Christine Quinn – City Council – Budget

I have lost respect for Christine Quinn. I disagreed, but admired her refusing to take part in the Manhattan St. Patrick’s Day parade. Now, she is drastically reducing the budgets of Social Service organizations. Some are getting nothing while others are facing 30 to 50%reductions.

The type of services include: family services, poverty, hunger, at-risk youth and welfare-to-work services. Many areas outside of Manhattan are affected. Cultural institutions especially in Manhattan received about a 1/3 increase in the city budget.

I have seen this stance before with Hurricane Katrina. The immediate response from some people was to restore the libraries and museums, instead of helping the poor people who needed water and food.

I would have thought that by supporting gays and lesbians; she would have been interested in serving all people regardless of their social/economic standing. There will be gays who will be affected by her budget deductions too.

They say that power corrupts, and Christine Quinn has certainly changed. Doesn’t she realize that there has to be services for the poor, or there could be more crime, from people who have become desperate losing support from the government.

Also, I don’t undersand why museums that charge $15-20 a person need more money from the local government.

“Social Services Pinched by Quinn,” Crain’s New York Business, August 20-21, Page 20.