March 28, 2011
Lillian Roberts, Executive Director, District Council 37
Deputy Mayor Stephen Goldsmith’s acknowledgment today is, it’s more cost effective to cut private contractors and give the work to city employees is an encouraging step in the right direction.
For nearly a decade, District Council 37 has made the case that contracting out public services to private consultants undermines the transparency and accountability the public deserves. This is especially true when it comes to information technology contractors, who get paid four times as much as city employees. The CityTime contract, which mushroomed from $63 million to $780 million and resulted in the arrest of four consultants for stealing $80 million, is a perfect case in point. CityTime is only the tip of the iceberg. The city spends more than $10 billion on some 18,000 contracts.
There needs to be legally mandated policy improvements to reduce consultants and costs. DC 37 has also called for legislation to tighten up the procurement process. We welcome the opportunity to meet with the Administration to discuss the implementation of its insourcing plan to achieve our joint goal of a better New York for all.
