healthcare and safety net benefits--and the way forward.
Professor Rodberg's presentation will be followed by discussion and updates on our safety net campaign.
As always, we will provide light refreshments--coffee, tea, fruit, cheese and cookies.
MAY 1st CHAPTER MEETING
Joan Greenbaum, Editor Academic Year 2016-7 No. 8
psc-cuny.org/retirees 1 – 3 pm, PSC Union Hall, 16th Floor, APRIL 3rd CHAPTER MEETING, 1 – 61 Broadway. Theme: The 3 pm, PSC Union Hall, 16th Floor, 61 surveillance state. We'll examine Broadway. Theme: Health, welfare government surveillance in the and wellbeing. 1950s and contemporary New York.
Speakers: Speakers:
Donna Costa, Executive Dave Kotelchuck, Hunter Director, PSC/CUNY Welfare College (retired), author of Fund, speaking on and Abe and Julia, on FBI answering questions about surveillance of his family the Fund's new benefit during the McCarthy period. enhancements. Alex Vitale, Brooklyn College, Jared Herst, PSC on NYPD surveillance of Coordinator, Pensions and Muslims, including CUNY Benefits, reporting on latest students. Professor Vitale news and issues about has written extensively on benefits. “broken windows” policing, Len Rodberg, recently retired protest policing and social chair of the Department of movements. Urban Studies at Queens College and nationally As always, we will provide light renowned advocate for refreshments--coffee, tea, fruit, healthcare reform, speaking cheese and cookies. on current attacks on
1 JUNE 5th LUNCHEON, 12 PM, PSC We’re limited to 100 seats, which Union Hall, 16th Floor, 61 Broadway. means you should MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS EARLY. With a Speaker: Blanche Wiesen Cook, speaker like Dr. Cook, seats will go Distinguished Professor of History at quickly. A reservation form John Jay College and the CUNY accompanies the printed edition of Graduate Center. this newsletter. If you are reading Turning the Page digitally, you can Professor Cook just published the find the reservation form online at third and final volume of her award- https://tinyurl.com/June5Luncheon winning and critically acclaimed biography of Eleanor Roosevelt. UPCOMING EVENTS
HAMILTON'S HEIGHTS TODAY: MONDAY, APRIL 24, 3:30-5 PM (PLUS DINNER) Join Alan Feigenberg and David Chapin for a rambling tour of what gentrification looks like in Hamilton's Heights. We will learn about the architecture and communities in the area around City College. Like Alan and David's successful architectural tour last year, we will follow the tour by breaking bread (or whatever you choose) at a local restaurant.
Meet at the corner of 145th Street and Amsterdam Avenue Directions and more information will be sent when you register. Please email [email protected] with “TOUR” in the subject line. This tour will be easy on the feet and accessible for those with wheelchairs The venue has changed for this or walkers, but please let us know if year’s June luncheon. Because you have mobility limitations. John Jay was not available, we’ll be breaking bread at the PSC Union WORKING THEATER PRESENTS Hall. "BAMBOO IN BUSHWICK," APRIL 23. The PSC will be hosting a We’ll be providing a buffet luncheon special group at a performance of the show on Sunday, April 23 at 2 with an excellent and more varied th menu – and at lower cost. PM at Urban Stages, 259 West 30 Street between 8th and 9th Avenues.
2 The play tackles the thorny issue of RETIREES TAKE TO CITIFIELD gentrification from several angles REMATCH: METS VS. GIANTS, using comedy and magical realism to WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1 PM. The explore gentrification. Mets 2016 season ended with a playoff loss to the Giants. We plan Reserve your seats now! Tickets for to bring good luck to this game, as PSC members are $25. Make your well a good weather. We can buy a checks out to Working Theater and block of tickets probably in the $25 mail them to the PSC/ 61 Broadway/ range. Let us know if you will join us NY 10006/ Attention: Steve by writing to [email protected] Leberstein. with “METS” in the subject line. Reservations required. BUSES TO PEOPLE’S CLIMATE MARCH, WASHINGTON D.C., APRIL 29. THE MONTH THAT WAS
Our March Retirees Chapter meeting welcomed five award-winning women poets from CUNY. The subject of their readings was "Women's Words--Solidarity in Struggle." If you missed it, you missed some lively discussion of teaching and learning at various CUNY colleges, as well as the fascinating and often surprising ways The PSC Environmental Justice that life experience influences (and Committee, formed last year and sometimes doesn't) writing. The spearheaded by a number of poets included: Meena Alexander retirees, encourages all members to (Hunter & Grad Center), Page sign up and join the April 29 march. Dougherty Delano (BMCC), Kimiko Hahn (Queens College), Joanna Sit Learn more about the march and (Medgar Evers) and Michelle PSC’s participation by reading Tom Yasmine Valladares (City College). Angotti’s article in the latest Clarion [https://tinyurl.com/ClarionApril29]. Kimiko Hahn told us, among other things, that she is "constantly The PSC is sponsoring two buses for learning what students don't know" in members at reduced cost. One will figuring out how to teach. She also leave from lower Manhattan and the is intrigued by the NY Times Science other from Brooklyn. To reserve a section and likes to make science place and make your payment, go to stories into real life; here is a short https://tinyurl.com/PSCbusses tempting example:
3 A Bowl of Spaghetti convention. If this vote passes, all Kimiko Hahn, Distinguished provisions of the NYS Constitution professor, Queens College will be subject to change or elimination, including labor’s rights to “To find a connectome, or the mental organize, public employees’ makeup of a person,” pensions, the constitutional researchers experimented with the protection of tenure at state neurons of a worm institutions of higher education, along with home rule for NY cities, then upgraded to mouse hoping environmental protections and the “to unravel the millions of miles of Forever Wild provision of public wire in the [human] brain” lands in upstate NY. It’s all up for grabs, if there is a constitutional that they liken to “untangling a bowl convention. of spaghetti” of which I have an old photo: Rei in her high chair delicately picking out each strand to mash in her mouth.
Was she two? Was that sailor dress from Mother? Did I cook from scratch? If so, there was a carrot in the sauce as Mother instructed and I’ll never forget since some strand determines infatuation as a daughter’s fate (Brain Fever, 2014) NYSUT and the PSC strongly urge a “no” vote to reject holding this convention. For retirees this vote is A NYS CONSTITUTIONAL especially important since the state CONVENTION: NO THANK YOU. constitution now guarantees that The Retiree Council of New York pension payments cannot be State United Teachers (NYSUT), of decreased during the lifetime of a which the PSC is a member, met in retired public employee. A state Albany on March 7-8, following a constitutional convention could successful two-day lobbying effort for eliminate this provision and subject restoration of funds for CUNY and future and even current PSC retirees SUNY. One of the key discussions at to pension cutbacks. During the past the Council meeting was the decade such changes have been upcoming New York State vote on enacted in many other states, such Nov. 7, 2017 on whether or not to as Rhode Island, Illinois and soon, have a state constitutional perhaps, New Jersey.
4 Most NYS voters, according to Kotelchuck, Cecelia McCall and recent polls, are not yet aware that a Eileen Moran. A reminder to all: Say statewide vote on such a convention “No thank you to a constitutional is being held this year. NYSUT is convention.” currently working with the NYS AFL- Dave Kotelchuck, Retiree, CIO and the NYS Association of Hunter College Retired Americans (NYSARA) to educate New Yorkers about the vote and urge them to vote “no.” GLOBAL RESISTANCE IN THE NEOLIBERAL UNIVERSITY. The convention is supported by the NYS Bar Association and many state and local political leaders (of course). Many good government groups also support a “yes” vote; they’re hoping for a “People’s Convention” that will finally enact ethics reform in Albany. But all past conventions in New York have featured pledges to enact ethics reforms, and New York remains one of the more corrupt state governments in the U.S., as evidenced by the steady stream of The PSC International Committee's NYS legislators going to prison in conference on March 3-4 drew 195 recent years. people to our union hall. The organizers brought together Other issues discussed at this participants from South Africa, Retirees Council meeting included Mexico, Puerto Rico and, via Skype, the Republican “repeal and from Turkey, as well as members of replacement” of the Affordable Care our union and faculty from NYU and Act and the state of the NYS public the University of Colorado. One employees’ Pension Fund, which outstanding, if not surprising, finding remains in good health. Pension was our common experience in the Fund Trustee David Keefe reported distortion of higher education by the to the group that the Fund grew last current neoliberal version of year by $3 billion dollars, even after capitalism and the forms of $7 billion in pension payouts. Keefe resistance to it. reported that t Fund is rated by pension experts as one of the top The recurrent debate of class vs. two or three such funds in the U.S. identity politics surfaced in several panels, notably in the first one Our PSC delegation to the State- featuring presenters from South wide Retirees Council included Irwin Africa and in the one on resisting Yellowitz, leader of the PSC racism, xenophobia and gender delegation, Francine Brewer, David oppression. To overcome all these, there was general agreement on the
5 need for solidarity among unions – faculty, students, workers – and for The 2016 Social Security Trustees alliances with other community Report assesses the current and groups. projected financial status of Social Security (and Medicare). The Despite some pessimism at the trustees state there is a $2.8 trillion alarming rate of privatization and surplus in the two Social Security austerity leaving many young people Trust Funds. They project that the nearly hopeless about their future, Trust Funds’ reserves will be and despite the dreadful experiences depleted by 2034. At that time Social of adjuncts detailed in the panel Security will still be able to pay about featuring presenters from Mexico ¾ of benefits through 2090. and Puerto Rico and well known to us at CUNY, positive experiences were also reported. For example, Oaxaca teachers work closely with indigenous communities to educate and to help preserve their languages. And organized resistance persists in South Africa among students and miners as well as in Turkey where academics and journalists have been singled out for persecution. There are remedies available to prevent the depletion of the Trust The concluding panel brought an Funds. According to Nancy J. Altman historical dimension, pointing out that and Eric R. Kingson, authors of the end of the Soviet Union began Social Security Works, there are the retreat of academic leftism and several ways to improve financing for led to faculty de-politicization, which Social Security: “Gradually eliminate is mirrored in some of its the maximum taxable wage base” scholarship. also known as “Scrap the Cap.” The Renate Bridenthal, Retiree cap is now $127,200. “Introduce a Brooklyn College dedicated (to Social Security) 10% marginal income tax on income of NEW YORK TIMES REPORTER more than $1 million and gradually, SAYS “SOCIAL SECURITY IS over twenty years, increase the BROKE.” Social Security contribution rate by Sheryl Gay Stolberg, the domestic 1% on employees, matched by their affairs correspondent and Mid- employers.” These and other Atlantic bureau chief for the NY proposed solutions would not only Times, stated recently on Joshua finance Social Security benefits, they Johnson’s radio program that “Social would provide for the expansion of Security is broke.” I disagree. Our those benefits. Email Sheryl Gay Social Safety Net Working Group Stolberg at disagrees. www.nytimes.com/by/sheryl-gay- stolberg to comment on her mistaken
6 assertion that Social Security is of the PSC to any changes in broke. Medicare including: NO vouchers, Francine Brewer, Retiree, NO increase in age eligibility, and LaGuardia CC NO means testing. Pointing to our Safety Net Booklet, I showed him the TRYING TO GET INSIDE graphics that illustrate why the PSC DONOVAN'S BRAIN. Caught up in opposes changes in Social Security, the swirl of political activity including: NO privatization, NO generated by the PSC Social Safety raising of the retirement age, NO Net Working Group, I made a reducing the COLA, and NO means concerted effort to meet with my testing. In opposing any changes to Congressional Representative Dan Medicaid, I also argued against block Donovan (Republican). grants to the states.
Donovan, a native Staten Islander, was thrust into the national spotlight after declining to indict the officer who put Eric Garner in a chokehold. Elected to Congress in a special election after the resignation of Representative Michael Grimm, he has held the seat since 2015. Donovan told me that he comes from a working-class background and considers himself "a pro-labor Republican.” He represents a congressional district that gave Trump 54% of its presidential vote.
He had previously stated that he would not hold any town hall Donovan, along with three aides, meetings after participating in a listened attentively and responded in forum sponsored by the Brooklyn somewhat general terms. He pointed Chamber of Commerce that was out that he was looking for solutions disrupted by activists from the Bay in terms of costs, and that states Ridge section of his district, which should have flexibility (a Republican includes of all of Staten Island and position). However, he was definite the Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, and in supporting social security without Bensonhurst sections of Brooklyn. any changes. He also supported However, he was quoted in the local continuing certain features of the press that he would meet with Affordable Care Act, including constituents in his office. So, I set protecting those with pre-existing about to make an appointment and conditions and allowing those under was able meet with him. 26 to be included on their parents' health care. He cited as evidence of My goal was to stress the opposition his independent streak his vote as only one of two Republicans to vote
7 against a bill allowing those with SAFETY NET CAMPAIGN: The mental deficiencies to purchase Retiree Chapter’s Safety Net guns. I said that he probably has Campaign in defense of Social more in common with Democratic Security, Medicare, Medicaid and the Rep. Joe Crowley of Queens than he ACA is in full swing with hundreds of does with Republican Louie Gohmert phone calls made, congressional of Texas. He referred to his roots in offices visited and letters written. Staten Island and his knowledge of There will be an update at the April 3 the borough, as he argued that he chapter meeting. For more represents the mainly working-class information, go to our campaign’s nature of his constituency. The web page at http://psc- meeting was cordial and cuny.org/safetynetcampaign. conversational as we discussed the issues. CUNY RISING AND A STUDENT BILL OF RIGHTS: Jackie DiSalvo, One of Representative Donovan's retiree Baruch College, wrote an aides pointed out that NYSUT important piece on the CUNY Rising endorsed his candidacy for re- Alliance, a coalition of more than election. I said that we are expecting thirty community, student, labor and him to support issues important to religious groups as well as the PSC. the union and to all working people CUNY Rising, is promoting a Student as the meeting ended. I was Bill of Rights to “demand free, high 'holding his feet to the fire,' as we are quality education for all CUNY doing with all of the state's students.” Because of space congressional representatives. limitations, we could not include the Joel Berger, Retiree article in this issue. But you can College of Staten Island read it at psc-cuny.org/cuny-rising- and-student-bill-rights. [Editor’s Note: As we go to press before the vote on the American Editor's Note: If you would like to Health Care Act, Congressman see your name listed as a contributor Donovan announces that he plans to to Turning the Page, email us at vote “no.”] [email protected] with “Newsletter” in the subject line. There is so much going on at the union and in the world now. We are trying to 'dance as fast as we can,' keeping up with activities! See you on Monday, April 3rd, or before. Check the PSC website for meeting and activity dates.
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