Archive for April, 2008

Testimony to the New York State Commission on Property Tax Relief

Testimony of Alan B. Lubin
Executive Vice President
New York State United Teachers
to the
New York State Commission on Property Tax Relief
Thomas R. Suozzi, Chair
Read the (PDF file) testimony: testimony

A Cap on Property Taxes Imperils New York State’s Educational Reforms

Statement by: Bruce Ventimiglia Co-Chair BALCONY

I am Bruce Ventimiglia, the Co-Chairman of BALCONY, the Business and Labor Coalition of New York. I also run a small business, an investment firm called Saratoga Capital Management based in Garden City, New York. BALCONY represents over a thousand small businesses throughout New York State, along with numerous labor organizations and advocacy groups. Finding common ground among these diverse constituents is BALCONY’s main goal. Today, I will focus on the consideration of a statewide cap on property taxes, and demonstrate why such a seemingly appealing idea contains within it the seeds of destruction for the New York State public education system.

Millions of Jobs of a Different Collar

By Steven Greenhouse

Everyone knows what blue-collar and white-collar jobs are, but now a job of another hue — green — has entered the lexicon.

Presidential candidates talk about the promise of “green collar” jobs — an economy with millions of workers installing solar panels, weatherizing homes, brewing biofuels, building hybrid cars and erecting giant wind turbines. Labor unions view these new jobs as replacements for positions lost to overseas manufacturing and outsourcing. Urban groups view training in green jobs as a route out of poverty. And environmentalists say they are crucial to combating climate change.

RETIREMENT PUBLIC EMLOYEES ASSOCIATION NEWS

We invite you to take a preview of “Retirement Revolution” on the promotional page at www.wttw.com/retirementrevolution. On March 31st, the full site will go live. This site will include interviews with experts, key steps to take for a sound and secure retirement, stories of those who appear in the program, and useful resources. You may also watch or download a podcast of the entire program.

RPEA presented the Business and Labor Coalition of New York (BALCONY) during a roundtable on February 26, 2008, with our position concerning SENIORS and HEALTH CARE REFORM in New York State. RPEA is your voice to address senior and retiree issues. BALCONY “seeks common ground” and provides us with a forum to a wide range of organizations that would not otherwise obtain information that reflects the diverse viewpoints of our membership.

Although seniors are losing coverage and going into medical debt, most health care reform proposals do not even mention them. Reform should help seniors replace the supplemental coverage being lost, so that they can once again afford to seek the treatments that they need. To read the full position click here

CSEA Fights for Members’ Health

CSEA is partnering with the American Cancer Society in an initiative to help members protect their health by getting screened for cancer and other preventative health measures. Many cancers can be prevented with screening and a healthy lifestyle. Visit www.fightcancer.org and enter “CSEA” at the login prompt to learn more.
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