Councilman DeFusco Introducing Resolution Urging Administration to Explore New Healthcare Vendor to Save $6.5M and City Jobs

DeFusco is also calling on Mayor Bhalla to attend tonight’s City Council meeting to hear the concerns of employees facing layoffs

HOBOKEN, N.J. — Councilman Mike DeFusco is calling on Mayor Ravi Bhalla to stop hiding behind closed doors and directly listen to the concerns of the 79 employees who have received layoff notices resulting from the city’s multi-million budget deficit. As the city continues to identify ways to make up the $7-14 million shortfall, Councilman DeFusco will also be introducing a resolution at tonight’s City Council meeting urging the administration to replace Hoboken’s current healthcare vendor with the state’s NJ Direct 10 Plan. The city’s healthcare costs have nearly tripled and utilizing the state’s own health insurance plan could potentially save Hoboken more than $6.5 million a year. This stunning cost saving figure has been raised by multiple city unions who are currently at the bargaining table for new contracts.

“Our city is facing a growing multi-million dollar budget deficit and now the Mayor is scrambling to clean up the mess he has made over the past two years by bloating salaries and awarding municipal contracts to his political donors,” said Councilman Mike DeFusco. “Instead of identifying ways to cut down on his own spending, the administration’s solution is to eliminate the very jobs of people who keep our streets clean, protect tenants rights and keep us safe in emergency situations. Mayor Bhalla needs to stop hiding behind his political operatives and begin taking personal responsibility for the budget crisis he created.”

Affected employees and union representatives are expected to attend tonight’s City Council to express their frustration with the pending layoffs. In light of this, Councilman DeFusco is urging the administration to immediately rescind a portion of its public information policy that bars municipal employees from speaking publicly to the media, even in a personal capacity, without informing their direct supervisor and the city’s Business Administrator.

“Making matters worse, many of these employees are afraid to speak up because of a dated clause in their contracts that requires public statements be cleared through the city,” said Councilman DeFusco. “I stand with our hard working, bread and butter employees, who are entitled to speak freely without fear of retaliation or retribution. I hope the Mayor can make the same promise and follow my lead by attending tonight’s City Council meeting and fielding the concerns of our employees for himself.”

The City Council meets at 94 Washington Street at 7:00 p.m.

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