Quinn: No New Funding
The City Council announced they will not be funding any initiative in fiscal year '09 that is not already slated to get funded under this year’s city budget.
In a public statement, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said, “As we enter more uncertain economic times, we need to set fiscal priorities in the budget,” and added, “Putting a moratorium on new initiatives will allow us to cut back on city spending and to focus on restoring funds to essential services that New Yorker’s already depend on everyday.”
According to a spokesperson, Quinn told reporters at City Hall that this step would save the city tens of millions of dollars.
Politically, it’s the kind of announcement that may also help repair Quinn’s image as a manager of the council's finances, although it already seems to be on the mend.
- Poll
- Obama (D)
- McCain(R)
- Spread
- RCP Average
- 46.5
- 41.7
- Obama +4.8
- Candidate
- Favorable
- Unfavorable
- Spread
- Obama
- 55.7
- 32.7
- +23.0
- McCain
- 52.4
- 34.7
- +17.7
This is just plain goofy. Instead of exercising real fiscal responsibility, Quinn tacks one way and then the next to address the slush fund scandal.
First, she responded by suggesting the administration sign off on every item spent -- clearly, so she wouldn't be held responsible should anything go wrong. Now, she doesn't want to consider any new "initiatives," as if the City Council and staff and city agencies aren't capable of judging funding requests on their merits.
Note that this applies to "initiatives." Does that mean member items and borough delegation appropriations are excluded?
Quinn also seems to have missed the news that the city has a $4 BILLION SURPLUS this year. Instead of factoring that in to produce a realistic budget, the Speaker has opted to bill her self as a belt-tightener, plain and simple.
Get rid of the phony nonprofits and do transparent due diligence on requests made. That's what taxpayers expect.
Did she consult other Council Members or was this just another one of her unilateral announcements - aimed at mollifying the New York Times in time for next year's mayoral endorsement? Is she acting as Speaker for the City Council? Or Speaker for herself?
The question now is which City Council Central Staffers will cooperate and be placed in the federal witness protection program if they testify against their boss Speaker Quinn. Rob Newman will be given a new identity and his new job will be as another zombie extra in any and all sequels to the movie Dawn of the Dead. Laura Popa will be given a new identity and job as an interrogator at Abu Grab prison because one look at her face or shrill of her voice will make any prisoner comply. Maura Keany will be given a new identity and job at Walmart but her task will be the same: to monitor the day to day fecal activity. Please watch the following video as it pertains to Speaker Quinn:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPND2-_IKYE