Passage of Obama jobs bill urged

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New York City Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez (at podium), who called the press conference to announce the release of her office’s report on the impact that the act would have on the city’s economy, emphasized that “New York City stands to gain 70,000 jobs through this bill,” including more than 27,000 jobs in the hard-hit construction industry.

Just over a week after President Barack Obama unveiled his American Jobs Act in a nationally televised address to Congress on Sept. 8, UFT President Michael Mulgrew joined city and national political leaders for a Sept. 16 City Hall press conference in support of immediate passage of the bill.

The bill includes $35 billion to protect teaching jobs and $25 billion to modernize schools nationwide. Of that, New York State is slated to receive a combined $3.55 billion, with the city receiving sufficient funds to support as many as 6,552 education-related jobs.

“I am not urging Congress, I am demanding of Congress: Stop with the propaganda and politics. Pass this package. Help the schools. Help the communities. Help families,” Mulgrew said.

He cautioned, “Nationwide, we’re talking about losing close to 280,000 teachers. This is unacceptable. It cannot be allowed to happen.”

The recession is already “having a catastrophic effect on our children’s education,” he added, explaining that years of partial hiring freezes and budget cuts have led to skyrocketing class sizes in city schools, which last spring narrowly avoided 4,200 teacher layoffs.

New York City Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, who called the press conference to announce the release of her office’s report on the impact the act would have on the city’s economy, emphasized that “New York City stands to gain 70,000 jobs through this bill,” including more than 27,000 jobs in the hard-hit construction industry.

Passage of the bill would reduce New York City’s unemployment rate from 8.7 percent to 7 percent, she said.

“New Yorkers cannot wait. Congress should pass this bill now,” Velazquez urged her colleagues in Washington. “American families are suffering.”

Congressman Jose Serrano, who once worked as a paraprofessional in the city schools, emphasized the importance of increased funding for education. He also took aim at those in Washington who, he said, are prepared to “cut, cut, cut,” but never to invest in job creation.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn both also pledged their support. Quinn announced that the Council planned to pass a resolution supporting the act.