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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Joe Alicio, Deputy Director of the Schools Division at SEIU Local 32BJ
4:49:51
·
120 sec
Joe Alicio from SEIU Local 32BJ expresses support for the $809 million allocation in the mayor's executive budget for the Department of Education Custodial Services, which would fully fund the NYC School Support Services (SSS) for fiscal year 2026. He emphasizes the importance of this funding for maintaining school safety and cleanliness, particularly in historically underserved communities.
- SEIU Local 32BJ represents about 5,100 cleaners and handy persons employed by NYC SSS.
- The allocation demonstrates the city's commitment to workers and school communities.
- Alicio requests the council to maintain this allocation in the final adopted budget for FY 2026.
Joe Alicio
4:49:51
Good afternoon chair Joseph, chair Brennan.
4:49:54
Sorry.
4:49:56
Good afternoon chair Joseph, chair Brennan and members of the education and finance committee.
4:50:00
My name is Joe Alisio and I'm the deputy director of the schools division at SEIU Local thirty two BJ.
4:50:07
Thirty two BJ is the nation's largest property service union representing cleaners, property maintenance workers, door persons, security officers, building engineers and school, airport and food service workers across the East Coast with approximately 94,000 members in New York.
4:50:28
I'm here today to express thirty two BJ's support for the $809,000,000 allocation included in the mayor's executive budget for the Department of Education Custodial Services which if included in the final budget will fully fund the NYC SSS for fiscal year twenty six.
4:50:50
As you know, thirty two BJ represents the approximately 5,100 cleaners, handy persons employed by the New York City School Support Services.
4:51:01
The hardworking men and women work under a contract with the Department of Education to provide essential school facility cleaning and maintenance services.
4:51:11
This allocation represents an investment in the trained cleaning and maintenance workforce needed to ensure the safety of more than a million public school students, teachers and staff, particularly in black and brown communities that have historically been underserved.
4:51:31
Fully funding the NYC SSS for fiscal year twenty six demonstrates the city's commitment not only to these workers but to the welfare of our school communities.
4:51:42
We ask the council to maintain the executive budget allocation in the final budget that will be adopted for fiscal year twenty six.
4:51:50
Thank you.