Newburgh - As U.S. Mayors gather in Washington to meet with the Obama Administration about unemployment and the economy, members of the group Community Voices Heard (CVH) and local, state, and federally elected officials for Newburgh called on the Obama Administration and U.S. Congress to end the devastation of unemployment by enacting a community jobs program through the "Put America to Work Act," a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives that would provide funding directly to states and cities to create jobs for long-term unemployed and low-income residents. H.R. 4268, introduced by Rep. Ellison (MN) and co-sponsored by 52 U.S. Representatives including Congressman Hinchey, would put people to work immediately, reduce unemployment and help rebuild communities.
Harold Gardner, a Community Voices Heard member from Dutchess County, lost his job after driving a school bus for 20 years and ended up on welfare. "I’d rather be working instead of on welfare because you have freedom when you’re actually working instead of spending time in the welfare office. It’s a madhouse out there, with lots of people looking for work. Some jobs don’t hire people unless they have a lot of experience, and simple jobs like flipping hamburgers at McDonalds tell you you’re overqualified. How can you be overqualified when you’re trying to eat to live?" he said.
The press conference took place in front of abandoned city lot on Broadway, where dozens of CVH leaders stood alongside their elected officials and other community representatives. They held signs depicting the face of Martin Luther King, Jr. that said "His Dream: A Job for All." Some of the speakers referenced Dr. King this week of his birthday, and the lesser-known aspect of his life’s work that focused on economic justice and called for massive job programs for the unemployed.
The community jobs program which local leaders are proposing would: provide funding to localities to create one million temporary public and private sector jobs, stimulate and rebuild local economies and deliver critical community benefits and services. Jobs would include: rehabilitating schools, community centers, libraries; cleaning up vacant and abandoned lots; and providing expanded staffing for critical services and other community improvements in areas deemed "distressed."
"Our top priority must be creating meaningful employment opportunities for struggling individuals and families, and the ‘Put America to Work Act’ is an important effort to spur community job growth," said Congressman Maurice Hinchey. "This is even more critical for economically-distressed communities like Newburgh, where unemployment and poverty rates far exceed the national and state averages. If we are to stabilize and improve the economy, we must begin with turning around the very serious economic problems in our small cities and communities most in need."
State Assemblyman Frank Skartados, Newburgh Mayor Nick Valentine, and newly-elected Council member Curlie Dillard also spoke in support of the federal bill.
Although the focus of the press conference was to pressure the federal government to pass the jobs bill, participants also spoke about the role of the city in creating jobs for unemployed residents. CVH members called on the city to use Community Development Block Grant funds to increase economic opportunities for low-income residents.
The labor market is bleak: though job losses last month were lower than anticipated, unemployment remains at its highest level in 60 years, with 15.4 million people officially counted as unemployed, millions more underemployed or too discouraged to look for work, and very high unemployment expected to persist through 2010. Low-income communities of color such as those in Newburgh are likely suffering true unemployment rates of over 50%, have not benefited from the current stimulus jobs largely focused on construction and infrastructure. A new federally funded community jobs program could put millions of people to work over the next several years to provide for their families, improve their communities, and generate income to help our economy grow.
This press event was one of dozens of events happening across the country in support of a community jobs program, including a press conference organized by the New York City CVH chapter. Local organizations and other supporters will continue to meet with their U.S. congressional delegation to press for legislation to authorize a community jobs program.
