandate to produce a balanced budget — something we’ve done for seven consecutive years — so we have to act responsibly.”
More specifically, the city will hold off on hiring:
150 Firefighters
151 Traffic Agents
34 Emergency 911 Operators
175 School Safety Agents
150 School Crossing Guards
90 Emergency Medical Technicians
20 3-1-1 Operators
In response to the hiring freeze, Council Speaker Christine Quinn released the following statement:
“Last month, Mayor Bloomberg and the Council agreed on a $59.4 billion budget that included a $900 million revenue package designed to steer our city through tough economic times without eviscerating core services. That agreement allowed us to save 16 firehouses, maintain citywide, six-day library service and keep ACS child welfare workers on the front lines protecting our most vulnerable children.
“However, the State Senate’s failure to act is now costing us roughly $2 million dollars a day and our first responders are literally paying the price for it.
“Today’s hiring freeze places an unnecessary strain on our city’s workforce. The State Senate needs to put aside their power struggle and allow our revenue package to move forward so we can avoid drastic cuts to the core services we fought so hard to protect.”
Councilmember Peter Vallone, chair of the council’s Public Safety Committee, released this statement:
By Courtney Gross on July 6, 2009, 3:54 pm“Our first responders should never be first on the chopping block. Police recruits – preparing to enter the academy this week – are now being held hostage by the pathetic ineptitude in Albany. The State Senate’s inability to function may literally result in blood on the streets.”
In category: Albany, Economy, Gotham City, Public Finance, nextNY | 1 Comment »


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