It was last call to speak out on the citys proposed budget cuts.
Nearly 400 people last night attended the town hall-style meeting at the Joan and Alan Bernikow Jewish Community Center in Sea View.
The event was sponsored by the JCC and the grassroots group Staten Islanders for Real Budget Solutions and Against Budget Cuts [including members of Make the Road New York.]
The SRO crowd comprised individuals from various Island agencies and walks of life.
It was a three-hour speakout on the breadth of budget cuts that would devastate Staten Island communities, said the Rev. Terry Troia, executive director of Project Hospitality.
City Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore) and Frank Santarpia, representing Councilman James Oddo (R-Mid-Island/Brooklyn), said they felt the attendees pain.
Santarpia said he would take back the recommendations and passion of the people, Rev. Troia said.
Basically, were pointing out that the budget cuts that [Mayor Michael] Bloomberg is proposing are catastrophic, said Real Budget Solutions member Mike May, in the days leading up to last nights event. And we shouldnt have to suffer those cuts because the people didnt create the economic crisis.
The group does not have any official political affiliation and is entirely self-funded.
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