Activism, issues major topics at Black & Puerto Rican legislators conference


Story and photos By SHERRY HALBROOK Many PEF members participated in the


Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators 43rd Annual Conference, held February 14-16, in Albany. PEF and the PEF Black Caucus each


held receptions in conjunction with the conference, which is a very popular annual opportunity for participants to meet and network, as well as share ideas and build alliances around current issues and legislation. Among the many dignitaries who


attended the PEF reception were state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, state Senators Philip Boyle, Adriano Espaillat, Ruth Hassell-Thompson, Brad Hoylman, Timothy Kennedy, Kevin Parker, Bill Perkins, Jose Peralta, J. Gustavo Rivera, Malcolm Smith and Cecilia Tkaczyk, also state Assembly Members Jeffrion Aubry, Alec Brook-Krasny, Karim Camara, Carl Heastie, Brian Kavanagh, Michael Miller, Felix Ortiz, Victor Pichardo, Robert Rodriguez, Michaelle Solages, William Scarborough and Luis Sepulveda, New York City Public Advocate Letitia James, New York City Councilman Andy King and former Councilman Robert Jackson. As in past years, PEF had a booth at the


conference where it distributed information about the union and its issues to the conferees and the public. This year, PEF and the PEF Black


Caucus sponsored a conference workshop, “The Struggle Continues,” which featured a panel of leaders from PEF and other state employee unions discussing the threat to state services for New Yorkers who need them most. They led a dynamic discussion about the need to defend SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn and state programs in the local communities for New Yorkers with mental illness or developmental disabilities, those who are incarcerated or on parole and youths adjudicated by the courts.


www.pef.org PEF Region 5 Coordinator Jim Moffitt


moderated the workshop, which included panelists Tim Nannery and Don Morgenstern of PEF and Abraham Benjamin, Sharon Ivey and Mike Patterson of the Civil Service Employees Association. They spoke eloquently of how local state services that they helped build and nurture over many years are being dismantled and how that is affecting the public. A lively discussion with the audience


focused on how the unions, their members, the public and community groups need to organize, gather information and work closely together to fight for the services. Morgenstern said it has been that kind


of coalition, especially involving local clergy, that has been most effective in defending


PEF RECEPTION –Above left are PEFVP Wayne Spence,Trustee Maureen Kellman, Sec.-Treas.Carlos Garcia,Trustee Ken Johnson,Assembly MemberVictor Pichardo,PEF President Susan M.Kent and VP Barbara Ulmer.At right,Kent speaks withAssembly Member Bill Scarborough.


Downstate Medical Center. The PEF Black Caucus reception


featured guest speaker the Rev. Terrence Melvin, national president of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists. Melvin, who also is secretary-treasurer of


the NYS AFL-CIO, strongly urged the caucus members to hold public figures such as legislators accountable. If you work on their campaigns and help elect them, he said, you should let them know your priority issues and how you expect them to help you advance those issues. The caucus also gave member Gus


Santos an award in recognition of his activism in advancing equal opportunity in the workplace.


LEGISLATIVE GALA –Above,Sen.Chuck Schumer pauses for a photo with PEFVPs Wayne Spence and Barbara Ulmer,Sec.-Treas.Carlos Garcia,Trustee Maureen Kellman, President Susan M.Kent, andTrustee Ken Johnson.


PEF CONFERENCE – Below left,KimPartridge and Millah Musungu distribute information about PEF and its issues to the public; and below right,President Kent is shown with Sen.CeciliaTkaczyk andAssembly Member Brian Kavanagh at the PEF reception during the annual Black and Puerto Rican Legislators Conference held in February inAlbany.


– Photo by Dan Steen


The Communicator March 2014—Page 9


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