By MIREYA NAVARRO

Pool photo by Stan Honda
Firefighters worked at the ruins of the World Trade Center in New York in Oct. 2001.

A settlement of up to $657.5 million has been reached in the cases of thousands of rescue and cleanup workers at ground zero who sued the city over damage to their health, according to city officials and lawyers for the plaintiffs.

They said that the settlement would compensate about 10,000 plaintiffs according to the severity of their illnesses and the level of their exposure to contaminants at the World Trade Center site.

Lawyers from both sides met on Thursday to discuss the terms of the settlement with Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Payouts to the plaintiffs would come out of a federally financed insurance company with funds of about $1.1 billion that insures the city. At least 95 percent of the plaintiffs must accept its terms for it to take effect. If 100 percent of the plaintiffs agree to the terms, the total settlement would be $657.5 million. But if only the required 95 percent agreed, the total would shrink to $575 million.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs estimated that individual settlement amounts would vary from thousands of dollars to more than $1 million for the most serious injuries.

The settlement, which took two years to negotiate, raises the prospect of an end to years of complex and politically charged litigation that has pitted angry victims against city officials, who questioned the validity of some claims and argued that the city should be immune from liability.

“This is a good settlement,” said Marc Bern, a lawyer with a firm that represents more than 9,000 plaintiffs, “and we are gratified that these heroic men and women who performed their duties without consideration of the health implications will finally receive just compensation for their pain and suffering, lost wages, medical and other expenses, as the U.S. Congress intended when it appropriated this money.”

In a statement, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg called the settlement “a fair and reasonable resolution to a complex set of circumstances.”

Under the settlement, a claims administrator, who will be chosen by the lawyers in the case, would decide whether a given plaintiff had a valid claim, whether the plaintiff qualified for compensation and if so, for how much. The system is similar to the one used for payouts from the Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund to families of those killed in the terrorist attacks. The process is meant to screen out fraudulent claims.

Since 2003, thousands of firefighters, police officers, construction workers and emergency responders have filed lawsuits against 90 defendants — including the city and the private companies it hired to remove debris at ground zero — over illnesses they say developed after they spent days, weeks or months working at the World Trade Center site after the attacks.

The plaintiffs claimed that their conditions — most commonly asthma and other respiratory illnesses — resulted from the toxic brew of contaminants at ground zero and the defendants’ failure to adequately supervise and protect them with safety equipment, like respirators. Among the first cases chosen for trial was that of a firefighter, Raymond W. Hauber, 47, who died of esophageal cancer in 2007 before his case could be heard.

Some of the cases that fall under the settlement involve plaintiffs who are not ill now, but fear they will develop illnesses like cancer that can take years to manifest themselves. The settlement provides for a $23.4 million insurance policy to cover future claims by such plaintiffs.

The first 12 cases were scheduled to come to trial on May 16 in Manhattan, and those trials will now not take place. But under the settlement, plaintiffs have 90 days to opt out of the settlement and pursue trials.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs would collect a third of the settlement amounts in legal fees. The insurance company, known as W.T.C. Captive Insurance and financed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has already paid out more than $200 million in legal fees to defend the city and its contractors and in administrative costs.

To determine individual settlement amounts, the administrator will use a point system to determine the severity of a plaintiff’s illness, as documented by medical history. Other factors that will be considered include evidence of a link to ground zero and adjustments for age, pre-existing conditions, time of diagnosis and smoking history. The process could take up to a year.

Mindful of the intense public interest in the cases, Judge Hellerstein has told lawyers on both sides that he planned to review each settlement and hold “fairness” hearings to determine whether the settlements were reasonable, which legal experts said was unusual for litigation not involving a class action.

“Many of them are similar, but in fundamental aspects they have an individual plaintiff — they all revolve around one person,” Judge Hellerstein told the lawyers at a Jan. 21 hearing. “I’ll be looking carefully, if there is a settlement, at how individual members are treated.”

The city argued that it was immune from damages in cases involving a national emergency or a civil defense disaster. It also questioned the connection between the illnesses and ground zero and cast doubt on many of the claims, for example, arguing in the case of a ConEd mechanic, which was also to be among the first trials, that the man’s lung problems predated 9/11.

“If this settlement allows me to move on in my life, if it allows me to protect my family’s future, I guess I don’t have anything else to fight about,” said one plaintiff, Kenny Specht, 41, a retired firefighter.

But Mr. Specht, who has thyroid cancer and founded a group to help fellow firefighters financially, said the outcome was hardly a victory.

“Why did families who had to bury somebody have to wait this long?” he said. “Why didn’t they handle this in a timely manner?”

The New York State Nurses Association will rally at the Capitol on Monday, March 8 to protest $1 billion in proposed cuts to health care in the Executive State Budget. The rally kicks off a multi-media campaign that includes print, billboard and television advertising in major markets statewide.

Over 300 registered nurses will gather in West Capitol Park to tell lawmakers that an under-funded budget equals under-staffed facilities. The rally will begin at 11:30 a.m. and legislators scheduled to speak include:
Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, Assemblywoman Susan John, Senator Diane Savino, and Senator Tom Duane.

Speaking on behalf of the Nurses Association are: NYSNA President Karen Ballard; National Federation of Nurses President Barbara Crane; President, NYSNA Delegate Assembly Rod Rocca; President, Local 436 AFSCME Judith Arroyo; Sharon Kennish, RN & CEO, St. Catherine’s Medical Center, Christopher Berner, Vice President of Labor & Employee Relations, Montefiore Medical Center; and Sondra Olendorf, RN, Maimonides Medical Center of Brooklyn.

Hospitals, nursing homes and public health programs face a combined reduction of more than $562 million in payments for services and $250 million in increased assessment on services delivered. These cuts have the potential to severely limit access to care and endanger patient safety.

The current proposal also cuts funding by $143,100 to programs to expand SUNY nursing education; severely diminishing the state university system’s ability to meet the needs of the nursing workforce over the next decade.

The New York State Nurses Association is the voice for nursing in the Empire State. With more than 37,000 members, it is the state’s largest union and professional association for registered nurses. It supports nurses and nursing practice through education, research, legislative advocacy, and collective bargaining.

Albany – The New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) has launched a statewide television, print and Web advertising campaign in an effort to educate the public and legislative leaders on the impact of proposed budget cuts.

PEF recognizes the seriousness of the current economic crisis, but the governor’s budget has the potential to seriously hamper services New York taxpayers rely on. The ads point out that, at a time when demand for state services is increasing, the size of the state work force has decreased. There are 45 hundred fewer state jobs
today than in 2008.

The ads will begin running March 6 on broadcast and cable television statewide. Print advertisements have been placed in targeted newspapers across the state and will be supported by ads on newspaper Web sites including the New York Times, New York Post and Daily News.

The television, Web and print ads can be viewed at www.pef.org.

PEF is the state’s second-largest state-employee union, representing 58,000 professional, scientific and technical employees.

ALBANY, NY (03/01/2010)– Governor David A. Paterson today announced that additional emergency funding has been secured for Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Center (SVCMC), providing the Stakeholder Task Force with more time to develop a viable, long-term strategy for the hospital’s future. The funds were provided by GE Capital and TD Bank, which committed $5 million, and the State Assembly Majority, which committed $1 million.

“I am pleased to announce that we have obtained these funds and thank GE Capital, TD Bank, and the State Assembly Majority. This support will enable our Stakeholder Task Force to continue working on a plan for SVCMC’s future,” Governor Paterson said. “Meeting the health needs of this community remains our priority and we will continue to explore the options available so that SVCMC can continue to serve New Yorkers.”

Governor Paterson convened the SVCMC Stakeholder Task Force last month to review how the hospital could continue its operations and preserve access to its critical medical services. The Task Force is comprised of representatives from SVCMC and its sponsors, lenders, 1199SEIU, the New York State Nurses Association, the Greater New York Hospital Association, and federal, state and local elected officials. The Governor also created smaller working groups to meet daily and to facilitate, organize and streamline the sharing of information.

Mark Toney, Chief Restructuring Officer for SVCMC said: “Over the past four weeks, we have had a number of discussions with potential partners for Saint Vincent’s in order to preserve vital healthcare services for the West Side. The new funds made available today give us additional time to continue discussions. We are grateful to GE Capital, TD Bank and the New York State Assembly for their support of these efforts.”

Darren Alcus, President GE Capital Healthcare Financial Services, said: “We are pleased that the State Assembly has committed to providing $1 million in funding for SVCMC in conjunction with our commitment to provide an additional loan of $5 million today to SVCMC. As Saint Vincent’s and the Task Force are close to completing their work to explore options for the future of the hospital, we are willing to offer this additional $5 million emergency loan, on top of several previous emergency loans over the last few weeks and the more than $300 million in loans we have with Saint Vincent’s. It is critical that the hospital achieves a successful collaboration in the very near term as it likely will be unfeasible for us to extend additional funds to stem their continued financial losses.”

Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, Chair of the Assembly Health Committee, said: “I am delighted that GE Capital and Assembly Speaker Silver have been able to step in to help give us more time to work out a good future for Saint Vincent’s.”

Assemblywoman Deborah Glick said: “We are enormously pleased that we were in a position to provide some essential resources in our continuing effort to save crucial health care on the Lower West Side. Saint Vincent’s is a much needed hospital and this is an important step in preserving quality health care for our community.”

Congressman Jerrold Nadler said: “Members of the Saint Vincent’s task force are working around the clock to save the hospital. We believe it is essential to maintain an acute care facility on the Lower West Side of Manhattan. And to that end I want to thank GE Capital and TD Bank who tonight have extended another life line to Saint Vincent’s by making an additional $5 million available so that the hospital can continue to operate and meet it’s obligations. This along with $1 million in funding by the State Assembly Majority will allow vital health services to continue at Saint Vincent’s.”

Senator Tom Duane said: “I am grateful to GE Capital and TD Bank for again stepping up with a vital cash infusion for SVCMC. I will continue my efforts to secure additional State funds to sustain SVCMC short-term as it continues working towards a viable long-term plan.”

New York City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn said: “I am thankful to all parties who have stepped up to help recognize that Manhattan’s west side needs a Saint Vincent’s emergency room and acute care hospital, in addition to a number of its community programs. Governor Paterson, GE Capital, TD Bank, and 1199 should all be thanked for the enormous amount of time and energy they have committed to this process. I also want to thank GE and TD Bank, and the New York State Assembly for their additional investment in this vital community institution. We will continue to work with all parties in an effort to create a long term solution to this problem.”

Kevin Finnegan, Political Director for 1199SEIU, said: “We are very thankful to GE Capital, TD Bank and the State Assembly for their willingness to come forward with financial support for St. Vincent’s hospital. These loans bring us one step closer to allowing the hospital to continue providing vital healthcare services to the West Village and Lower Manhattan. We will work closely with the hospital and all its stakeholders over the coming weeks to solidify a long term solution to the current crisis.”

Elected officials, nurses and hospital workers rallied in front of cash-strapped St. Vincent’s Hospital Monday.

They are urging state officials to keep the Greenwich Village hospital open.

St. Vincent’s is currently $700 million in debt.

Governor David Paterson had given the hospital a month to develop a viable rescue plan. But the month is almost over and a task force made up of hospital officials, lawmakers and labor leaders has not been able to come up with a solution.

Workers say not only is this a crisis for the actual employees, but it is also a major problem for the community.
Hospital Workers Rally State To Keep St. Vincent’s Open

“The nurses need to rally because we need to be together. This has been a very stressful situation for all of us for the last couple of months,” said St. Vincent’s Nurses Association President Eileen Dunn.

“I’ve been employed here for the last 20 years, so basically I grew up here at St. Vincent’s; it’s a family,” said another hospital worker. “It’s sad what’s going on. But the real issue is the impact it’s going to have on the community.”

Union employees have already agreed to a 10 percent pay cut for the next four months and non-union workers have agreed to slice salaries as much as 25 percent.

“The Health Commissioner Danes could be a little more helpful as well in terms of getting involved and really putting the state back in a place where compassion and health care is of value,” said Lorraine Seidel of the St. Vincent’s Nurses’ Union.

The hospital has already laid off 300 unionized workers.

A previous deal to buy the hospital and phase out its emergency care facilities was abandoned after much criticism.

Rochester, NY – BALCONY (Business and Labor Coalition of New York) www.balconynewyork.com will host its second Access for Small Business Forum with the goal of helping small business owners in the Rochester area. The forum will feature timely and informative workshop discussions with experts, advocates and government officials on how small businesses can survive during the current, uncertain economic times. There will be a focus on access to health care, technology solutions, and business development and capital. Congressman Chris Lee will be the keynote speaker, with presentations by local business leaders. BALCONY representatives and forum sponsors will be available for interviews.

Participating Sponsors include Excellus, Verizon, Entre Computers, Citizens Bank, Canandaigua Bank, NYS Small Business Development, Pulse Marketing Group, American Cancer Society, the Rochester & Genesee Valley Area Labor Federation, Small Business Administration, NYSUT, the Small Business Majority and the NYS Health Foundation.

Jim Nofziger is Rochester BALCONY Coordinator for the Forum and Tom Gillett of NYSUT is the Rochester BALCONY coordinator.

For more information about the February 19th Forum visit BALCONY web site www.balconynewyork.com

What: BALCONY Access for Small Business Forum
When: February 19, 2010
8 a.m. to Noon
Where: Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School
1100 S. Goodman St. Rochester NY

Cost: $25 (optional)

Register by Feb. 16 by calling 212-219-7777, or e-mail: loug@balconynewyork.com

By Steven Greenhouse

The Senate voted 60 to 37 on Thursday to confirm M. Patricia Smith, the New York State labor commissioner, for the Labor Department’s No. 3 post.

The vote came three days after Democrats mustered 60 votes to overcome Republican opposition to Ms. Smith, whom the Republicans accused of making misleading statements in her Congressional testimony.

Ms. Smith will serve as the department’s solicitor, its chief law enforcement official, who traditionally plays a crucial role overseeing wage-and-hour and job safety enforcement.

Ms. Smith is known for vigorous enforcement against minimum-wage and overtime violations in New York, and some Republican senators have voiced concern that she would be hostile to small business.

“She clearly has a deep and passionate commitment to helping American workers,” said Senator Tom Harkin, the Iowa Democrat who leads the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. “Her expertise is needed now more than ever, particularly in this economy when American workers are struggling and deserve a strong advocate.”

Republicans protested that the Democrats had rushed Monday’s cloture vote so it would take place before Scott Brown, the newly elected Republican senator from Massachusetts, was sworn in. Mr. Brown took his oath on Thursday.

Ms. Smith’s confirmation had been held up for three months by Senator Michael B. Enzi of Wyoming, the labor committee’s top Republican. Mr. Enzi accused Ms. Smith of misleading the Senate in testifying about a New York program, Wage Watch, in which labor unions and immigrant groups worked with state officials to uncover wage-and-hour violations.

During the confirmation fight, Republicans voiced concern that that program was used to help unions organize workers. Republicans also said Ms. Smith had been untruthful when she testified that she had not held discussions about expanding the Wage Watch program.

Ms. Smith ultimately acknowledged that she had unintentionally misspoken on some matters, saying she had meant to say only that she had not authorized the program’s expansion.

By Kenneth Lovett
DAILY NEWS ALBANY BUREAU CHIEF

ALBANY – Gov. Paterson has authorized a $6 million loan to St. Vincent’s Hospital to help the cash-strapped hospital make payroll, the Daily News has learned.

“This is a dire situation, but I don’t want to see this hospital close unless every available means has been employed,” he said.

Paterson will meet Wednesday with St. Vincent’s management and board, its lenders, and local elected officials to discuss if there are ways the hospital can restructure and move forward.

The hospital is carrying a $700 million debt load and is losing $5 million to $10 million a month, Health Department spokeswoman Claudia Hutton said.

The no-interest $6 million state loan is in addition to $2 million being kicked in by GE Capital to keep the beleaguered hospital going a while longer.

The $6 million will come from a hospital restructuring program that will be jointly administered by the Health Department and the state Dormitory Authority.

“It should last them long enough so they can make a decision about whether to file for bankruptcy,” said one official with knowledge of the situation.

Paterson said he would not have authorized the money if bankruptcy was assured. He said the hospital’s survival is important for area patients.

“The possible closure of St. Vincent’s Hospital in Greenwich Village will tear a huge hole in New York’s Health Care Safety Net,” charged BALCONY Director Lou Gordon as the Business and Labor Coalition of New York urged the New York State Department of Health to provide immediate assistance to maintain the hospital.

“It makes no sense to close the emergency room of St. Vincent’s Hospital which is the only hospital serving the West Side of Manhattan below 59^th Street. This community is bursting at the seams as thousands of New Yorkers are relocating to the apartments and condos there. New York is building a new subway line on the West Side, we are creating a condomania on 42^nd Street and Chelsea is experiencing an unprecedented boom. St. Vincent’s Hospital is the most valuable health resource in the community. On September 11, 2001, St. Vincent’s played a key role in providing medical services to those at and near Ground Zero. New York State cannot turn its back on the health care needs of the businesses and union workers who rely upon the Hospital as a primary center of medical and emergency services.”

“If Washington can save Wall Street, Albany can save St. Vincent’s Hospital,” stated Gordon.

“I know how vital the St. Vincent’s Hospital services are to the community I once represented as its State Senator” stated Catherine Abate president and CEO of Community Healthcare Networks.

“I urge the state to do everything possible to save St. Vincent’s.”

“Thousands of New York City school students and teachers rely upon this hospital for care. We urge the State Legislature and Department of Health to keep the hospital open and viable,” stated Alan Lubin co- chair of BALCONY. “Closing St. Vincent’s Hospital is Bad Medicine.”

“We urge members of BALCONY to join City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Assemblyman Dick Gottfried, Assemblywoman Deborah Glick , Senator Tom Duane, Congressman Jerald Nadler and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer in contacting New York State Department of Health Commissioner Richard Daines telling the state to make every effort to Save St. Vincent’s Hospital,” concluded Bruce Ventimiglia, Co-Chair of BALCONY.

BALCONY members are urged to go to Speaker Quinn’s website and join the campaign to Save St. Vincent’s hospital — http://council.nyc.gov/html/action_center/stvincents.shtml

For more information contact BALCONY Director Lou Gordon (212) 219-7777 loug@balconynewyork.com

Click here to read the BALCONY Bulletin (1/28/10)

State Budget: Governor’s proposal would hurt kids, taxpayers
NYSUT Media Relations – January 19, 2010

ALBANY, N.Y. January 19, 2010 – New York State United Teachers today said massive cuts proposed for education would force schools to cut teachers and programs, jeopardizing student progress while stalling the state’s ability to create jobs and revitalize the economy.

“How can you race to the top with an education budget that’s laden with red ink?” asked NYSUT President Richard C. Iannuzzi. “NYSUT understands the pain that the state’s deep fiscal crisis has inflicted on so many; our members and our professions have been hit hard too. Yet, slashing more than $1.1 billion from public schools and again hacking away at SUNY, CUNY and community colleges totally contradicts the major investment the Obama Administration is seeking for education through Race to the Top.”

Iannuzzi said Gov. David Paterson’s education budget leaves school districts in the unenviable position of either proposing double-digit property tax increases, or eliminating the programs and teachers that New York’s children need. More devastating cuts to SUNY, CUNY and the state’s community colleges, already reeling from years of budgetary ax-swinging, “would slam shut the door to higher education for many of New York’s students, especially the unemployed seeking retraining and preparation for new careers. This derails the state’s efforts to build a knowledge-based, high-tech economy in upstate New York,” he said.

Iannuzzi said NYSUT, along with its higher-ed affiliates, have grave concerns about the impact the proposed Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act impact would have on access to, and quality at, our public university systems.

“The next generation of New York’s workers must come from New York public schools and universities,” Iannuzzi said. “Employers are going to demand it, and state policymakers must ensure that New York’s education system can meet that demand.

“Promising a knowledge economy without an investment in knowledge is a hollow promise,” Iannuzzi said.

NYSUT Executive Vice President Andrew Pallotta noted that, historically, the governor’s proposal is the first word in the annual budget battle. “We are confident that legislators from both parties will understand the impact this proposal would have on the ability of schools – both charter and regular public schools- to meet the needs of students, and the property tax increases homeowners would likely face,” Pallotta said. “As always, we will be working with the Legislature and the governor to improve this spending plan to ensure the final budget – the last word – meets the needs of our public schools and colleges.”

NYSUT, the state’s largest union, represents more than 600,000 teachers, school-related professionals, academic and professional faculty in higher education, professionals in education and health care and retirees. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Statement of CSEA President Danny Donohue
on Gov. David Paterson’s proposed state budget.

“Gov. David Paterson’s unwillingness to address the misuse of $62 million in taxpayer money on temporary state workers should be evidence that there are still better budget choices to be made. Hiring and shortchanging temporary workers in dozens of state agencies for years on end is a misguided priority and a violation of the law. Before the governor asks union-represented state employees for concessions he needs to change his own administration’s practices that undermine working people.

CSEA will address these issues and so many others in the course of the weeks ahead with the objective of protecting jobs and services and their impact on the quality of life for New Yorkers.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

New York State Nurses Association statement: Executive Budget relating to health care

LATHAM, NY – Jan. 19, 2010 – The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) warns that the Governor’s proposed $1 billion in healthcare provider cuts is a number so large that its impact on facilities will be devastating.

Budget information obtained early Tuesday morning outlines nearly $1 billion in reductions to health care and an additional $240.2 million in assessments and surcharges.

Proposed cuts to hospital services, nursing homes, and home care and personal services will leave providers understaffed and put the public at risk. “These cuts, coupled with a lack of state regulation to ensure safe staffing, provide a formula that will negatively impact patient care and compromise patient outcomes for years to come,” said Tina Gerardi, MS, RN, CAE, Nurses Association CEO.

The Nurses Association urges the legislature to put the well-being of New Yorkers first and reject the Governor’s proposed healthcare cuts that impact patient care.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Nurses Association opposes budget cut to SUNY nursing education LATHAM, Jan. 20, 2010 – The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA)
opposes Governor Paterson’s recommended $143,100 cut to funding for expanded SUNY nursing programs.

While the SUNY program is just one part of nursing education, it is integral to the larger effort of meeting the long-term needs of the nursing shortage. “While we applaud the Governor’s extension of funding for the Senator Patricia McGee Nursing Faculty Scholarship Program and continued funding of private nursing education, we cannot ignore the need for funding at our SUNY institutions,” said Tina Gerardi, MS, RN, CAE, Nurses Association CEO. “Without sufficient nursing programs, the nursing shortage will worsen and patient care will be severely compromised,” she said.

NYSNA urges the legislature to address the current nursing shortage and reject the Governor’s damaging cuts to SUNY’s nursing education programs.

Contact: Erin Silk, 518.782.9400, ext 224 The New York State Nurses Association is the voice for nursing in the Empire State. With more than 37,000 members, it is the state’s largest union and professional association for registered nurses. It supports nurses and nursing practice through education, research, legislative advocacy, and collective bargaining.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Albany – The governor’s proposed 2010-11 budget calls for a quarter of a billion dollars in negotiated give-backs from state employees, when the savings could easily be achieved by reducing the state’s reliance on costly private consultants, instead.

The New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) applauds the governor for recognizing savings can be achieved by reducing the use of consultants. The governor recently proposed to reduce the use of information technology consultants for an estimated savings of as much as $15 million per year. The governor also identifies a savings in his proposed budget by reducing the state’s use of more costly private contract insurance examiners.

However, the governor’s consultant reduction plan is only the tip of the iceberg and does not go far enough. Our more aggressive proposal to cut the use of consultants across-the-board in state government can easily achieve the quarter of a billion dollars the governor is targeting from the state work force to close the budget gap.

I cannot and will not go to my members and ask them to reopen the contract we negotiated with the state in good faith when many of my members are sitting alongside more costly private contractors doing the same work. However, we are always willing to discuss issues that do not involve reopening our contract.

We await more details on the closures and consolidations the governor is proposing for the Office of Children and Family Services. We will seek to preserve the vital services our members provide to the state’s troubled youths and ensure that troubled and sometimes dangerous youths are not recklessly cast into our communities without adequate support.

PEF has identified significant potential savings for the state, such as the reduction in the use of consultants and reducing workplace injuries and their associated costs and have communicated these proposals to the governor.

PEF is the state’s second-largest state-employee union, representing 59,000 professional, scientific and technical employees.

Tickets are only available online.

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I hope to see you there… and please spread the word.

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By DANNY HAKIM and NICHOLAS CONFESSORE

ALBANY — Gov. David A. Paterson proposed on Tuesday what would be the largest cut to school aid in more than two decades and nearly $1 billion in new or increased taxes and fees as he unveiled his budget, a plan that is likely to be the first chapter in a prolonged battle with the Legislature.

Searching for new sources of tax revenue amid a fiscal crisis, the governor proposed legalizing mixed martial arts, allowing the sale of wine in grocery stores, taxing bottled soft drinks, taxing cigarette sales on Indian reservations and deploying speed-enforcement cameras in highway work zones.

He even proposed charging fees to many families that enroll in an early intervention program for children with autism, attention deficit disorder and other special needs, and delaying one of his signature achievements — a plan to increase monthly welfare allowances.

Facing a $7.4 billion deficit this year, the governor is presenting a relatively lean budget by the standards of a state government accustomed to unrestrained spending. His office also delivered more sobering news, projecting that the state’s income will not return to the levels seen before the financial crisis until 2013.

The overall budget, including federal matching funds, would grow to $134 billion, up $787 million, or 0.6 percent, from the current fiscal year, which ends on March 31. State spending would increase $745 million, or 0.9 percent, to nearly $80 billion.

“This is not a budget of choice; this is a budget of necessity,” Mr. Paterson said in a speech to the Legislature on Tuesday morning. “Ladies and gentlemen, the days of continuing taxation and the days of continuous spending have got to end,” he added. “The era of irresponsibility has got to stop. The age of accountability has arrived.”

Several dozen lawmakers skipped the speech, which took place in a large egg-shaped auditorium here, and those who did attend greeted the governor’s remarks with polite, if tepid, applause. Mr. Paterson has had a tense relationship with fellow Democrats, who control the Legislature, sometimes by design as he has sought to capitalize on voter discontent with the array of scandals emanating from Albany.

Lawmakers expressed a mix of caution and skepticism on Tuesday. “Some of the stuff is retreads from last year that never quite made it, and I imagine they’ll probably meet the same fate,” said Senator Diane J. Savino, a Democrat representing Brooklyn and Staten Island, who singled out the soda tax and the proposal to allow groceries to sell wine.

Senator Malcolm A. Smith, a Queens Democrat, said the governor should not have allowed for an even modest rise in spending. “I don’t think we really should be increasing it at all,” said Mr. Smith, the Senate president.

Senator Dean G. Skelos, leader of the Senate Republicans, said, “The greatest danger” was “the one posed by Assembly and Senate Democrats who no doubt will push to further increase spending and taxes just like they did last year.”

The leaders of the Legislature — Senator John L. Sampson of Brooklyn and the Assembly speaker, Sheldon Silver of Manhattan — said they needed more time to review the proposals.

As he faces an uphill election battle, Mr. Paterson’s budget is also a break from the typical practice of robust budgets in election years. With no money to throw at preferred interest groups, Mr. Paterson is betting that voters will reward him as a responsible steward instead of punishing him as a Scrooge.

His plan would cut school aid by 5 percent in a state with the highest per-capita spending on education. It would also slow the growth of spending on Medicaid, reduce by $1 billion spending on state agencies and eliminate $300 million in undesignated annual aid to New York City.

But Mr. Paterson avoided harsher medicine. He has made no significant cuts to the state’s work force and even assured union leaders that he would not seek layoffs this year, a risky move as the state faces huge deficits in the coming years.

His plan also assumes that there will be a significant recovery this year in the state’s tax collections and relies on a number of recycled proposals. A new tax on sugared sodas, $1.28 per gallon, would yield $465 million, similar to a proposal that Mr. Paterson made last year but dropped amid resistance from the Legislature and companies like PepsiCo Inc., which is based in Purchase, N.Y.

Mr. Paterson is also proposing an increase in cigarette taxes, raising the tax per pack by $1, to $3.75, a change that would bring total taxes in New York City to $5.25 per pack.

One of the most controversial measures is Mr. Paterson’s proposal to slash school aid. Under the plan, wealthier districts would be hit hardest, a strategy that has long been fought by the State Senate, especially by senators from Long Island. Billy Easton, executive director of the Alliance for Quality Education, called it “a colossal reversal of New York State’s commitment to providing every child with a real opportunity to learn.”

Mr. Paterson is also seeking to shrink the state’s troubled youth prison system, which is facing federal scrutiny and a class-action lawsuit. He wants to close perhaps the most infamous institution, Tryon Boys Residential Center in Fulton County, where a 15-year-old boy died in November 2006 after workers pinned him to the floor. Mr. Paterson also proposes consolidating or shrinking three other youth centers.

Another proposal would introduce fees to a state program that provides early intervention services for about 74,000 special-needs children. Families would be charged on a sliding scale, with fees starting at $180 a year for those with a household annual income of at least $55,126 and topping out at $2,160 a year for those earning at least $198,451.

Mr. Paterson is also proposing new assessments totaling $240 million on the state’s powerful health care industry on top of the nearly $1 billion in cuts in payments to health care providers.

He would close two tax loopholes, including one that allows people earning severance packages to avoid paying state income tax if they move out of the state. And he is proposing to restructure the state’s property tax relief program, known as Star, to make it less beneficial for the wealthy.

Budget watchdogs had a mixed reaction, although most said that the governor’s proposal lacked the gimmickry that had characterized many previous budgets.

“It looks pretty clean,” said Elizabeth Lynam, a deputy research director at the Citizens Budget Commission, a nonprofit organization. “On the whole, I think it makes a reasonable down payment on the problems the state is facing.”

Edmund J. McMahon, director of the Empire Center for New York State Policy, a conservative-leaning research group, said the governor was still proposing to spend too much.

“What they’re saying is, ‘Look, we’re below inflation now — isn’t that great?’ ” Mr. McMahon said. “The problem is you were several multiples of inflation ahead of personal income during one of the steepest recessions in recent history and you’ve got a lot of catching up to do, so this isn’t good enough.”

Click here for the complete budget presentation: BUDGET

This year more than ever before New York State needs Business and Labor working together as we confront the challenges of our turbulent times. BALCONY provides New Yorkers with a framework for collaborative solutions to the challenges of a fair budget, affordable health care, infrastructure investment, education equity, small business growth, and job creation.

Since 2007 under the leadership of Co-Chairs Alan Lubin and Bruce Ventimiglia BALCONY has grown to be a coalition representing more than 1000 prominent businesses, trade associations, labor unions, non profits, and chambers of commerce throughout New York.

Click here for details: BALCONY MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

David A. Paterson, Governor

Click here to view the presentation by Gov. Paterson.

A Time to Rebuild

Read the Full Text of the speech.

The Business and Labor Coalition of New York is proud to announce that BALCONY Co-Founder Alan Lubin has re-upped as Co-Chair of BALCONY, serving with Founding BALCONY Business Co-Chair Bruce Ventimiglia.

“This is a pivotal time in New York’s history,” says Lubin, “and we need a collaborative effort between business and labor to build trust in the economy. Since 2006, we’ve found common ground, and moving forward, we can build on it.”

Lubin is energized with the decision to stay at BALCONY coinciding with his plans to step down as Executive Vice President of NYSUT. “Having a great life at both home and work is a treasure I have enjoyed,” says Lubin. But “after more than 40 years, it’s time to bite the bullet-time for me to move on from NYSUT so that new leadership can develop.”

“I will continue as Co-Chair of BALCONY and will help grow this fine organization. We are proud of the work we do advocating the affordable health care, assisting small business, impacting state government and helping people,” stated Lubin.

“BALCONY is committed to building a solid coalition between Business and Labor in New York State,” stated Ventimiglia.

Lubin’s leadership and optimism are a key natural resource at BALCONY – founded in 2006 by Lubin and Co-Chair Bruce Ventimiglia, Chair of Saratoga Capitol Management LLC.

by Nicolas Confessore

Alan Lubin

ALBANY — A coalition of teachers’ unions and local school officials mounted a legal battle on Wednesday against Gov. David A. Paterson, arguing that his decision to unilaterally withhold hundreds of millions of dollars in scheduled payments to school districts violated New York’s Constitution.

The educators asserted in a lawsuit filed in State Supreme Court in Albany County that Mr. Paterson had no power to withhold money after its expenditure had been authorized by the Legislature.

“This is a terrible day in New York’s history,” said Alan B. Lubin, vice president of the New York State United Teachers, one of the groups that helped draft the lawsuit. “For this coalition to stand back and watch the governor take the money that was allocated by the State Legislature for schools, for programs, for children, and pull it back, is really a terrible thing to have witnessed.”

Mr. Paterson announced Sunday that he would withhold the money after weeks of failed negotiations with the Legislature over how to close a $3.2 billion deficit. He also said that if the economy did not improve and if state revenues did not rise next year, the money being withheld could become the basis for cuts in next year’s budget.

At a news conference at the Capitol minutes after the lawsuit was filed, Mr. Paterson reiterated that the payments being withheld were part of the roughly $750 million in local aid that he was not distributing because the state was projected to run out of money before the end of the year.

“I am being sued for trying to keep New York State’s finances solvent,” Mr. Paterson said. “This is a desperate attempt by special interests to put their needs ahead of the people of the State of New York. This lawsuit does nothing to help us solve a severe cash crisis that threatens our ability to pay our obligations at the end of the month.”

The lawsuit was filed by the state teachers’ union and groups representing school district superintendents, school board members and administrators.

Leaders of the groups suggested, in a news conference on the steps of the Capitol, that children would suffer if the money, about $582 million in school aid and property tax reimbursements, was not restored. School district officials also suggested that they should not have to dip further into their own reserve funds — which total $1.1 billion statewide — before Mr. Paterson had exhausted the state’s own emergency fund.

L. Oliver Robinson, president of the New York State Council of School Superintendents and superintendent of the Shenendehowa School District outside Albany, said Mr. Paterson’s decision would force cuts in critical services.

“When I go back to my school district,” he said, “and meet with the kids in classrooms, the questions they’re asking me are, ‘Dr. Robinson, will we still have this? Will we still have sports? Will we still have music? Will we still have robotics?’ ”

A spokesman for Mr. Paterson said that the governor’s order meant that $120,000 was being withheld from Mr. Robinson’s district and that the school system had about $3.8 million in reserve funds.

Mr. Lubin proposed options to avoid the loss of school aid. Mr. Paterson, he said, should consider buying prescription drugs for state health plans from Canada, cooperative purchasing of school supplies or higher income taxes on the wealthy — a move that would raise taxes on high earners for the second time in less than a year.

“I would have him look at the revenue sources available in New York State, and some of the programs that he’s refused to look at for the past 16 months,” Mr. Lubin said.

Mr. Paterson singled out school officials and advocates for criticism, noting that while he had tried to delay payments equally across the board, those who filed the lawsuit were in essence arguing that their funding was sacrosanct, even amid the worst state fiscal crisis in a generation.

“What these school districts and unions and otherwise have done is said: ‘We aren’t the special interests — we’re extra special,’ ” Mr. Paterson said. “ ‘We’re supposed to get all the money and everybody else can just divide up the crumbs.’ ”

The lawsuit was filed in state Supreme Court in Albany County by New York State United Teachers; New York State School Boards Association; New York State Council of School Superintendents; and the School Administrators Association of New York State. Other education partners, including the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, the New York State Association of School Business Officials and the state PTA, signaled their strong support.

The suit states the governor is violating the separation of powers doctrine of the state Constitution — and the constitutional guarantee of “a sound, basic education” for students — by ordering the withholding of millions of dollars in state aid payments to school districts when the Legislature not only approved those payments, but specifically rejected proposed education cuts by not enacting a bill submitted by Paterson on Nov. 25 as part of his deficit reduction plan.

“The governor may not agree with the Legislature’s spending priorities and may indeed have profound concerns about the results, but once he signed the state budget in April and approved the deficit reduction plan, he is constitutionally and legally bound to follow the law,” said NYSUT President Richard C. Iannuzzi. “The governor is overstepping his bounds. He clearly lacks any legislative, statutory or constitutional basis to withhold funds from school districts and, by doing so, he is harming children and their schools.”

“School districts cannot provide educational programs to students in an unpredictable and chaotic funding environment,” said NYSSBA Executive Director Timothy G. Kremer. “The governor’s unilateral midyear cut to schools has already created havoc and uncertainty in many districts, as they study their options – all of which have adverse consequences for taxpayers. We are deeply concerned about the governor’s action to withhold or delay payments to schools in the future.”

Kremer added, “School boards are bracing themselves for the tough fiscal challenges that lie ahead, when federal stimulus funds expire and costs continue to skyrocket. What we expect of our leaders is long-term financial planning and greater fiscal certainty, not chaos and doubt.”

“The law is the law,” said Dr. L. Oliver Robinson, president of the New York State Council of School Superintendents. “In seeking to delay school aid and STAR payments, Governor Paterson is choosing to ignore laws which require the state to pay certain amounts of aid to schools by certain dates. We are taking legal action today in part to prevent any governor from ever ignoring those same laws to permanently withhold aid.”

Robinson added, “As it is, Governor Paterson threatens that he may seek to turn these delays into permanent cuts. This puts school leaders in an impossible position. We cannot tell students, ‘Potentially, we will keep your teacher on the job,’ or ‘Potentially, we will continue the extra help you receive.’ We cannot tell employees or suppliers, ‘Potentially, we will pay you what we owe.’”

Kevin Casey, executive director of the School Administrators Association of New York State, added, “The governor’s action will deprive children of educational programming that many will not have the opportunity to make up. It also eviscerates the school district budget approval process, rendering meaningless the district budgets approved by district taxpayers.”

“The opportunity for a sound, basic education is a state constitutional right that ensures that our children are given the tools to thrive and drive the economy. Despite a court order and a legislative agreement to honor this commitment, the governor continues make proposals that turn back the clock on providing adequate school funding to achieve this goal. This delay will necessitate layoffs, as well as program and resource cuts,” said Geri D. Palast, executive director of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, the education advocacy organization that led the successful constitutional challenge to New York state’s school finance system. “The governor’s decision to withhold education aid ignores a clear constitutional mandate, and it will have a profoundly negative impact on this state’s most valuable asset, its children.”

“If the governor’s actions are allowed to stand, and this aid payment guessing game is allowed to continue, school districts will have no choice but to make management decisions that are counterproductive to sound financial practices,” said Deedrick Bertholf, NYSASBO’s executive director.

New York State Congress of Parents and Teachers President Susan Lipman added that the governor’s decision “presents serious fiscal implications on the ability of local school districts to continue to provide necessary educational services to children. Lipman said the state PTA “supports the efforts of NYSSBA, NYSUT and other education advocates in seeking injunctive relief to stop the governor from taking these steps.”

NYSUT Executive Vice President Alan B. Lubin agreed that the withholding of school aid would likely mean larger classes and the inability of districts to fund programs — such as speech therapy and extracurricular activities for children — and pay teachers and staff.

“Schools rely on state education funding and local property taxes to provide New York’s children with the sound, basic education they are guaranteed under our Constitution,” Lubin said. “The governor’s decision to withhold school aid has already led to layoff notices and worries that school districts will not be able to fund important programs, make payments to vendors and, in some cases, even meet payroll.”

The lawsuit seeks to stop the governor from usurping the constitutional policy-making authority of the Legislature, and asks the court to order the governor to release the appropriated funds immediately. The suit notes that, if the court does not stop the governor’s actions, “He will only be emboldened to take other … unilateral action, further unbalancing the three coordinate branches of government (and) silencing the voice of the people.”

“The governor is well-aware that his actions violate the Constitution but he seems intent on carrying through with them regardless of his constitutional obligations,” the suit states.

Among the suit’s plaintiffs are NYSUT through its President Iannuzzi; NYSSBA through its President Wayne Schlifke; NYSCOSS through its President Robinson; and SAANYS through its President Peter Kruszynski. CFE, NYSASBO and the state PTA are strongly backing the groups’ lawsuit.

Other individual plaintiffs include Doug Becker, a math teacher in Churchville-Chili; Brian Boyd, a fourth-grade teacher from Yonkers; George Heidcamp, president of the board of education in Saugerties; Paul Hetland, a social studies teacher from Rochester; Florence D. Johnson, a member of the board of education in Buffalo and president-elect of NYSSBA; Kimberly Petramale, a math teacher in Saugerties; and Harry B. Reeder, a member of the board of education in Herkimer.

In addition to Paterson, the suit names as defendants the state Division of Budget and Budget Director Robert L. Megna, as well as state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

Read the full legal filing here:  LEGAL

Even in the best of economic times, New York Small Businesses are facing insurmountable challenges due to excessively high taxes, high regulatory costs, and burdensome processes. And, now those issues have become compounded during this time of recession. Small Businesses need to know where to turn for some answers, which is why BALCONY has taken on this challenge.

Featured Speaker
Adam Bradley
White Plains Mayor-elect and
NYS Assemblyman of the 89th Assembly District

On Friday, November 20, 2009, the Access for Small Business Forum – a four-panel discussion organized by BALCONY, the Business and Labor Coalition of New York and co-hosted with The Greater New York Chamber of Commerce – addressed these key small business concerns.

ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESS

(Chris Levendos, Michael Ridley, Heather O’Donnell,
Chris Zawacki, Ron Koff, Lou Gordon)

ACCESS TO SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

(Christine Serrano Glassner, William Grinker, Rosemarie Klotz,
Jim Malski, Brian Moran, Barbara Weltman)

ACCESS TO CAPITAL FOR SMALL BUSINESS

(Bruce Ventimiglia, Pravina Raghavan, David J. Conrad,
David Kornfeld, Paul Quintero, Louis Scamardella)

ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR SMALL BUSINESS

(Lou Gordon, Troy Oechsner, Ben Geyerhahn, Vince Ashton,
Peter Slocum, Ernie Vitolo)

Read the full report from this BALCONY forum
and watch the presentation videos by clicking here: REPORT

NYS Comptroller DiNapoli & NYC Comptroller-Elect Liu

Wall Street and the New York Economy: One Year After

Special Report by

Bill Hohlfeld, Coordinator Local 46 LMCT

NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli                    NYC Comptroller-Elect  John Liu

BALCONY Co-Chair Bruce Vengimiglia                               BALCONY Co-Chair Alan Lubin

On Friday, December 4th, an impressive array of speakers gathered at the Hard Rock Cafe on 43rd St. and Broadway in New York City, not to sip cocktails or gaze at the instruments of rock n roll’s famous, late and great, but rather to discuss over bagels and coffee, the topic that is on every New Yorker’s mind today — the state of the economy.

Despite everyone’s legitimate anxiety about the economy, it was to everyone’s credit that the breakfast began by addressing the hunger of those far less fortunate than anyone in the room. Bill Ayres, Executive Director for WHY HUNGER (World Hunger Year) made an appeal for support because as he quoted John Lennon, “Hunger in America is an obscenity.” His organization, co-founded by Ayres and the late singer Harry Chapin, dedicated to helping people find the means to help themselves, is determined to fight poverty and hunger not only here but also all over the world. It was a somber reminder to all present that in the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king.

Next to take the podium was Bruce Ventimiglia, co-chair of BALCONY, the Business and Labor Coalition of New York. In his brief but very pointed introduction of Keynote speaker, New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, he reminded the audience that a year ago Comptroller DiNapoli had spoken at a very similar Wall Street Balcony Breakfast and, at that time, when we were all still reeling from shock at the then recent economic debacle, made some economic forecasts of the year to come. Bruce reviewed those comments by pointing out that our comptroller had been, in a word, right.

Comptroller DiNapoli, on his part was happy to report that the NYS pension fund had rebounded well and that as of September 2009 it showed an 18% profit. He was quick to admit however that the lesson learned from all we have been through is one of diversification, with the state realizing that it had become too reliant on tax revenue from “Wall Street” for a healthy economy.

He went on to say that bonuses are now federally regulated. And, while that may assuage the populist rumblings amongst us, (my words, not his) that regulation does translate to a drop in revenue. Wall Street accounts for 24% of all wages paid in NYC and every securities job create two more jobs within the city and one more in a nearby suburb. Those are sobering statistics when out of the 35,000 jobs lost recently in New York, 1 of every five were in the securities industry.

Finally, Comptroller DiNapoli presented a realistic portrayal of our financial landscape by alluding to the 288,000 jobs lost in the state since the beginning of the recession. This has left the state with a budget gap of over $4 million. A deficit reduction plan has just been passed which includes $391 million of federal stimulus. But, we are not out of the woods yet, and close scrutiny of the budget is still the order of the day. The bottom line though does offer some small comfort – New York State, though low on cash is not broke. Actually, we can still expect to see three year budget gap in 2011 of over $27 billion. That of course means that some tough choices will have to be made to keep us on track. There are opportunities for further pension fund and green business investments and those opportunities are about growth in which New York can participate.

Following Mr. DiNapoli was NYC Comptroller-elect, John Liu, who was nothing if not positive about economic recovery in New York City. Using his personal story as a metaphor for the kind of success that is possible in this city, he drew upon his own experience of receiving a world class education in NYC and NYS public schools and universities. He also drew attention to Flushing, Queens the area he represented on the New York City Council. He held it up as a model of financial success based on a thriving immigrant community made up of a “perfect combination of human capital and entrepreneurial spirit.” That certainly is the essence of the BALCONY membership.

Adding to the morning were the comments of BALCONY  co-chair Alan Lubin who, now that he is retiring from his post as Executive Vice President of NYSUT, will be working harder than ever to promote BALCONY. He pointed to the impact we have made so far on social and fiscal policies governing health care and the insurance industry. Before introducing Tom Lee, he concluded by reminding everyone that joining BALCONY was about what you can do and what you can give, not what you can get.

Mr. Lee, who manages the New York State Teachers Retirement System funds, reported on the health of its portfolio and shared his personal formula for keeping it so. “It’s all about liquidity and alignment of interests.

It should be noted that not all the panelists were quite so optimistic. Economists and financial industry experts, Barry Weprin of the Milberg Law Firm, Gregg Hymowitz of Entrust and James Parrott of the Fiscal Policy Institute were all a bit gloomier in their forecasts for the future, if much more aggressive measures were not taken to bolster the economy. Issues still loom like pension relief, continued unemployment, lack of a national industrial policy, tax reform and the need for increased regulation in our financial sector, just to name a few.

The BALCONY Breakfast illustrated two undeniable facts. First, BALCONY still has much hard work to do, and second, it has the kind of talent in its ranks that could get that work done.

The BALCONY Wall Street breakfast at New York’s Hard Rock Café was sponsored by the Milberg Law Firm, Entrust Capital, BNYConvergEx, NYSUT, Saratoga Capital Management and WHY Hunger.

View the photos from the Forum by clicking here.

(Click here to view the Program from the Forum)

For more information about BALCONY visit our website www.balconynewyork.com | (212) 219-7777

NYSUT is already on record opposing the education cuts (click here: NYSUT)

The CSEA is concerned about fiscal responsibility and saving jobs. http://www.csealocal1000.org/.

The Public Employees Federation (PEF) is urging the state to save tax dollars by eliminating state consultants (link: PEF)

And finally The New York State Nurses Association urges state legislature to NOT enact interim budget cuts (link: NYSNA).

Link to the text of Governor David Paterson’s November 9th address to the legislature (Address).

New York Must Return to Budget Basics and
Align Spending With Revenue

Report Indicates Growing Gaps Require Corrective Action and Fiscal Discipline

New York state faces a cumulative General Fund gap of up to $27.5 billion through fiscal year 2011-12 even as the Governor and the Legislature confront a deficit in the state’s current budget that could exceed $4.1 billion, according to a spending and revenue report State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli released today as part of the state’s “Quick Start” budget process.

SET NOVEMBER 20th IN WHITE PLAINS

NEWLY ELECTED WHITE PLAINS MAYOR ADAM BRADLEY

AND NYS SMALL BUSINESS TASK FORCE CHAIR BILL GRINKER

For Immediate Release November 9, 2009

Small Businesses across New York State are facing the most challenging economy in our history as revenues decline, the cost of health care increases, access to capital diminishes, and markets shrink.

BALCONY, the Business and Labor Coalition of New York, with its business partner Verizon, media partner WCBS Newsradio880, health care partner the American Cancer Society, and small business partner The Greater New York Chamber of Commerce together seek to provide valuable solutions for small business at the

BALCONY ACCESS for Small Business Forum

November 20th

beginning at 8 :00 am

at the Crowne Plaza Hotel

66 Hale Avenue

White Plains, NY

“This event will focus on what can be done to help the more than 100,000 New York small businesses survive and prosper during this current economic crisis,” states BALCONY Business Co-Chairman Bruce Ventimiglia, “Small Businesses are the backbone of our state’s economy which employ more than one million people.”

White Plains Mayor Elect Adam Bradley will deliver the keynote address, and Bill Grinker, Chairman of the New York State Small Business Task Force, will provide an update on the major recommendations of the Task Force which are to be released before the end of 2009.

Other featured speakers include: Chris Levendos, Verizon FIOS; Pravina Raghavan, SBA New York District Director; Troy Oeschner, Deputy Superintendent for Health of the New York State Insurance Department; Peter Slocum of the American Cancer Society; Jim Maleski of ActionCOACH of CT; and Rosemarie Klotz of H & R Block.

The forum will feature timely and informative workshop discussions with experts, advocates and governmental officials on how small businesses can survive during the current, uncertain economic times. Specifically we will focus on

• Access to Capital

• Access to Health Care

• Access to Technology

• Access to Business Development

8:30 – 9:20 AM

Technology Challenges Facing Small Business

Chris Levendos, Verizon FIOS

Michael Ridley, NYSTAR

Heather O’Donnell, WCBS Newsradio 880

Chris Zawacki, GreenHouse IT

Ron Koff, Astoria Graphics

9:20 – 9:30 AM

Coffee Break

9:30 – 10:00 AM

Assemblyman –White Plains Mayor Elect Adam Bradley

10:00 – 10:50 AM

Business Development Solutions

William Grinker, NYS Small Business Task Force

Jim Malski, ActionCOACH

Brian Moran, Moran Media

Barbara Weltman, Big Ideas for Small Business

Rosemarie Klotz, H & R Block

10:50 – 11:40 AM

Access to Capital for Small Business

Pravina Raghavan, SBA New York

Bruce Ventimiglia, Saratoga Capital Management

David Kornfeld, Financial Advisor

Paul Quintero, Accion New York

Louis Scarmardella, Small Business Development Center

11:40 – 12:30 PM

Access to Healthcare for Small Business

Troy Oechsner, NYS Dept. of Insurance

Ben Geyerhan, Small Business Majority

Ernie Vitolo, Atlantis Health Plan

Vincent Ashton, HealthPass

Peter Slocum, American Cancer Society

12:30 – 1:00 PM

Closing Networking Reception

To register for the conference contact Allison Hirsch or Christine Serrano Glassner at BALCONY (212) 219-7777

or visit the BALCONY Website www.balconynewyork.com

For More Information contact Balcony Director Lou Gordon (212) 219-7777;  e-mail:   loug@balconynewyork.com

“President Barack Obama’s address to the nation is a clarion call for health care reform which has been a major focus of BALCONY’s activities for the past 3 years. We applaud the President’s clarity and determination to address the health care needs of all Americans,” stated BALCONY Co-Chair for Labor Alan Lubin, Executive V.P. of NYSUT.

“As a coalition of Business and Labor, we are acutely aware of the needs of New York’s small businesses which overwhelmingly want to provide health care coverage to their employees however many cannot afford to do so. At the same time, these businesses believe that a healthy workforce is vital to their continued productivity. The President’s call for a health insurance exchange and a guarantee to offer competition through a public health care option for small businesses is key to covering the millions of uninsured, and helping small business owners. We agree with the President that health care costs need to be addressed to find savings for Business , Labor, and consumers,” stated BALCONY Co-Chair for Business Bruce Ventimiglia, chairman , President and CEO Saratoga Capital Management, LLC.

“When BALCONY adopted its 7 Principles for Affordable Health Care in 2007 we encouraged lawmakers in New York State and in the Congress to adhere to the key issues of Universality, Affordability, Administrative Simplicity and Transparency, Adequacy, Efficiency, Quality, and the Elimination of Disparities. We are encouraged that President Obama is providing the leadership necessary to forge a consensus with Congress to include these BALCONY principles and finally enact a plan which can provide health care coverage for all Americans,” concluded BALCONY Director Lou Gordon.

BALCONY, the Business and Labor Coalition of New York represents more than 1000 businesses, labor unions, trade associations and advocacy organizations dedicated to finding common ground on public policy issues in New York State.

Click here to read the President’s Speech.

Click here to read the Obama Plan.

The comprehensive legislation would cover medical monitoring and treatment for tens of thousands of first responders and residents who were exposed to toxins at the site and are not currently receiving help from the government.

“We have a moral obligation to provide health care to the thousands of first responders, area resident, school children and others, thousands of whom came here from across the country to help us,” said President Jack Ahern of the New York City Central Labor Council.

“We need long term treatment and this legislation does just that. It provides long term treatment for the men and woman who very much gave to New York City their heart and soul,” said first responder Alex Sanchez.

The bill is named after former Detective James Zadroga, who was a rescue worker after the attacks. Controversy ensued after city medical officials said his death wasn’t related to the September 11th terrorist attacks.