Last October, as the City Council prepared to ignore the will of the people and pass legislation that would allow Mayor Bloomberg to seek a third term, I argued that a public referendum is the only appropriate way to change term limits. I stood in direct opposition to Council Speaker Christine Quinn--and now, eight months later, vulnerable New York City residents will pay for my resistance.
Last week I learned that the budget for my office - one of only three elected citywide offices in New York City - would be cut by 40%, to $1.8 million from an already paltry $2.9 million. Historically, the mayor proposes cuts to the budget, and I negotiate with the Council Speaker to restore it. This year, the Speaker decided to treat me differently that she did any other elected official: her budget does not restore one cent of the cuts proposed by Mayor Bloomberg for my office.
On Friday, I spoke out against the Speaker's action, which I believe is political payback for my opposition to extending term limits without a referendum. In response, Speaker Quinn blamed the cuts on the Mayor, and on the Council Members who did not recommend restoring funds to my office. Of course, everybody knows that two people control the city budget: the Mayor and the Speaker. If you don't believe that, there's a bridge near City Hall I'd like to sell you.
While denying responsibility, Speaker Quinn nonetheless defended the cuts, arguing that the budget focused only on "priorities."
Was she referring to the $50 million in pork included in the budget, of which nearly $18 million is the Speaker's own to hand out? And why was I singled out, while the borough presidents received full restoration?
For the school children without access to special education services, for the victims of domestic violence, for New Yorkers who need public assistance to get by, for the women seeking reproductive services, for couples in same-sex relationships--for the thousands of New Yorkers who have fallen through the cracks, this office is a priority.
I will continue to speak out against Speaker Quinn's damaging political ploy. And I will fight for an independent budget for this office so that, long after I am gone, this type of thing can never happen again.
In the News:
Advocacy Slashed: Betsy Gotbaum stews over budget slight - NY Daily News
Don't Cross Betsy - Gotham Gazette