Pass the Jobs Bill!

July 01, 2010

Passing the jobs bill was the highlight of a program during Wednesday’s session. Florida state juvenile detention officer Faustino “Tino” Cosby of Tampa told how passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 prevented a threatened 10 percent budget cut in the Department of Juvenile Justice.

“Because of that funding, my pink slip never came, and the vital services I provide to improve my community’s youth were spared,” said Cosby, vice president of Local 2707 (Council 79). “The economic recovery bill saved my job and hundreds of thousands of other jobs like mine.” Then William LeBeau, a police lieutenant for the city of Cohoes and also a member of the statewide executive board of New York State Law Enforcement Officers Union/District Council 82, urged everyone in the session to text the word “Happen” to the number 6-9-8-6-6 on their cell phones. That action signed up delegates to receive AFSCME text alerts to call Congress when it takes up important legislation that invests in public services and eases state and local budget shortfalls. “We are the ones who have the power to make this happen!” LeBeau said.

As of this morning, thousands of calls had been made.