To the Point:

The year ahead

By William E. Scheuerman
UUP President

It’s another new year and this one’s different from others in recent memory. For starters, Lizzy, who’s about to turn four, is too busy to write the first “To The Point” column of the year, as she’s done the last two years. Ballet and French lessons, trips to the zoo and endless family activities are taking more of Lizzy’s time these days. I know you’ll miss her insights.

But this year is also different in a much more profound way. The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 have fundamentally changed our political and economic landscape. Back in August, for example, when we responded to the “bare-bones” budget with our aggressive “Outrageous” political campaign, we were on the verge of pension reform that would have established a more level playing field between the optional and the guaranteed retirement systems, while also putting several million dollars into our members’ pockets. We also expected the Legislature to respond favorably to our request for additional bargaining-unit positions at SUNY and to provide additional funding for our colleges of technology and our teaching hospitals. The events of Sept. 11 stopped us, and virtually every other organized group, in our tracks. On Sept. 11, the state’s — and the nation’s — priorities changed dramatically.

By now most of us are saturated with data on the economic consequences of the terrorist acts. The billions it’s costing to clean up the debris; the loss of millions of square feet of revenue-producing office space; the disappearance of thousands of jobs in the travel and tourist industries; and the movement of other jobs across the river into New Jersey. Let’s not forget that the economy was already slipping, and slipping fast, prior to the attacks. To make matters worse, the back-loaded STAR tax cuts are further reducing state revenues.

So not only are we now living with a “bare-bones” budget, we’re being told by SUNY that next year (fiscal 2002-03) the University will have to “eat” the cost of negotiated salary increases. That’s not good. But it’s not all bad and there is hope.

The question for us as an organization is this: What can UUP do to protect and promote the interests of its members in this extraordinary climate? The good news is that our work with both the governor and the chancellor has resulted in a commitment to avoid layoffs. That’s a start. We still need to convince our elected officials that SUNY will play a key role in the state’s economic recovery and that money allocated to SUNY is money well invested. We need to do this at a time when our problems seem small in light of the terrorism and all that’s come with it. But we’re up to the task. SUNY is a great institution. In fact, it’s the bedrock of the state’s economic prosperity — and we plan to spend the new year spreading that gospel. I know you’ll join us.

So just stay tuned.

In the meantime, on behalf of your elected officers and Lizzy, I want to wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!