The two-year legislative logjam over a bill allowing municipal workers to live outside the city has been broken.
A City Council hearing is scheduled for Oct. 6 on two bills that would ease residency requirements for members of District Council 37, the city's largest municipal union, and some other city workers.
While this is the first time the bills will be discussed at a hearing, it doesn't mean there is any agreement between the City Council and the Bloomberg administration.
"We oppose any bill that does not reflect the agreement reached with DC 37 during the collective bargaining process," said Bloomberg spokesman Jason Post.
Two years ago, DC 37 and the city settled a contract. Part of that deal included a provision to lift residency requirements for union members. But some City Council members balked, saying the move would open up city jobs to people who live outside the city.
They wanted city workers to spend at least two years living in the city. But the administration said it wouldn't deviate from the contract.
After two years of inaction, the Council will now review two bills on residency. One is the original bill that lifts residency requirements without limitations. The second bill, sponsored by Councilman Robert Jackson (D-Manhattan), would allow workers to live outside the city after two years of employment.
"This bill means so much to so many people," said Councilman Joseph Addabbo Jr. (D-Queens), who heads the Civil Service and Labor Committee. "The amended version is the only version that saves city jobs for city residents."
Members of DC 37 and smaller unions have been fighting for the right to live outside the city limits for years.
The city's uniformed workers - police officers, firefighters, correction officers and sanitation workers - are allowed to live in surrounding counties.
Teachers and some other city employees in jobs that are considered hard to fill have no residency restrictions. "I have always said this is a very odd way of dealing with the real issue, which is the issue of affordable housing in New York City," said Addabbo.
The hearing will be held at City Hall before Addabbo's committee at 1 p.m..
