NEW YORK—Allegations that some sanitation workers in outer boroughs plotted to intentionally impede the snow cleanup as payback for cuts to their department have sparked an investigation into the matter.
City Councilman Dan Halloran told the New York Post he was visited by sanitation workers and supervisors from the Department of Transportation (DOT). These workers confessed to intentionally undermining cleanup efforts after they “were told to make the mayor pay for the layoffs, the reductions in rank for the supervisors, shrinking the rolls of the rank and file.”
The sources told Halloran they skipped streets on their routes to extend the process and collect overtime, according to the Post.
At a press conference on Dec. 30, both Mayor Bloomberg and Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty said an investigation would be launched.
“It would be an outrage if it took place,” said Bloomberg. He neither denied nor confirmed the allegations, but promised an investigation. He also noted that the budget cuts the city is in the process of making haven’t been implemented yet.
However, Harry Nespoli, president of the Uniformed Sanitationmen’s Association, maintained cuts left the sanitation workforce short.
“We were 400 people short,” Nespoli told CNN on Wednesday. “There are certain services that should not be affected. The people pay taxes for it.”
Doherty affirmed the willingness on the part of the Department of Sanitation to investigate the matter while calling the allegations at this point “speculations.”
Gavrielle Gemma of Bailout the People, an organization concerned with attaining government funds for social services, recognized that many sanitation workers put in a lot of time and effort over the last week.
“We’re outraged that there’s an attempt to blame the problems in the city on the transit workers and the sanitation workers. Many bus drivers stayed in their buses for hours and hours with their passengers. Sanitation workers got no sleep,” said Gemma.
Gov. David Paterson also condemned the actions of the sanitation workers if true, Reuters reported.
City Councilman Dan Halloran told the New York Post he was visited by sanitation workers and supervisors from the Department of Transportation (DOT). These workers confessed to intentionally undermining cleanup efforts after they “were told to make the mayor pay for the layoffs, the reductions in rank for the supervisors, shrinking the rolls of the rank and file.”
The sources told Halloran they skipped streets on their routes to extend the process and collect overtime, according to the Post.
At a press conference on Dec. 30, both Mayor Bloomberg and Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty said an investigation would be launched.
“It would be an outrage if it took place,” said Bloomberg. He neither denied nor confirmed the allegations, but promised an investigation. He also noted that the budget cuts the city is in the process of making haven’t been implemented yet.
However, Harry Nespoli, president of the Uniformed Sanitationmen’s Association, maintained cuts left the sanitation workforce short.
“We were 400 people short,” Nespoli told CNN on Wednesday. “There are certain services that should not be affected. The people pay taxes for it.”
Doherty affirmed the willingness on the part of the Department of Sanitation to investigate the matter while calling the allegations at this point “speculations.”
Gavrielle Gemma of Bailout the People, an organization concerned with attaining government funds for social services, recognized that many sanitation workers put in a lot of time and effort over the last week.
“We’re outraged that there’s an attempt to blame the problems in the city on the transit workers and the sanitation workers. Many bus drivers stayed in their buses for hours and hours with their passengers. Sanitation workers got no sleep,” said Gemma.
Gov. David Paterson also condemned the actions of the sanitation workers if true, Reuters reported.
