One of the biggest achievements of the union movement was to obtain pensions for its members. These days, most private-sector workers have 401(k) style retirement plans, which is both good and bad. …
The world of corrections post-HALT Solitary Confinement Act... Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris said, "There should be no place in civilized society for the legalized torture of solitary …
The issue of seeking an improvement of relations between the Police Department and the public is a valid one. The damage done by orders given by previous Mayors from Giuliani through Bloomberg was …
The municipal workforce has shown just how essential it is during this pandemic. From sanitation workers to teachers, and nurses to subway conductors, public sector workers have kept New York running …
One morning three years ago this April, I found myself in front of Alma Mater, nervously handing out picket signs to a small group of my fellow graduate workers. We were apprehensive, but I knew what …
As president of Teamsters Local 237, which represents School Safety Agents (SSAs), I recently spoke at a hearing of the City Council Education Committee. The Committee is considering legislation that …
Maybe it's this terrible plague. Maybe it's my age. Maybe it's the emotional fatigue of nearly 50 years of political activity, trying to rectify our social and economic ills for good; and knowing …
Last month, New York City closed its K-12 public-school system to protect teachers and staff as the pandemic reached new heights. The city, however, was less concerned with the safety of …
Early this year, I wrote an Op-Ed entitled "A new world of public safety is upon us." Little did I realize what would be upon us; this initial Op-Ed focused on the changes in bail reform that …
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in our city this spring, a heartwarming civic ritual spontaneously arose, lifting spirits during a deeply isolating period. At 7 p.m., New Yorkers would come …
