SENATE PRESIDENT MALCOLM A. SMITH HOLDS TRI-LEVEL JOINT LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE ON JOBS FOR THE 21st CENTURY

Senate President Malcolm A. Smith was joined by his colleagues on the State, Federal and City levels to announce the reformation of a Tri-Level Joint Legislative Task Force on Jobs. Members of the three layers of government came together in a coordinated effort to help create jobs in the 21st Century. The hearings will be hosted by borough presidents throughout the city to examine what can be done to put New Yorkers back to work.
 
“As a nation we have faced severe depression in employment and it is time that we implement a structured, bi-partisan, multi-level plan of action that will not only stop the increasing number of layoffs happening around our state and across the country, but that will open doors for new opportunities that fit into the ever-changing societal dynamics that we are faced with today and in the future,” said Senator Smith.
 
The Tri-Level Joint Legislative Task Force was formed after the 2007 shooting death by police gunfire of one of our constituents, Sean Bell, in Jamaica, New York. A new challenge has forced us to assemble once again and get back into action.  We are called now in a coordinated effort to create and examine Jobs for the 21st Century.
The mission of the Task Force is simply to put people back to work in New York State by taking a fresh approach to increasing opportunities, accountability and efficiency. The Tri-Level Legislative Task Force will attempt to identify common goals and objectives and create a comprehensive action plan to move forward as “One New York”, in the quest to create jobs and spur economic growth.

Queens Borough President Helen Marshall said: “The Tri-Level legislative Task Force is going to reconvene with the combined mission at all levels of government to get New Yorkers back to work. The bipartisan task force is an excellent way in which government, working with the private sector, gets the word out to those who need it about jobs, opportunities and resources that can change their lives. I am especially happy that the first hearing of the Task Force will be at Queens Borough Hall.”

Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer said: “I want to thank Senator Smith for creating this taskforce.  Much has been said about high unemployment, but those numbers don't reflect the people who have stopped looking for work all together. We need to create an agenda for job creation that engages every level of government and gives our residents the chance to restart their climb up the economic ladder.”

The Tri-Level Legislative Task Force will attempt to identify common goals and objectives and create a comprehensive action plan to move forward as “One New York”, in the quest to create jobs and spur economic growth.

The Task Force’s fundamental action strategies are to carry out a series of public and virtual hearings throughout the city and state inviting testimony from the public and private sectors, community leaders and constituents to determine if government can do a better job to ensure New Yorkers are competitive in the job marketplace. The hearings will be open to the public and provide regular briefings to ensure transparency.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. said: “Job creation has lagged in the Bronx and the outer boroughs, so I am very happy to see that the Tri-Level Joint Legislative Task Force has made this topic its priority. I look forward not only to working with the members of the task force to develop an aggressive plan of action to create new employment opportunities and expand the green economy in the Bronx and the five boroughs, but also to hearing from my constituents about the types of jobs and development they would like to see come to their borough.”

NYC Council Deputy Majority Leader Leroy Comrie said “I want to applaud my colleague, Sen. Smith, for his leadership on this issue. During this current economic recession, I believe there is no more important issue for local government than helping to create employment opportunities for New York City residents. I look forward to joining my colleagues on the Tri-Level Legislative Taskforce in having a discussion about this issue."

Assemblyman David Weprin said: “I applaud Senator Smith for calling this press conference today and reforming the Tri-Level Joint Legislative Task Force on Jobs. New Yorkers need to get back into the workforce and this task force is an excellent way to help them do so. I look for forward to working with the members of this task force and help put thousands of unemployed New Yorkers back to work.”

The co-chairs of this initiative will be Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, Staten Island Borough President James Molinaro, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer as well as US Senators, Congressional members, State Senate & Assembly members, City Council members and key partners in the public and private sectors and community leaders and residents.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues from all walks of government to see this through to completion and to restoring the much needed structure to our job market and in effect reinvigorating our workforce and our economy,” concluded Senator Smith.