NYC PACE holds 'Rap with Rep' dialogues
New York's aging and failing infra-structure blasted NYC-PACE's planned rap session with our Rep-Democratic State Senator Franz Leichter on Thursday, April 17. A water main geyser tied up all traffic and Senator Leichter. His Legislative and Research Associate, Jonathan Bowles, served as a pinch-hitter. Mr. Bowles spoke at length about Leichter-Stringer-Eve Tax Fairness Bill and urged our support. This bill would raise $2.4 billion and counter some ot the harsh effects of several years of tax cuts by repealing the last year of tax cuts for persons with incomes over $100,000, plugging some corporate welfare loopholes, and placing a small surcharge on New Yorkers with incomes over $150,000.
Questions from the assembled Chapter members also dealt with Senator's position regarding the licensing of social workers, as well as protecting the rights of renters (he's a long-time supporter of rent control). A question was also raised about the impact of GORR (Governor's Office of Regulatory Relief) and its role in removing the standards regarding hospital social work departments and other issues of legislative oversight of this Office, which has no legislative authorization.
The PACE Annual Meeting, held on January 15, responded with such excitement to the guest speaker, Alan Hevesi, New York City Comptroller, that it inspired the plan for a series of such dialogues with our elected representatives. The session with Senator Leichter was to be the second "Rap with your Rep session".
These sessions will be held quarterly, on Thursdays starting at 6 p.m. in the Chapter office. The third Rap session will be held on July 17, and the fourth on October 16, all at 6 p.m. - so mark your calenders now! Future issues of Currents will inform you as who the invited representative will be.
Although scheduling depends upon the timing of City Council or Albany legislative sessions, as well as other commitments of our representatives, the PACE sub-committee welcomes your suggestions on invitees. Our current list of potential invitees includes City Council Chair Peter Vallone; Minority Assembly Leader Sheldon Silver; City Council members Gifford Miller, Helen Marshall and Catherine Nolan; Assembly members Dick Gottfried and Alexander (Pete) Granis, as well as Public Advocate Mark Green and Borough President and Mayoral candidate Ruth Messinger.
Our sessions with Mr. Hevesi and with Mr. Bowles were most informative in sharpening for NASW members how to direct potential efforts as well as deepening our understanding of the political terrain we need to traverse to attain our goals. It was also fun to be regaled with stories, some very funny, about life among the pols.