Q&A
Council Member De La Rosa addresses 2-for-1 hiring policy and agency vacancy rates
2:14:51
·
3 min
Council Member Carmen De La Rosa discusses the 2-for-1 hiring model and expresses concerns about high vacancy rates in various city agencies. She emphasizes the need for a robust workforce to deliver city services and questions the timeline for transitioning back to normal hiring practices.
- De La Rosa highlights specific vacancy rates in agencies such as TLC (26%), Department of Finance (17%), and Department of Corrections (16%)
- She stresses the interrelation between workforce capacity and the city's ability to function effectively
- The council member calls for more information from OMB about the 2-for-1 hiring policy and its exemptions
Carmen De La Rosa
2:14:51
Thank you.
2:14:52
I have 2 questions.
2:14:53
1 is on the 2 four one higher model, which is still in effect is our understanding.
2:14:59
Correct?
2:15:02
Still in effect?
2:15:04
Is there a timeline for transitioning back to the normal hiring practices?
Katrina Porter
2:15:10
So 2 for 1 is the OMB, policy.
2:15:13
So I'm I don't have insight to answer that question, but we can definitely take it back.
Carmen De La Rosa
2:15:18
But I imagine that there's communication as the hiring arm of the city between you all and OMB on this policy.
2:15:24
Or is it kind of just, like, dictated down and that's it?
Katrina Porter
2:15:29
OMB manages the process, so they would, you know, best be able to answer that question.
Carmen De La Rosa
2:15:33
Okay.
2:15:34
Well, we'll get in touch with OMB about this.
2:15:36
I think that in a time when we're seeing such high vacancy rates, it would be important for this council to understand where the 2 for 1 hiring process is still in place, where are the exemptions to that rule, and in addition to that, when is the timeline to lift it?
2:15:52
This policy was made under the guise of, you know, we're in dire fiscal straits.
2:15:58
This council has a position on how dire that strain is, and what we do know and what the position that I've taken as the chair of this committee is that, it is past due time for us to have a robust workforce that delivers services for our city, and this is a hindrance to that.
2:16:16
I mean, you have to wait, you know, for 2 people to leave to hire 1 person back.
2:16:22
The math is not mathing.
2:16:23
So we need to make sure that we get folks hired, and especially in these agencies.
2:16:28
I mean, we have the numbers here, the Taxi and Limousine Commission, 26% vacancy rate.
2:16:33
And what we're hearing is that vision 0, which is supposed to be one of the hallmark, you know, projects of this administration and the previous one, is where, we're seeing the impact to the TLC where some the reduction of summonses, for, traffic, safety violations is reduced.
2:16:51
And, obviously, like, we can't preach that we're a city that puts safety first, and then pedestrian and traffic, violations are going, unaddressed.
2:17:02
The department of finance, as we heard, was 17% vacancy rate at this time.
2:17:07
The department of probation has a 16% almost 17%.
2:17:11
DCAS, has a 16%.
2:17:14
The department of corrections has almost a 16%.
2:17:18
Environmental protection.
2:17:19
Right?
2:17:19
We've heard these dates about these days about the drought warning and and where we are on that, and that has a 12% vacancy rate.
2:17:27
And it goes on and on.
2:17:28
I mean, the Department of Housing and Preservation has an 11% vacancy rate in a in a in a time where the city's asking us to consider city of yes and asking us to consider how our communities sustain more housing, but we have no DOB inspectors that are able to do that work.
2:17:44
And so these conversations are interrelated.
2:17:48
And what we know is that in order for us to have a city that is functioning at maximum capacity, we need a workforce that is reflective of that.
2:17:56
And so we'll take that back to o m b, and we appreciate you being with us today.
2:18:01
Colleagues, any other questions?
2:18:02
No?
2:18:03
Alright.
2:18:04
So thank thank you so much for being here.
2:18:05
We look forward to continuing the conversation.
2:18:07
Thank you so much.
Lincoln Restler
2:18:08
Yeah.
