| Contact: | Sunny Mindel / Michael Anton | (212) 788-2958 |
"The City is ready, willing and able to reach a reasonable settlement with the Patrolman's Benevolent Association. But the demands being made by speakers at today's rally go way beyond anything the City can afford. Moreover, the PBA has thus far been unwilling to agree to any productivity increases, and has refused the City's repeated offers to resume negotiations.
"At a time when inflation is at 2.5%, the 39% raise being demanded by the PBA not only makes no sense, it would send the City into bankruptcy. Because of pattern bargaining, a raise of that size would cost the City $7.3 billion, bringing the City's total budget to nearly $45 billion, and precipitating another fiscal crisis."