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Council Member Carmen De La Rosa's opening remarks on Brooklyn Museum layoffs hearing
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Council Member Carmen De La Rosa opens the hearing on pending layoffs at the Brooklyn Museum, providing context on the museum's importance and recent financial challenges. She outlines the purpose of the hearing and acknowledges the staff involved in its preparation.
- De La Rosa highlights the Brooklyn Museum's significance, welcoming 650,000 visitors annually and housing over 500,000 artifacts.
- She mentions recent cost-saving measures, including 47 staff layoffs, and ongoing negotiations with unions.
- The council member emphasizes the committee's commitment to supporting cultural institutions while examining the circumstances of the layoffs.
Carmen N. De La Rosa
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Good morning, everyone.
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I'm council member Carmen Della Rosa, chair of the committee on civil service and labor.
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Thank you for joining us at today's hearing on pending layoffs at the Brooklyn Museum.
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The Brooklyn Museum is a cornerstone of New York City's cultural landscape, welcoming approximately 650,000 visitors each year and housing over 500,000 artifacts.
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Its diverse collections spanning from ancient Egypt Egyptian antiquities to the works of Norman Rockwell and Georgia O'Keefe provide an invaluable educational and artistic experience for New Yorkers of all ages.
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Unfortunately, financial hardships have forced changes to the museum's operation.
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Earlier this month, the Brooklyn Museum announced a series of cost saving measures, including a hiring freeze, a reduction in exhibitions, and a cancellation of some of some weeknight events.
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Most notably, these budget cuts have resulted in the layoffs of 47 part time and full time staff.
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Shortly thereafter, the the New York Times reported that DC thirty seven local fifteen o two sent a cease and desist letter to the museum, citing a contractual requirement for thirty day notice to employees prior to layoffs.
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The notice period expires in the March, and negotiations remain ongoing.
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Today, this committee reaffirms our commitment to supporting arts and cultural institutions while also seeking better under to better understand the circumstances surrounding these layoffs.
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We will examine the museum's financial management, the role of public funding, the broader implications these cuts may have on employees, visitors, and the cultural sector at large.
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Our goal is to ensure that institutions like the Brooklyn Museum remain strong, accessible, equitable workplaces while continuing to provide the public with valuable artistic and educational experiences.
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I'd like to thank the committee staff, senior policy analyst Elizabeth Arts, legislative council Ria Assawara, external and and extern, Ravi Rosen from Brooklyn Law School for their hard work in preparing for this hearing.
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I'd also like to thank my chief of staff, James Burke, deputy chief of staff, Kiana Diaz, and communications director, Frey Familia, and our legislative fellow, Hiba Imad.
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I would like to recognize that we've been joined by council members Moya on Zoom, council member Dinowitz, Menon, and council member Hudson.
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We will be hearing testimony from representatives from the administration and oh, wait.
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We're gonna have a opening statement from council member Hudson.
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We're gonna have a count opening statement from council member Hudson, and then we'll turn the hearing over to representatives from the administration.