A massive budget backlash came to lower Manhattan on Thursday. Tens of thousands of New Yorkers marched on City Hall, rallying to stop proposed funding cuts.
The rally cries of labor unions, community groups and families outside City Hall could be heard throughout lower Manhattan. Desperation for an economic lifeline brought out more than 50,000 people along several blocks of Broadway in a self-described "Rally For New York."
Their message for Gov. David Paterson came in the form of booming chants:
"No more cuts! No more cuts!"
Everyday New Yorkers had their own personal messages for the governor as well.
"Governor Paterson, I wish you could have an open heart that we are going to suffer if this budget cut goes through," said China Lankford of Jamaica.
Paterson has proposed closing a $15 billion state budget gap by making cuts across the board,
including $2.5 billion in education, $3.2 billion in health care and billions more in cuts to vital programs such as senior services, disability services, housing assistance and crisis intervention programs.
"The cut back is putting people out of jobs," said Ruth Cardona of Local 1199. "No health care and also the education part of it is wrong."
George Altomare, a retired teacher, made his voice heard as well.
"You can't cut the budget the way it is and still have the quality we're aiming for," Altomare said.
Workers said they will continue to fight for their part of the economic pie.
source
The rally cries of labor unions, community groups and families outside City Hall could be heard throughout lower Manhattan. Desperation for an economic lifeline brought out more than 50,000 people along several blocks of Broadway in a self-described "Rally For New York."
Their message for Gov. David Paterson came in the form of booming chants:
"No more cuts! No more cuts!"
Everyday New Yorkers had their own personal messages for the governor as well.
"Governor Paterson, I wish you could have an open heart that we are going to suffer if this budget cut goes through," said China Lankford of Jamaica.
Paterson has proposed closing a $15 billion state budget gap by making cuts across the board,
including $2.5 billion in education, $3.2 billion in health care and billions more in cuts to vital programs such as senior services, disability services, housing assistance and crisis intervention programs.
"The cut back is putting people out of jobs," said Ruth Cardona of Local 1199. "No health care and also the education part of it is wrong."
George Altomare, a retired teacher, made his voice heard as well.
"You can't cut the budget the way it is and still have the quality we're aiming for," Altomare said.
Workers said they will continue to fight for their part of the economic pie.
source