One person who attended was church member Lorraine Lake who told this
reporter her assessment of Bloomberg so far:
"He's not really concerned about the people of New York City. For him
it's the bottom line; it's a business he's running and that's that." And
she asked, "How can the city survive when you're laying off people and
raising taxes? If you have no job, how are you supposed to pay these
taxes? I need some answers."
Laurel Fraser, President of the Schenectady Avenue Block Association
was also there. She stated, "While I'm happy to know that someone is
doing some reorganization of the Department of Education, I'm concerned
that I've not heard any mention about early childhood education. The
early years are the critical years, and if we don't include early
childhood education in the plan, we're missing a critical point in our
children's development. I've come to hear what he has to say about
that."
Businessman Jackson Bristol commented, "As a Caribbean person who is
anchored in this community - I live here and have my business here - I'm
very much concerned about what the mayor has to say about the different
cuts in services which are going to impact on the community."
Present
as well were Barnaby Bruno, who's in the healthcare field, and Urseline
Lowe, a Brooklyn College student. She said that she had come because she
wanted to know if Bloomberg had any alternate budget plan. She'd heard
about another plan that would tax 10% on the wealthiest incomes, and she
wished to find out why he chose the path he's on instead of that one.
Bruno stated, "I want to make sure that he doesn't close down the five
free health clinics in Brooklyn."
When Council Member Kendall Stewart introduced the mayor, he, too,
voiced concerns felt throughout his district. "We are plagued by some
very serious problems," he asserted. "We have unacceptable high levels
of HIV/AIDS, infant mortality rates, high unemployment, hypertension,
diabetes and cancer. If ever there was a community that is rapidly being
marginalized, it's in Central Brooklyn."
Stewart spoke very movingly of what just one person faces, recounting
that "Only a few days ago I was speaking to a single-mother of four who
works full-time as a domestic worker in the city and sometime moonlights
as a caterer on weekends to earn extra money to make ends meet. She said
that one of her sons, who is now 10 years old, needs after school
tutoring because English is not his first language. This Haitian mother
was worried sick that by cutting this vital program her son would not be
able to realize his dream of one day becoming a doctor."
Council Member Yvette Clarke spoke, too, about the plight of the
Caribbean immigrant community. She pointed out that in addition to
supporting families here, they often support relatives in their original
homes. When they're laid off it's a double whammy, hurting people both
here and abroad.
Bloomberg
then read a carefully prepared speech accenting anything good that could
be said about the city - like the fact that crime is down. While
admitting that the City's financial situation is indeed bleak, he tried
to allay the worst fears of his listeners, promising, for instance, not
to touch senior citizen centers and to hold the line on certain things
in education. Intending to leave everyone feeling warm and fuzzy, he
finished off his talk with a hilarious story about Council Member
Stewart explaining the game of cricket to him.
During the brief Q & A that followed, there was some dissention
because there were many more people wanting to ask questions of the
mayor than were able to. However he assured them that after he left they
could discuss everything with Deputy Mayor, Dennis Walcott, and another
expert who would remain behind.
Following the mayor's presentation, I got back to the persons I'd
spoken with earlier to find out how they thought he'd done.
The most satisfied was Laurel Fraser who said she was very pleased to
hear the mayor's priorities as to the reduction of crime and also
education. But," she added, "I'll be waiting to see what happens after
next week when they have those meetings about early childhood
education."
Jackson
Bristol, too, seemed inclined to be lenient, stating, "I know that the
city is going through a very tough financial time, so of course that
will have a negative impact. It's good to hear he will not touch the
senior citizens centers and his concern for education. So we just have
to wait and see."
The others were not so forgiving. Said Urseline Lowe, "I was so
dissatisfied. I thought he would gear it more toward the community and
answering our questions, but I felt my question was definitely not
answered." Barnaby Bruno declared, "I didn't think the mayor answered
the community's issues at all."
And
Lorraine Lake had much to say, none of it flattering. "As far as I'm
concerned," she remarked, "he basically generalized - 'These things can
happen, and they may not happen" - but it's still going to come down to
the fact that you're going to eliminate thousands of jobs; you're still
going to hike the tax. I didn't hear anything about that. As far as I'm
concerned," she continued, "he said what he thinks he can schmooze
people with by telling us crime is down. Everybody already knows that;
they broadcast it every opportunity they get. But there are other
concerns in the city besides crime. Don't tell me what you think I want
to hear."
