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- NATION, Page 37American NotesNEW YORK CITYChopping from The Top
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- Politicians often shoot themselves in the foot, but rarely
- do they slash their own pocketbooks. Yet New York City Mayor
- David Dinkins has decided to do just that in the face of a
- projected $1.7 billion municipal budget gap for this fiscal
- year and next. Last week Hizzoner imposed a 5% pay cut on
- himself and 700 city managerial officials who earn at least
- $70,000 a year. Dinkins, who currently makes $130,000, will
- thus lose about $6,500 in salary.
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- The mayor hopes the move will improve the city's financial
- situation by saving more than $4 million this year and that its
- symbolism will help New Yorkers accept cuts in city services.
- "We have no choice but to make our local government fit the
- size of our local economy," he said. "We must all bear our
- share of the pain." Local Teamsters president Barry Feinstein
- suspects less noble motives. He says the mayor, facing delicate
- contract talks with his organization and another major
- municipal labor union, is simply trying "to make a case that
- there is no money available for a wage increase."
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