Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Paterson Announces 8,900 State Jobs To Be Cut
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 24, 2009
Modified Mar 24, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 24, 2009
Modified Mar 24, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The Associated Press reports that Governor David Paterson is "ordering 8,900 state workers be laid off after unions refused concessions amid a staggering economic downturn." Apparently Paterson had wanted the unions to forget about raises they received during the last round of negotiations and "also agree to the creation of a fifth tier in the state pension fund," according to the Daily Politics. State budget director Laura Anglin told the AP the governor "is calling for the first state layoffs since the late 1990s after unions refused to even provide counter proposals"; she also said that unions were told and may come back to the negotiating table before the state sets the budget. If not, then layoffs could start in July 1.
Paterson, who is facing a huge budget deficit due to previous years of spending and Wall Street's downturn, is something of a punching bag these days. Yesterday, the Daily News detailed how his time at Senate minority leader (before he was selected as Eliot Spitzer's running mate) was "mired in chaos, lacking clear lines of communication and hobbled by dysfunction and indecisiveness," based on a 2005 report. One former staffer said, "Leader Paterson has a restaurant maitre d' style of management - whatever the members want... Paterson is afraid of the conference; leads by consensus. This is a huge liability."
Politico's Ben Smith has a PDF of the report, which has gems like "Staff in front office read newspapers all day and get paid," "Some resent NYC employees," "There is a yes culture with Paterson," and various mentions of low morale.
Tagged
budget crisis
governor paterson
state budget
state layoffs
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Forest Hills Stadium can keep its concerts under deal with neighbors
Neighbors had complained of traffic and loud concerts for years.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 22, 2026 at 2:49 p.m. ET
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."
By
Elizabeth Kim
News
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."
By
Elizabeth Kim
NYPD arrests 17-year-old in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting
By
Charles Lane
Ex-Adams aide accused of pocketing kickbacks from community program funds
By
Samantha Max
MTA to begin 6-year project to upgrade signal tech on A and C lines in Brooklyn and Queens
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .