A crowd chanted “Don’t take more from the poor,” as they rallied Downtown last week.
New York state employees and Binghamton University students rallied outside the State Office Building in Downtown Binghamton Thursday, expressing dismay over the governor’s proposed budget cuts for the 2009-10 state budget. Ralliers were also fighting for the enactment of the Fair Share Tax Reform Act.
Over 100 people participated, and the rally lasted from 6 to 7:50 p.m.
“Thousands are gathered, not just here, but all across New York state tonight to tell Gov. David Paterson to stop balancing the state budget on the backs of working families,” said Lea Webb, a Binghamton councilwoman and director of Citizen Action of New York.
According to Paterson’s office, the state budget deficit is at $12.5 billion. To close the gap, the proposed budget cuts will hit the most vulnerable people of society, along with state employees and students, people at the rally said.
“The planned cuts to SUNY will result in a $10 million loss to SUNY Binghamton,” said Darryl Wood, president of the Binghamton chapter of United University Professions. “This means that the city of Binghamton will lose $60 million.”
Rally speakers were upset about the number of public school teachers who could lose their jobs under the plan — 6,000 in upstate New York and 15,000 on Long Island.
A sign waved by a youth wearing bright orange pants read: “Don’t cut my school program.”
BU students also have an interest in the matter, given the newly implemented $620 per year tuition hike, of which only 20 percent will go to the students.
“We need to stand up for our employees and students or else our society is going to change,” said David Lee, president of the Civil Service Employee Association.
SUNY students will also feel the effect of the $6.5 million in cuts to hospitals in Broome County, the alternative to campus’ Health Services, which is closed in the evenings and weekends.
In addition, students are faced with the plan to tax cigars, wine, beer and soda. Higher taxes on movie tickets, taxis, cable and satellite TV will come at a time when such small luxuries help take the edge off piling student loans and tuition hikes.
Utku Balaban, a BU graduate student studying sociology and working as a teaching assistant, told the crowd he has been negotiating his state contract for more than two years.
“A TA [teaching assistant] makes $8,093 the whole year while they teach 47 percent of courses,” he said. “We should fight for what we deserve.”
The crowd took this advice as it roared in excitement when the Fair Share Tax Reform Act, which New York state Sen. Eric Schneiderman (D) introduced to the legislature, was brought up.
Dubbed the “Millionaire’s Tax,” the Fair Share Tax would affect 3.2 percent of New York tax filers: residents who earn more than $250,000. The Fair Share Reform Web site suggests raising the tax rate to 8.25 percent for the $250,000 bracket and to 10.3 percent on the households earning more than $1 million.
“If we put the Fair Share Tax into effect, we can raise $6.2 billion,” said Binghamton Mayor Matt Ryan. Such a projected figure could close half of the state’s deficit.
“Everyone needs to do their fair share,” he added.
Paterson has opposed the Fair Share Tax. According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, Paterson said taxing the top 3.2 percent will cause them to move out of state, taking their spending power with them.
Under the new budget, residents will see supplemental security income cuts and an increase in transit prices for the disabled.
Parts of the crowd also said they feared unemployment.
“The budget bill is there to nullify our contracts,” said Mary Twitchell of the Public Employees Federation, claiming the new budget will violate labor negotiations signed by Paterson himself. “This is union busting on the ultimate level.”
Members of the crowd yelled, “Union busting is disgusting.”
Before it ended, the rally moved into the state building so residents could have a chance to voice their concerns on a podium. Petitions and volunteer sign-up forms floated around the room.
For more information on what the people of New York are doing in response to the proposed budget cuts, visit FightTheCuts.org and fairsharereform.com