District Council 37

  • Salamanders & the City. Tiny Wildlife Thrive in Urban Eco-System
    BY JUSTINA RAMLAKHAN Before the first colonial settlement, the area that eventually encompassed modern-day New York City was a marshland swamp with numerous creeks and streams throughout what the Lenape, the Indigenous people of the region, originally called ‘Manhatta.’ It can be difficult to imagine that wildlife once inhabited the concrete jungle. Even more surprising is that they can still be found in today’s urban environment. Desmognathus fuscus, commonly known as the Northern Dusky Salamander, is found throughout North America, including New York City. These salamanders are members of the Plethodontidae family of lungless salamanders that receive oxygen by the absorption of water through their skin. They prefer wooded, moist habitats with running or trickling sources of fresh water. Photos courtesy ofNeha Savant, NYC Parks “Urban wildlife remind us that we’re not alone and that humans are not the only species that call this place home,” said Neha Savant, a Wildlife & Fisheries Ecologist (City Research Scientist II) and member of Local 375 Civil Service Technical Guild. “However, if you want to find salamanders, I recommend you look for them outside of the city. We don’t want to disrupt their sensitive habitats because they deal with a lot of environmental [...] — Jun 6
  • State Budget by the Numbers
    Five weeks past the April 1 deadline, Gov. Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature finalized a $254 billion budget on Thursday, May 8. Highlights affecting DC 37 members include: CHILD CARE TAX CREDIT Increases the credit from $330 per child to $1,000 for children up to four years old and to $500 for children between ages 4 and 16. COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT (COLA) FOR DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS UNDER OPWDD Includes a 2.6% inflationary increase for human service employers in the not-for-profit sectors. However, language to ensure that a specific percentage would be used for wage increases and benefit improvements was not included. EDUCATION Extends the full-day pre-kindergarten program through June 30, 2026. Bans smartphones and other internet-enabled personal devices on school grounds in K-12 schools for the entire school day. The budget also includes $340 million to provide free school lunch for grades K-12 and increases school Foundation Aid by $1.4 billion for the 2025-2026 school year. INFLATION REBATE CHECKS Provides a $200 tax credit for single filers earning under $75,000 and $150 for earners between $75,000-$150,000. The figures double for those married and filing jointly. PENSIONS The union successfully fought back changes to the pension system that would [...] — Jun 6
  • Change is Coming. DC 37 Endorses Adrienne Adams for Mayor. Union Delegates Vote to Endorse Pro-Worker Candidates
    Photo by Thea Setterbo BY ACACIA RODRIGUEZ The union’s candidate screening process is complete, the delegates voted, and the endorsements have been decided: Adrienne Adams is District Council 37’s top choice for mayor. For the first time, the union also endorsed a ranked choice slate of mayoral candidates, placing New York State Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani second and State Senator Zellnor Myrie third. Early voting for New York City’s June 24 Primary Election kicks off on Saturday, June 14, which is also the last date to register to vote. When voters fill out their ballots, they have the option of ranking their first through fifth choices for the offices of Mayor, Borough President, Comptroller, Public Advocate, and City Council. “Each candidate made presentations to our members on the screening committee, were affirmed by our Executive Board, and member-elected delegates had the final approval,” said Henry Garrido, DC 37 Executive Director. “The members chose experienced candidates who could govern with a steady hand and without controversy at a time when a lot of changes are coming from Washington.” A New Yorker raised in southeast Queens, Adams’ platform focuses on expanding services for families and righting a political landscape fraught with scandal [...] — Jun 6
  • Questions about Ranked Choice Voting? Get ready for Election Day with DC 37!
    DC 37 POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE There is one week left to register to vote in the New York City Primary Election! DC 37 Register to vote or update your voter registration HERE. The Green Machine wants to ensure you have everything you need to cast your ballot on June 24. Read on for the most up-to-date resources on ranked choice voting, including a video on how to fill out your ballot, and an in-person PAC meeting with a special guest to answer all of your questions! Learn about Ranked Choice Voting:Join Us IN-PERSON at Our June PAC Meeting Did you know NYC is using ranked choice voting to choose our next mayor? DC 37’s Political Action Committee and PAC Chair Donald Nesbit would like to welcome you back to a special in-person PAC meeting at DC 37 HQ! Join us to make sure your vote is being counted! Nia Alvarez-Mapp will join us from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), who will answer all of your ranked choice ballot questions. We hope to see you there! Space is limited, please RSVP HERE. Thursday, June 12 at 6 p.m. | DC 37 HQ @ 125 Barclay Street PAC meetings take place on the second Thursday [...] — Jun 6
  • Important Update Regarding Your Health Care Benefits
    DC 37 Family, For the first time in over 40 years, the City has selected a proposal for a new health plan for active city employees, pre-Medicare retirees, and their dependents. The joint proposal from EmblemHealth and United Healthcare will unlock access to more primary care doctors, specialists, nurse practitioners, and mental health providers in New York City—all while remaining premium-free. The selection process was conducted in partnership with the Municipal Labor Committee (MLC), of which DC 37 and several of our Local unions are members. The City and the MLC will now begin the next phase of negotiating a contract agreement with Emblem and United. Once the contract is finalized and approved, all essential information will be communicated regarding the transition to the new plan. Additionally, city workers will continue to have the choice of enrolling in other plans offered by the city, including the HIP-HMO and MetroPlus plans, which also have no employee premiums. This is great news for our members who work for the City of New York. We’ve navigated a challenging road to get to this point, but the result is the tentative selection of a new health plan that will allow us to increase the [...] — Jun 5