Prospect Heights Residents Mixed on Bloomberg’s Proposed Budget Cuts

Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently announced the City’s 2010 preliminary budget,  which includes laying off 4,666 teachers, eliminating 16,624 child care slots, and closing 20 fire companies and 100 senior citizen centers.

 to the proposal. But on the streets of Prospect Heights, reactions were mixed.

Some believed that cuts to services were necessary to fix the budget deficit, while others thought the proposed cuts unfairly targeted working-class residents, the people that may need social services the most.

“It seems like we should be putting more money into education and schools,” said Robert Frazier, who was out yesterday on Vanderbilt Avenue with his daughter for brunch. “The cuts have to be made, but could they do other things instead? I think education should be the last thing to go.” 

“Unfortunately, cuts are necessary and taxes are necessary,” said Josh Rosenberg, on Vanderbilt Avenue with wife Jessica and eight-month-old son, Jonah. “I trust the government to evaluate what is needed.”

Rosenberg admitted that he may change his stance once his son is old enough to attend school.

“If people want these services, (the government) has to pay for them,” agreed Jessica Rosenberg. “They don’t just pay for themselves.”

Andrew Lues Melon, a Prospect Heights resident on Washington Avenue, thought the cuts to social services were unfair, especially in a tough economic climate for New Yorkers who are already struggling for employment.

“We need something to be cut, but not this. It’s not good for New York,” said Melon. “We’re working hard as it is, they shouldn’t be cutting that much from us.”

Nicholas Garcia, with his grandson on Washington Avenue, found the news of the cuts “unfair,” especially those to that would affect public schools and senior citizens.

“The rich people don’t care, but it’s the working class that’s affected. That’s crazy, they should be doing more to help the seniors.”

“(The City) should be helping people in low-income neighborhoods,” said Kevin Carter, on Washington Avenue. “Cut the people (in the administration), who are making too much money.”

Carter felt that public schools and care for senior citizens were especially important, because they would be hurt the most by the lack of funding.

“It’s not helping the kids, and it’s not helping the older folks,” he added.