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March 28,
2008
For Immediate Release |
Contact: Albert O'Leary
PBA Communications Director
212-298-9190
or
Joseph Mancini
212-298-9150 |
POLICE UNION PRESIDENT SLAMS CONGESTION PRICING,
CALLING IT A “PAY CUT” FOR NEW YORK’S FINEST
Patrick
J. Lynch, president of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association (PBA) today
came out strongly in opposition to Mayor Bloomberg’s controversial congestion-pricing
plan, saying that it would be tantamount to a $2,000 pay cut for New York City¹s
police officers who work in the designated area.
“Eight
dollars a day, five days a week comes to $2,000 over the course
of a year — and
that’s just too much to ask of the men and women who risk
their lives fighting crime and terrorism in this city,” Lynch
said.
Police officers are permitted to live in suburban
counties outside the city where public transportation is not always
available, the union leader pointed out. The plan would be a particular
hardship for their members who work 4 PM to midnight tours, he
added.
“The
cost of this unwise plan would cut a police officers’ take-home
top pay by 5% at a time when the NYPD is already having an impossible
time recruiting and retaining police officers,” said Lynch,
who represents 23,000 police officers in the city¹s largest
police union.
The congestion-pricing
plan is scheduled for a vote on Monday before the City Council.
“A vote for congestion pricing is a vote against New York
City¹s
police officers,” Lynch said.
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