Senate Debacle Yields Hiring Freeze On
Police, Firefighter Jobs: Bloomberg
NY Daily News 7/7/09
The Senate stalemate will keep
250 new cops off the street, Mayor Bloomberg said Monday.
Bloomberg froze hiring to save the $60 million a month lost
because Albany won't pass a half-point city sales tax hike.
"I don't want us to panic," Bloomberg said. "I don't think
anybody expected this to go on. And yet it does."
Also on hold because of the freeze are 90 emergency medical
technicians, 150 firefighters, 175school safety agents and
150crossing guards.
The cops were set to be sworn in tomorrow.
"The state Senate's inability tofunction may literally result
inblood on the streets," said CityCouncilman Peter Vallone
(D-Queens), chairman of the Public Safety Committee.
The Senate has been deadlocked, 31 to 31, since a June 8
Republican coup. There is no lieutenant governor to break the
tie.
Senate Democratic leaders met with Gov. Paterson yesterday to
complain that Republican senators and turncoat Democrat Sen.
Pedro Espada Jr. of the Bronx are defying his request to quickly
pass critical legislation.
Republicans countered that the Dems were just upset that
Paterson told the Daily News they may have to accept Espada in a
major leadership position.
Espada lunched yesterday with three other Democrats whobalked at
their party's leadership last fall - Hiram Monserrate
(D-Queens), Ruben Diaz Sr. (D-Bronx) and Carl Kruger
(D-Brooklyn).
Earlier, Assemblyman Michael Gianaris (D-Queens) said Paterson
could end the stalemate by appointing a new lieutenant governor
under an obscure legal code.
Republicans and state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said the
move would be
unconstitutional.klovett@nydailynews.com
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