http://www.balconynewyork.com Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:02:14 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/02/03/bloomberg-silver-op-ed-new-york-must-finally-raise-the-minimum-wage/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/02/03/bloomberg-silver-op-ed-new-york-must-finally-raise-the-minimum-wage/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:59:04 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5494

By Michael Bloomberg And Sheldon Silver Thursday, February 2, 2012, 4:09 AM It’s time to raise the minimum wage. Over the past several years, the cost of living in New York — like nearly everywhere else — has gone up, but for New Yorkers at the bottom of the economic ladder, one thing has remained unchanged: the minimum wage.

Given today’s high cost of living, it is unrealistic to expect a working person, much less a family, to afford rent, groceries, clothing, heating, phone, transportation, child care — and be able to save for the future — on $290 a week. If the minimum wage does not allow someone to afford even the most minimal of expenses, the incentive to work is diminished.]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/02/03/bloomberg-silver-op-ed-new-york-must-finally-raise-the-minimum-wage/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/30/balcony-supports-higher-new-york-state-10-minimum-wage-proposal-of-fiscal-policy-institute/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/30/balcony-supports-higher-new-york-state-10-minimum-wage-proposal-of-fiscal-policy-institute/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:03:26 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5468

The Business and Labor Coalition of New York, BALCONY, today (Monday) announced its support for a phased-in $10 an hour minimum wage for New York State workers as proposed by the Fiscal Policy Institute (FPI) in a report released today: The Case for Raising the Minimum Wage. (FULL REPORT)

"New York State needs a minimum wage that helps families who are struggling to make ends meet," stated Alan Lubin and Robert Hayes, BALCONY co- chairs. "During the current economic upheaval it is time for our state to provide a wage floor that is realistic. Mayor Bloomberg, Governor Cuomo and Speaker Silver all agree that people cannot live on $7.25 an hour. BALCONY supports a $10 an hour phased-in minimum wage which will result in additional consumer spending that, according to FPI, will create more than 25,000 jobs." ]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/30/balcony-supports-higher-new-york-state-10-minimum-wage-proposal-of-fiscal-policy-institute/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/30/%e2%80%9ccitizens%e2%80%99-committee-for-an-effective-constitution%e2%80%9d-launches-groundbreaking-bi-partisan-reform-coalition-that-seeks-to-restore-new-york%e2%80%99s-reputation-as-an-effective-st/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/30/%e2%80%9ccitizens%e2%80%99-committee-for-an-effective-constitution%e2%80%9d-launches-groundbreaking-bi-partisan-reform-coalition-that-seeks-to-restore-new-york%e2%80%99s-reputation-as-an-effective-st/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:57:57 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5466

Committee, led by New Roosevelt Founder Bill Samuels, Minority Leader Brian Kolb, and Constitutional Scholar SUNY Professor Gerald Benjamin, will advance public discussion of the State Constitution and serve as non-partisan platform for how to best reform the constitution and create effective change on issues including campaign finance reform and redistricting; Announces statewide Law School scholarship essay competition focusing on constitutional issues

ALBANY, NY – New Yorkers deserve a more effective State Constitution, a more effective state government, a more effective civic process and a more effective economy. These are the goals of a groundbreaking, bi-partisan reform coalition – “Citizens’ Committee for an Effective Constitution” (CCEC) – which launched itself online earlier today. CCEC seeks to bring together over time recognized leaders and experts from the worlds of nonprofit/good government advocacy, private sector leadership and public service, academia and scholarly research to advance serious public discussion of issues pertaining to New York’s State Constitution, state government, economy and public policy. ]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/30/%e2%80%9ccitizens%e2%80%99-committee-for-an-effective-constitution%e2%80%9d-launches-groundbreaking-bi-partisan-reform-coalition-that-seeks-to-restore-new-york%e2%80%99s-reputation-as-an-effective-st/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/30/dinapoli-replacing-defined-benefit-pension-with-401k-style-plan-%e2%80%98unacceptable%e2%80%99/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/30/dinapoli-replacing-defined-benefit-pension-with-401k-style-plan-%e2%80%98unacceptable%e2%80%99/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:53:46 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5456
DiNapoli’s comments came at a forum sponsored by the National Public Pension Coalition at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on January 19, 2012.

According to a copy of the comptroller’s prepared remarks sent out by his press office, DiNapoli decried the “coordinated, sustained attacks by anti-pension advocates” that he says have “falsely cast public pensions as costly, unsustainable giveaways that are bankrupting states and localities.” ]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/30/dinapoli-replacing-defined-benefit-pension-with-401k-style-plan-%e2%80%98unacceptable%e2%80%99/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/30/raising-new-york%e2%80%99s-minimum-wage-will-boost-the-state-economy/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/30/raising-new-york%e2%80%99s-minimum-wage-will-boost-the-state-economy/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:03:51 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5444

1.6 million low-wage workers would benefit; 25,000 jobs created

Raising New York’s minimum wage will boost the economy, helping 1.6 million low-wage workers and creating 25,000 jobs, according to a new report from the Fiscal Policy Institute (FPI). Currently, New York’s minimum wage is the same as the federal $7.25 an hour. There hasn’t been a substantial increase in New York’s minimum in five years, although it rose by 10 cents in July 2009, when the last step of an increase in the federal minimum took effect.]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/30/raising-new-york%e2%80%99s-minimum-wage-will-boost-the-state-economy/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/30/new-york-state-democrats-will-propose-hike-in-state-minimum-wage-to-8-50-an-hour/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/30/new-york-state-democrats-will-propose-hike-in-state-minimum-wage-to-8-50-an-hour/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:56:35 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5441

Speaker Sheldon Silver confirms automatic increases will be part of proposal

by Kenneth Lovett

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver will unveil a plan on Monday to increase the state's minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.50 an hour.

Assembly Democrats Monday will propose a hike in the minimum wage to $8.50 an hour, the Daily News has learned.

]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/30/new-york-state-democrats-will-propose-hike-in-state-minimum-wage-to-8-50-an-hour/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/25/catherine-abate-and-robert-hayes-selected-as-new-balcony-co%e2%80%93-chairs-join-alan-lubin-to-lead-the-business-and-labor-coalition-of-new-york/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/25/catherine-abate-and-robert-hayes-selected-as-new-balcony-co%e2%80%93-chairs-join-alan-lubin-to-lead-the-business-and-labor-coalition-of-new-york/#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:34:52 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5415       

For Immediate Release: January 25, 2012

The Business and Labor Coalition of New York (BALCONY) announced today (Wednesday) that Catherine Abate, President/CEO of Community Healthcare Network, and Robert Hayes, Senior VP of Universal American, have been named new BALCONY co-chairs. They join Alan Lubin, former Senior Executive Vice President of the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), to lead the coalition in 2012.]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/25/catherine-abate-and-robert-hayes-selected-as-new-balcony-co%e2%80%93-chairs-join-alan-lubin-to-lead-the-business-and-labor-coalition-of-new-york/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/25/uft-ad-slams-bloombergs-record-on-education/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/25/uft-ad-slams-bloombergs-record-on-education/#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:30:35 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5403

UFT Blasts Bloomberg On Teacher Evaluations

BY Celeste Katz

The city teachers union is blasting Mayor Bloomberg’s education record in a television attack ad that’s airing amid the tense standoff over teacher evaluations. Our Ben Chapman reports: More than eight million viewers are expected to see the union’s 30-second spot, which pulls no punches in its critique of the mayor’s education reforms. “Ten years as Mayor, and Mike Bloomberg still doesn’t get it,” begins the narrator’s criticism of Bloomberg’s record on schools, starting with his appointment of Cathie Black as schools chancellor. [Click through to view the ad.]]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/25/uft-ad-slams-bloombergs-record-on-education/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/25/public-pensions-are-not-the-enemy-by-afl-cio-president-mario-cilento/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/25/public-pensions-are-not-the-enemy-by-afl-cio-president-mario-cilento/#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:53:18 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5397

Public pensions are not the enemy So why does Gov. Cuomo's plan vilify middle class retirement security?

By Mario Cilento / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Published: Wednesday, January 25 2012, 4:24 AM We hear all the time about exorbitant public-sector pensions, which leads many to believe mistakenly that retired nurses, firefighters, teachers and others are wealthy. We don’t hear that the average benefit for a member in the largest plan in New York — the New York State and Local Retirement System — is $19,000 a year, or that 76% of these pensions are less than $30,000 a year.]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/25/public-pensions-are-not-the-enemy-by-afl-cio-president-mario-cilento/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/23/news-release-nysut-recognizes-budget-strong-points-hits-proposed-tie-to-evaluations/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/23/news-release-nysut-recognizes-budget-strong-points-hits-proposed-tie-to-evaluations/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:38:37 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5383

ALBANY, NY – New York State United Teachers today said it shares the commitment of the governor and Legislature to improve the efficiency and performance of public schools. However, the union said three consecutive years of decreasing education budgets — including last year’s $1.3 billion cut — and the looming tax cap are making that job difficult, forcing districts to increase class sizes; chop course offerings; and eliminate 20,000 teacher and staff positions. ]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/23/news-release-nysut-recognizes-budget-strong-points-hits-proposed-tie-to-evaluations/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/18/above-and-beyond/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/18/above-and-beyond/#comments Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:34:06 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5376



Featuring BALCONY Co-Chair, Catherine Abate

]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/18/above-and-beyond/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/18/5371/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/18/5371/#comments Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:21:01 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5371

We are writing to announce an exciting new venture bringing together the experience and skill of Winning Strategies Washington-New York (WSWNY) at the federal level and Northeast Government Consulting (NGC) at the state and local level. Our combined abilities will provide clients with seamless New York State and Washington, D.C., representation. ]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/18/5371/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/18/balcony-members-comment-on-gov-cuomos-2012-2013-nys-budget/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/18/balcony-members-comment-on-gov-cuomos-2012-2013-nys-budget/#comments Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:38:21 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5341 Responses from:

PEF President Ken Brynien
CSEA President Danny Donohue
NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi and Executive Vice President Andrew Pallotta]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/18/balcony-members-comment-on-gov-cuomos-2012-2013-nys-budget/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/17/statement-on-the-2012-1013-nys-budget-alan-lubin-co-chair-of-the-business-and-labor-coalition-of-new-york-balcony/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/17/statement-on-the-2012-1013-nys-budget-alan-lubin-co-chair-of-the-business-and-labor-coalition-of-new-york-balcony/#comments Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:09:29 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5327 Alan Lubin co-chair of the Business and Labor Coalition of New York, BALCONY

The Cuomo administration's 2012-2013 budget message is a positive step that can create jobs, rebuild New York's infrastructure, rejuvenate our convention business and revive the City of Buffalo.

The administration's desire to create a Tier VI pension system for public employees is misguided and premature since the state created a Tier V in the past two years.

We believe a fair teacher evaluation program can be worked out within the governor's time-frame if City and State officials come to the table seeking a honest solution.

We need further details on the administration's desire to consolidate state agencies and programs, and the resulting impact on the delivery of services to the residents of our state. Finally BALCONY supports the Governor's creation of the New York State Insurance Health Care Exchange as required by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. ]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/17/statement-on-the-2012-1013-nys-budget-alan-lubin-co-chair-of-the-business-and-labor-coalition-of-new-york-balcony/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/17/2012-13-executive-budget-reform-plan-by-robert-l-megna-director-of-the-budget/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/17/2012-13-executive-budget-reform-plan-by-robert-l-megna-director-of-the-budget/#comments Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:06:04 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5324 New NY Transformation Plan...the next step
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

This has been an extraordinary year for New York State. In enacting the 2011-12 Budget, Governor Cuomo and the Legislature transformed the budget process erasing a $10 billion deficit, ending unsustainable spending growth, and creating new ways to involve the public in developing solutions to the State’s problems. In addition, this past December the Governor and Legislature lowered taxes for middle class New Yorkers to the lowest level in 58 years and brought fairness to our tax code.

This Executive Budget demonstrates that New York is now on a new course. The recommendations in the Budget represent a responsible, balanced plan for New York State that continues Governor Cuomo’s efforts to strengthen New York’s economy while improving both the quality of services delivered and the accountability over State spending. For the second year in a row, this budget decreases the All Funds budget from the previous year and controls State Funds growth to 2 percent, consistent with the property tax cap adopted for local governments. This budget honors the landmark two-year appropriations in School Aid and Medicaid, with increases tied to the underlying economic growth.]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/17/2012-13-executive-budget-reform-plan-by-robert-l-megna-director-of-the-budget/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/13/diabetes-prevention-material-to-come/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/13/diabetes-prevention-material-to-come/#comments Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:49:12 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5319 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/13/diabetes-prevention-material-to-come/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/13/rob-ackermans-call-me-waldo-previews-off-broadway-214-read-more-httpoffbroadway-broadwayworld-comarticlerob-ackermans-call-me-waldo-previews-off-broadway/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/13/rob-ackermans-call-me-waldo-previews-off-broadway-214-read-more-httpoffbroadway-broadwayworld-comarticlerob-ackermans-call-me-waldo-previews-off-broadway/#comments Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:48:41 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5309

CALL ME WALDO -- a new play by Rob Ackerman (TABLETOP) -- will debut Off-Broadway in a production by The Working Theater with preview performances starting February 14 prior to its official opening night on February 22 at the June Havoc Theatre (312 W. 36 St. in Manhattan), it has been announced by Mark Plesent, Working Theater's Producing Artistic Director.]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/13/rob-ackermans-call-me-waldo-previews-off-broadway-214-read-more-httpoffbroadway-broadwayworld-comarticlerob-ackermans-call-me-waldo-previews-off-broadway/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/13/it%e2%80%99s-on-bloomberg-picks-a-fight-with-teachers-union/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/13/it%e2%80%99s-on-bloomberg-picks-a-fight-with-teachers-union/#comments Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:13:49 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5307

By Adam Lisberg

“I loved the children in the beginning, the singers and the dancers. Weren’t they wonderful?”

That was the nicest thing United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew could think to say about Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s State of the City address yesterday, which was studded with education initiatives that reformers love and the union loves to hate.]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/13/it%e2%80%99s-on-bloomberg-picks-a-fight-with-teachers-union/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/13/mulgrew-responds-to-mayor-bloombergs-state-of-the-city-address/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/13/mulgrew-responds-to-mayor-bloombergs-state-of-the-city-address/#comments Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:37:49 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5280

Mayor Bloomberg in his State of the City address on Jan. 12 proposed merit pay for teachers, vowed to step up effects to remove ineffective teachers, blamed the union for the breakdown of negotiations over a teacher evaluation system in 33 restart and transformation schools and announced that he would open 50 new charter schools in the next two years. UFT President Michael Mulgrew said, "The mayor seems to be lost in his own fantasy world of education, the one where reality doesn't apply."]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/13/mulgrew-responds-to-mayor-bloombergs-state-of-the-city-address/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/13/mayor-bloomberg-delivers-2012-state-of-the-city-address-%e2%80%93-nyc-capital-of-innovation/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/13/mayor-bloomberg-delivers-2012-state-of-the-city-address-%e2%80%93-nyc-capital-of-innovation/#comments Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:35:02 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5277

The following is the text of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s 2012 State of the City address as prepared for delivery at Morris High School in the Bronx.

“Thank you. Mayors Koch and Dinkins, Speaker Quinn and Minority Leader Oddo, Public Advocate De Blasio, Comptroller Liu, Borough Presidents, District Attorneys, members of the City Council and State Legislature, my fellow New Yorkers – it’s great to be in the Bronx.]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/13/mayor-bloomberg-delivers-2012-state-of-the-city-address-%e2%80%93-nyc-capital-of-innovation/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/12/csea-unhappy-with-prison-call-center/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/12/csea-unhappy-with-prison-call-center/#comments Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:30:56 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5256

Posted on January 11, 2012 at 2:48 pm by Rick Karlin, Capitol bureau

New York’s Dept of Motor Vehicles earlier this week announced it had expanded its prison call center to the Greene County Correctional Facility. While state officials touted the savings that come with having inmates handle information requests to the DMV, the union that represents some non-imprisoned call-takers who are presumably competing with the prisoners.]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/12/csea-unhappy-with-prison-call-center/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/12/coalition-calls-on-governor-legislature-to-close-corporate-tax-loopholes-level-playing-field-for-small-business/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/12/coalition-calls-on-governor-legislature-to-close-corporate-tax-loopholes-level-playing-field-for-small-business/#comments Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:06:02 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5250
Albany, NY -- A large coalition of community, labor, student, faith and Occupy organizations gathered on Monday to announce their campaign to bring fairness and transparency to New York’s corporate tax system. The organizations, who last year worked together on the "Millionaires Tax" and personal income tax reform, are calling on Governor Cuomo and the Legislature to close corporate tax loopholes, raising over $1 billion dollars for this year’s state budget. The additional revenue will help New York to create jobs, create a fairer environment for small business, and prevent more devastating budget cuts to services and our safety net and allow for restorations of reduced funding.]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/12/coalition-calls-on-governor-legislature-to-close-corporate-tax-loopholes-level-playing-field-for-small-business/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/10/uft-open-letter-to-parents/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/10/uft-open-letter-to-parents/#comments Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:00:38 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5219

The following open letter from UFT President Michael Mulgrew to New York City parents ran as a full-page ad in the New York Daily News on Jan. 9:

New York City is losing its teachers.

More than 66,000 have either resigned or retired since Mayor Bloomberg took control of the schools.

Teachers leave one of the toughest jobs in New York City for a variety of personal and professional reasons, but the most common single reason is a lack of support from supervisors and the Department of Education. ]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/10/uft-open-letter-to-parents/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/09/nys-health-foundation-release-report-on-health-reform/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/09/nys-health-foundation-release-report-on-health-reform/#comments Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:35:21 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5210

"Health Reform Works: How the Affordable Care Act Is Already Making a Difference for New Yorkers"

By creating new options for health coverage and building on existing sources of public and private health coverage, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will give many people an opportunity to access affordable and comprehensive coverage. Important provisions of the health reform law have already taken effect, benefiting millions of New Yorkers as a result.]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/09/nys-health-foundation-release-report-on-health-reform/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/06/rdswu-living-wage-gets-support-from-business/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/06/rdswu-living-wage-gets-support-from-business/#comments Fri, 06 Jan 2012 20:27:24 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5200
Pressure is mounting on City Council Speaker Christine Quinn — a 2013 mayoral hopeful — to take a stand on a living-wage bill that would mandate higher pay for employees of companies receiving major city subsidies. A politically connected small-business owner with close ties to Mayor Bloomberg plans to announce his support for the bill today, while operatives working on the measure are engineering a ramped-up campaign to begin after Martin Luther King Day.]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/06/rdswu-living-wage-gets-support-from-business/feed/ 0