Recent Endorsements for State Senator Joe Addabbo in the 10th Senate District...

Transport Workers Endorse Joe Addabbo for State Senate

“Our jobs and businesses depend on reliable transportation ”

The Transport Workers Union Local 100 is endorsing Senator Joe Addabbo for reelection to the New York Senate seat representing his Queens district.

Senator Addabbo’s commitment to good jobs and the public transportation that jobs and businesses across New York depend on was key to earning the TWU’s support.

“Joe Addabbo knows the importance of mass transit to New York’s economy and the people who live and work here. He has not only consistently supported the interests of those who work for the MTA, he understands how our transit system contributes to the livelihood of everyone in this great city. We are proud to support Joe Addabbo and join with him in the fight for good jobs and strong, reliable public transportation,” said John Samuelsen, President of the Transport Workers Union Local 100.

“Our jobs and businesses depend on the buses and subways we use to get to work and get home every day. Reliable, efficient mass transportation makes New York a desirable place to do business and is essential for economic development. The simple fact is New York wouldn’t function without mass transit, and mass transit wouldn’t function without the dedicated, professional men and women of TWU Local 100. I am proud to support the people who keep New York moving, and I am honored to earn their support,” said Sen. Joseph P. Addabbo.

TWU Local 100 represents virtually all employees of the New York City public transportation system who drive buses and operate trains, maintain the trains and tracks, staff the token booths, clean platforms and subway cars, and service and repair mechanical equipment.

Senator Joseph Addabbo has been a member of the New York State Senate Education Committee since his election in 2008. Senator Addabbo also serves on the Civil Service and Pensions Committee, as well as the Labor Committee, in the State Senate.

Teachers Endorse Joe Addabbo for State Senate

“Joe is committed to the greatest opportunities for students”

The New York State United Teachers and the United Federation of Teachers are both endorsing Senator Joe Addabbo for reelection to his Queens seat.

Both teachers unions cited Senator Addabbo’s commitment to public education and expanding educational opportunities.

“We are confident you will continue to stand with us as we endeavor to improve conditions in our public schools and and ensure our students have the greatest opportunity to achieve academic success. We applaud your commitment to public education, labor and human rights. We are pleased to endorse you in the upcoming election and look forward to working with you both during your campaign and while in office after the election,” said Mike Mulgrew, President of the United Federation of Teachers, of Senator Addabbo.

“Educational issues are extremely important to me and my constituents. With a good education, anything is possible. Without one, nothing else matters. I am committed to making sure our schools deliver the first-rate education our children deserve, and they need to succeed. I am honored to earn the support of the United Federation of Teachers and NYSUT, and look forward to working with them to provide our schools and students with the resources they need,” said Sen. Joseph P. Addabbo.

Senator Joseph Addabbo has been a member of the New York State Senate Education Committee since his election in 2008. Senator Addabbo also serves on the Civil Service and Pensions Committee, as well as the Labor Committee, in the State Senate.

Teamsters Endorse Joe Addabbo for State Senate

“Strong record supporting working people”

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters Joint Council 16 is endorsing Senator Joe Addabbo for reelection to his Queens seat. The Teamsters backing brings with it considerable manpower and muscle to get people to the polls in November.

In endorsing the first term senator, the Teamsters Joint Council 16 President George Miranda pointed to Addabbo’s longtime commitment to people who work for a living.

“The International Brotherhood of Teamsters Joint Council 16, representing some 32 local Teamster unions, is proud to endorse Joe Addabbo for State Senate. In these trying economic times, working people are fortunate to have an advocate in Senator Joe Addabbo. Therefore, in recognition of Senator Addabbo's strong record of supporting working people in the State of New York, and with the interests of our over 120,000 hardworking members in mind, we support Joe's bid for reelection,” said George Miranda, President of the Teamsters Joint Council 16.

“I am honored to have earned the support of the dedicated men and women of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. New Yorkers face unprecedented challenges keeping food on the table, a roof over their heads and providing a decent education for their children. I will work twice as hard to ensure our citizens have the jobs and opportunities they deserve,” said Sen. Joseph P. Addabbo.

Senator Joseph Addabbo served in the New York City Council prior to being elected to the Senate in 2008 when he defeated long-serving Senator Serphin Maltese. Senator Addabbo serves on the Civil Service and Pensions Committee, as well as the Labor Committee, in the State Senate.

Mayor Bloomberg "Screws" Up On Radio by Frank Lombardi - The Daily Politics - NY Daily News

Bloomberg once again shows how out of touch he is with average middle class voters....He defends the rich corrupt Wall Street gang who nearly bankrupted our country and shattered the economy while he trashes municipal workers who he plans to lay off despite a $3 Billion dollar surplus...There's not a rich person alive that he won't doesn't like or defend...Nor is there a union man that he likes and wouldn't slander...I think only him and his privileged class really think that anyone would leave Wall Street or NYC if derivatives were highly regulated, as they should be...

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Mayor Bloomberg is normally guarded about using profanity in public, so his use of the salty phrase “screw them” on his radio appearance this morning

should be forgiven as an innocent slip of the tongue.

Here’s the context: While discussing the proposed tightening of regulation of Wall Street, the mayor noted that some of the union protesters who staged a rally against budget cuts this week outside City Hall had railed about “getting even with bankers.”

The mayor suggested that since taxes from Wall Street earnings and bonuses pay for their salaries, “our cops and firefighters and teachers they should be out there defending the bankers.”

Bloomberg noted one of the protesters had said, “Oh, you know, a lot of these [bankers] were in favor of charter schools… so we’re going to go screw them.”

He quickly corrected himself: “Hurt them -- pardon my language.”

Going on, the mayor said it’s a popular sentiment among the “political chatter class” to be down on bankers and Wall Street financiers and to push for over-stringent regulations, such as banning derivatives.

Such overzealous regulations would merely drive business out of the city or out of the country, damaging the city’s ability to pay its workforce, argued Bloomberg, who nonetheless asserted, “I’m not here to defend bankers, I’m here to defend New York City business.”

M.T.A. Broke Law With Layoffs, Judge Rules by Emily B. Hager - City Room Blog - NYTimes.com

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In the latest back-and-forth over the legality of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s layoffs of hundreds of subway station agents, a judge ruled Friday that the authority violated the law when it closed booths and laid off about 260 agents last month without holding public hearings.

But the judge, Saliann Scarpulla of State Supreme Court in Manhattan, did not rule on whether the authority must reopen closed booths or rehire laid-off workers, and the authority itself would not comment on whether it would, saying only that it intended to appeal the ruling and to immediately start the public-hearing process.

The authority plans to lay off more than 200 more station agents in July, as part of the effort to close a budget gap of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Justice Scarpulla ruled Friday that the authority had not followed New York Public Authorities Law 1205, which states that a “complete or partial closing of a passenger station” can occur “only after a public hearing,” provided it is not for emergency reasons or repairs.

The union representing station agents, Transit Workers Union Local 100, called the judge’s decision “a major victory for safety and security in our subways.”

The union and Acorn, a community organizing group, had sued to block the layoffs, arguing that eliminating station agents put the public at risk to acts of crime, terrorism and not having help in place in the case of a medical emergency.

“This a safety issue for us,” said Bertha Lewis, Acorn’s chief executive.

A spokesman for the authority, Aaron Donovan, said in a statement, “The M.T.A. is disappointed in today’s ruling that we cannot proceed with slated subway booth and kiosk closures without repeating the public hearing process.”

Last month, when the authority was about to lay off nearly 500 agents, another State Supreme Court justice issued a last-minute stay blocking the layoffs. A few days afterward, the authority moved ahead and laid off 260 agents who worked in customer-assistance booths rather than sales booths, saying that the customer-assistance agents were not covered by the stay.

Statement from Public Advocate Bill De Blasio on Court Decision Regarding Subway Station Agents

“Today, New York City subway riders scored a victory when a Manhattan court ruled to temporarily stop the layoffs of 475 station workers. In a time when our City faces increased crime and terrorist threats, we cannot compromise public safety. I hope the MTA reconsiders this plan and commits to keeping station agents who provide an extra level of security for our city’s transportation system.”

475 MTA Token Clerk Jobs Safe (for now) After Judge Halts Booth Closings by Pete Donohue - Daily News

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MTA clerks working at the token booth at Penn Station-34th. St. subway station. Lombard for News

A judge's order halting layoffs of 475 token booth clerks will cost the already cash-strapped MTA about $100,000 a day, a top official said Thursday.

A Manhattan Supreme Court justice issued a temporary order blocking the cost-cutting move late Wednesday night, causing pink-slipped workers to rejoice.

The clerks had been scheduled to turn in their badges and uniforms yesterday but instead were told to report to work - at least until a judge hears the case early next week.

"I got a new life," said Mohamed Abedin, 42, of Ozone Park, Queens, who has an 11-year-old son and a pregnant wife. "I have a mortgage. I have a family. I really need this job."

Meanwhile, more cuts are coming. Yesterday, the MTA announced new plans that would eliminate an additional 1,000 positions because of the agency's $750 million budget deficit - saving about $115 million this year.

Those positions include clerical and administrative staff, train cleaners, subway station announcers and ticket agents at the Metro-North and Long Island railroads. An aggressive window-replacement program, meant to reduce "scratchiti," also was eliminated.

NYC Transit President Tom Prendergast said the budget-burdened authority might have to pay about $600,000 a week and $2.4 million a month if the token booth layoffs are delayed further. The savings will have to be made up somewhere, "most likely through other head-count reductions," he said.

A Manhattan Supreme Court justice signed the temporary restraining order after Transport Workers Union lawyer Arthur Schwartz argued the MTA failed to hold legally mandated hearings.

"This win isn't about Local 100 workers. This win is for the city of New York," union chief John Samuelson said outside the Manhattan courtroom, where a judge said she would not hear testimony until next week.

Most clerks were notified early yesterday that they should report to their jobs, but several dozen didn't find out until they showed up at the Brooklyn training center to turn in their equipment.

"We came out for a funeral," said Christine Williams, a union recording secretary. "At least it gave people hope for another day."

TWU Endorses Joe Addabbo for New York State Senate...

Roger Toussaint, President of the TWU, Councilman Joe Addabbo, Minority Leader Malcolm Smith, and TWU supporters rally at the Fresh Pond Rd Bus Depot in Ridgewood.

The Transit Workers Union Local 100, and President Roger Toussaint made their official endorsement of Joe Addabbo for State Senate. The union boasts 38,000 active members, 1,700 of whom reside in the 15^th senate district, in addition to 500 retirees.

"We are proud to support Joseph Addabbo for Senate because we know he will be a fighter for the hard-working families of Queens. Joe has fought to improve transportation infrastructure, and always stood up for the working men and women who make our city run. New Yorkers need good jobs and real benefits, and Joe Addabbo will be the change in Albany we so desperately need,” said Roger Toussaint, President of TWU Local 100.

"With the advent of the economic crisis, we need to keep the cost of basic services low, and make sure that hard working New Yorkers have the resources they need to stay strong, and stay in New York. I have focused my attention on affordable healthcare, fair wages, and quality schools. Transportation is also an essential part of that equation which is why I have personally taken up the fight to prevent a fare hike. I know that when faced with a tough budget, you cut first before raising revenue from tax payers," added Joe Addabbo

In August, CM Addabbo created the Fight the Hike campaign in response to the MTA’s threat to raise fares. By September, the campaign had successfully registered 2,000 signatures, which the Councilman presented in person to the MTA.

As a member of the Transportation Committee of the New York City Council, the Councilman has a history of working together with the MTA. In addition, as the Chairman of the Civil Service & Labor committee Addabbo has always fought for workers and good jobs.