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Fostering a Legacy of Union Sisterhood Story and Photo by JUSTINA RAMLAKHAN On the evening of March 14, members of the DC 37 Women’s Committee gathered in the newly renovated union hall to hold a forum in honor of Women’s History Month. Led by Committee Chair Carmen Charles, president of Local 420 Municipal Hospital Employees, and Co-chair Ruth Sabino, member and grievance representative of Social Service Employees Union Local 371, the event focused on sustaining the resilience of working women. From left: Committee Chair Carmen Charles (Local 420), Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson, and Committee Co-chair Ruth Sabino (Local 371). In her opening remarks, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson evoked the name of Dr. Hazel N. Dukes, affectionately known as ‘Mama Dukes’, an activist for racial diversity, equity, inclusion, and long-lasting social change who passed away at 92 years old on March 1, 2025. She most notably served as president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). “We have to be on the battlefield, folks,” Gibson said. “I aspire to be a fraction of the woman that Mama Dukes was. Her assignment was fulfilled, but she left a legacy for us to follow and for us to learn from her life. [...] — Jun 6
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Local 371’s Cynthia Timms Brings Peer Support to the People Story and Photo by MIKE LEESSEU Local 371 member Cynthia Timms serves the public in her role as a peer counselor at Metropolitan Hospital where she’s been a part of the Assertive Community Team (ACT) since January 2020, connecting those in need with emotional support and resources. Her service to the community extends well beyond the workplace. She also produces and hosts the cable access show “Mental Health and You,” which airs on Bronxnet the first Thursday of every month. Timms leverages her life experiences, including those as a writer, photographer, and public speaker, to inspire others and help eliminate the stigma of mental health, especially in communities of color. Born in Harlem and raised in the Bronx, Timms honed her skills in her church as a founding member of the National Action Network Photo Club, as a regular in the city’s poetry circuit in the 1990s, and while studying photography in Paris and New York. She earned a BA in Liberal Arts from CCNY, an MBA in Media Management from the Metropolitan College of NY, and a Certificate in Film from NYU. She then went on to work for the late documentary filmmaker William Miles. After experiencing periods of [...] — Jun 6
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Behind the Wheel: Local 2507 Uniformed EMTs & Paramedics of the FDNY Story and Photos by ACACIA RODRIGUEZ When the unthinkable happens and an emergency requires medical support, Uniformed Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and Paramedics of Local 2507 in the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) are often the first to arrive on the scene. Armed with medical equipment and ready for action, these first responders aim to stabilize and transport patients needing pre-hospital care. Vehicles prepared to handle unique emergencies are a must. Enter the Medical Evacuation Transportation Unit (METU) and the Bariatric Ambulance. At the scene of an emergency, EMTs triage patients and determine if they should be treated, stabilized, or transported to a hospital via ambulance. Patients who can be treated and released are tended to aboard the METU. With only 30 workers qualified to drive the 44-foot behemoth, the METU is rolled out mainly during large-scale disasters and incidents like major fires, hurricanes, flooding, or plane crashes. Recently, the METU was used to evacuate Woodhull Hospital when it flooded in September 2023. During COVID, the METU transported patients as far as Syracuse and Albany. “Driving the METU is an important role in the fire department; I love to drive it,” said Catrese Preston, EMT Specialist. [...] — Jun 6
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Salamanders & the City. Tiny Wildlife Thrive in Urban Eco-System BY JUSTINA RAMLAKHAN Before the first colonial settlement, the area that eventually encompassed modern-day New York City was a marshland swamp with numerous creeks and streams throughout what the Lenape, the Indigenous people of the region, originally called ‘Manhatta.’ It can be difficult to imagine that wildlife once inhabited the concrete jungle. Even more surprising is that they can still be found in today’s urban environment. Desmognathus fuscus, commonly known as the Northern Dusky Salamander, is found throughout North America, including New York City. These salamanders are members of the Plethodontidae family of lungless salamanders that receive oxygen by the absorption of water through their skin. They prefer wooded, moist habitats with running or trickling sources of fresh water. Photos courtesy ofNeha Savant, NYC Parks “Urban wildlife remind us that we’re not alone and that humans are not the only species that call this place home,” said Neha Savant, a Wildlife & Fisheries Ecologist (City Research Scientist II) and member of Local 375 Civil Service Technical Guild. “However, if you want to find salamanders, I recommend you look for them outside of the city. We don’t want to disrupt their sensitive habitats because they deal with a lot of environmental [...] — Jun 6
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State Budget by the Numbers Five weeks past the April 1 deadline, Gov. Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature finalized a $254 billion budget on Thursday, May 8. Highlights affecting DC 37 members include: CHILD CARE TAX CREDIT Increases the credit from $330 per child to $1,000 for children up to four years old and to $500 for children between ages 4 and 16. COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT (COLA) FOR DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS UNDER OPWDD Includes a 2.6% inflationary increase for human service employers in the not-for-profit sectors. However, language to ensure that a specific percentage would be used for wage increases and benefit improvements was not included. EDUCATION Extends the full-day pre-kindergarten program through June 30, 2026. Bans smartphones and other internet-enabled personal devices on school grounds in K-12 schools for the entire school day. The budget also includes $340 million to provide free school lunch for grades K-12 and increases school Foundation Aid by $1.4 billion for the 2025-2026 school year. INFLATION REBATE CHECKS Provides a $200 tax credit for single filers earning under $75,000 and $150 for earners between $75,000-$150,000. The figures double for those married and filing jointly. PENSIONS The union successfully fought back changes to the pension system that would [...] — Jun 6
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