Liberty Jobs is a plan to put 60,000 New Yorkers back to work with federally allocated funds for economic redevelopment to rebuild New York after September 11.  Through public and private employment strategies, including new full-time public service jobs as well as partial wage subsidies for private sector employment, Liberty Jobs would ensure employment for some 60,000 New Yorkers.  The plan also provides funding for career development, language education, and summer youth employment.

Public service employment created through Liberty Jobs would accelerate the revitalization of New York’s economy and enhance the rebuilding of Manhattan and connected areas.  Funds for public sector jobs would be allocated to public and nonprofit agencies to employ individuals and thereby contribute to redevelopment and improvements in New York City.  Public service could serve Mayor Bloomberg’s Vision for Lower Manhattan and expand on it to include work related to, for example, upgrading parks and making public spaces universally accessible.

Wage subsidies would stabilize and strengthen sustainable businesses in a private sector in order to expand and preserve job opportunities for individuals affected by September 11.  A wage subsidy program piloted through the Consortium for Worker Education has already assisted over 300 businesses to hire, promote, retain or rehire over 3,000 individuals in jobs.  An expansion of this program to include all major business sectors (technology, retail, hotels, restaurants, finance, cultural institutions, etc.) would provide support for quality employers.

New Yorkers need jobs! Currently, there are over 300,000 New Yorkers out of work – and half of the job loss is due to the effects of September 11. State Comptroller Alan Hevesi reported in April that NYC lost half the new jobs gained since 1991 and projected no improvement to the City’s economy in the coming year.   A concerted public response is desperately needed.

The Liberty Jobs proposal would reverse this job loss through direct employment.   By using $1 billion in existing relatively unrestricted economic redevelopment funds, 60,000 newly employed New Yorkers would support their families, pay taxes, and spend dollars, generating economic improvement citywide.  Liberty Jobs would also allow New Yorkers living outside of downtown Manhattan to benefit from the funds provided to New York after September 11th. 

Funds for Liberty Jobs would come out of the $2.7 billion in federal funds provided for economic rebuilding after September 11th.  This $2.7 billion is in addition to $17.55 billion provided specifically for infrastructure and transportation, federal tax credits, and Liberty Bonds for housing and office/commercial uses.  With these funds, New York has a significant opportunity to support New Yorkers in need of employment and the rebuilding of Lower Manhattan.

Liberty Jobs is part of the “LCAN Jobs Plan” developed by the Labor Community Advocacy Network (LCAN) and has been endorsed by over 50 organizations.  LCAN consists of labor unions, community organizations, research and advocacy groups and service providers who united after September 11th to ensure that worker and community member voices are included in decisions about the redevelopment of Lower Manhattan. To read the full plan and for more information about LCAN, go to www.lcan.org.