[Marxism] NYCHA tightens screws on tenants -- it's time to call Caracas!

[Andrew Pollack <acpollack2@xxxxxxxxx>]

(Right after I sent out the message below to various lists including 
NYTransfer, the latter sent a forward by Walter from CITGO about their various 
aid to poor US communities (which I hope he'll post here as well).)
  ---------- Forwarded Message ----------
The NYCHA announced yesterday a proposal to nickel-and-dime its way out of its 
fiscal crisis by charging poor residents for use of washing machines, fixing 
doors, etc. This because of a budget crisis caused by a) savage cuts from 
Washington and b) rising costs, especially utilities.
The actual amount the Authority would save from the new charges on residents 
are a tiny fraction of their projected deficit, and it's possible this is all a 
p.r. move to prepare the public for cuts on another big expense: NYCHA workers' 
pensions. (See graphic at Times link below for impact of utilities on the 
Authority's budget.)
But it's ironic (and instructive) that the Authority is having such problems 
with utilities so soon after the Bolivarian Revolution came to the rescue of 
some Bronx residents via cut-rate heating oil.
Now we could turn to Caracas for heating help -- or we could turn our fire on 
ExxonMobil et al. The very same day as the NYCHA announcement, Exxon was taking 
heat from Wall Street analysts for having too MUCH cash! After declaring the 
biggest annual profit in the history of the universe, Exxon, say analysts, 
still "had a 'cash problem' because it had more than $33 billion in cash and 
equivalents at the end of 2005."
(They want it to invest more but Exxon doesn't know where to put its money; see 
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/business/AP-Exxon.html)
  Instead of asking Caracas for subsidies for our brothers and sisters in New 
York City public housing, let's ask them for advice. To wit: tell us how you 
seized YOUR energy resources so we can do the same, starting with Exxon!
  
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/09/nyregion/09housing.html?hp&ex=1141966800&en=aa8e65e4bbd9441a&ei=5094&partner=homepage
---------
  March 9, 2006
New York Asks Help From Poor in Housing Crisis
By JANNY SCOTT
The New York City Housing Authority, landlord to more than 400,000 poor New 
Yorkers, is facing a budget shortfall of $168 million and has proposed 
narrowing the gap by charging residents new fees and increasing old ones for 
everything from owning a dishwasher to getting a toilet unclogged.....


                
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