Snowstorms offer essential truths about budget priorities and value A new year and the start of new political terms provide an opportunity for new beginnings. A recent sets of circumstances offers essential truths about budget priorities and valuing the public sector work force. “It was capable public workers — especially from the state Department of Transportation and local government highway crews — who braved the unprecedented elements in November to clear roads and bring western New York back to some normalcy following historic storms,” said CSEA President Danny Donohue. “Many traveled from across the state to lend a hand because that’s what good people and strong communities do — we help each other in difficult times.” In the case of workers from Long Island, particularly Long Beach, the call to help was gladly answered. The memory of Hurricane Sandy and the devastation it brought to Long Island remains painfully recent, and DPW workers were happy to transport their equipment several hours across the state to Buffalo to pitch in with snow removal. The same can be said for workers from the Capital Region, who were on the receiving end of help a few years ago when flooding from Irene’s torrential rain caused massive flooding in the region, destroying homes and roads and creating millions of dollars worth of damage to the Erie Canal. Workers came to help from other parts of the state, too, including Madison County and the lower Hudson Valley. They could because the resources were in place to allow their employers to send trucks, heavy equipment and workers to help. Depew Department of Public Works CSEA member Ken Mazurek clears snow after nearly 7 feet of snow fell in the Buffalo area. The storm emphasized the need for public employees to be properly trained, equipped and prepared for any crisis that threatens public safety. Photo courtesy of Lewis Heltman. But none of this just happens. There must be adequate planning, training, equipment and personnel in place before a crisis. In our political world, those things are hardly a given in recent years at the state or local government levels. “Things could have turned out very differently if the people and resources weren’t there to be used to help Buffalo. It’s a lesson that New Yorkers can only hope was not lost on their elected officials,” Donohue said. See related stories, pages 4, 9, 10 and 11. There must be adequate planning, training, equipment and personnel in place before a crisis. January 2015 The Work Force 3
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