The Fig File for 01.12.09

The Fig File: The New Grind: Monday - Thursday .
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Parlor tricks are the usual discourse in political rhetoric - especially when it comes to solutions that concern the tax payers pocket. But Assemblyman Michael Gianaris of Queens has an idea, admittedly not a new idea, but one that would work to settle some of the MTA Budget and avoid the ailing Agency and the City and or State from pilfering whatever is left of our pay checks - after health insurance premiums, rent/mortgage payments, Connie Edison’s salary levy and of course,  grocery and booze bills. 

Ready for this?  

How about skipping work on a Friday - for good?

The four day work week was floated in the news by Utah’s Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. Back in the summer - and the proposal woke up America to the idea that the usual 8 hour day they are paid to do, which is usually manipulated into a 10 to 12 hour marathon without extra compensation, could now become a steady 10 hour 4 day work week featuring Friday’s off. Not too shabby. On top of the fringe benefits, the economics of the move makes a great deal of sense. In Utah, the savings from the initiative cut expenditures by 20 percent - a cool 3 million bucks. Nice. Staple gun that number on New York, where the crying from City Hall and Albany over the holes in our budget has turned into wails and sobs, and the savings would ease the pounding migraine on The Governor and Mayor’s minds tenfold. Check out these figures: the  4-day work week for non-essential state employees that would save an estimated $30 million per year according to Assemblyman Gianaris.

For a little crude math on the State level,  Governor Paterson’s office says that in 2008 there were 230,000 plus state workers. Based on what gets done In Albany and how efficiently the State runs, 229,000 would fall under the umbrella of non-essential. I’m only half joking here, but what if The Assemblyman’s plan was extended to the non-essential tax paying working force in the 5 boroughs? What sort of savings would Mayor Bloomberg see? If there are roughly 8 million living in the City, and let’s say, 2.5 million are working, there must a whopping savings of well, close to 20 billion! Wipe that 15 billion state budget clean! But hold everything: it also knocks off nice chunk of red off the what City is facing. I can just see Billy Mays selling this thing on late night TV right now.

I spoke with Assemblyman Gianaris and he gave it to me straight: his proposal of 30 million in savings would only account for one small item that is destined to be cut or cost more for you and I:  MTA service reductions, The I-Pod Tax or the driver’s license fee - but it’s still accounts for something. Gianaris said that he couldn’t speak for Mayor Bloomberg, but given the savings on just non essential workers, he should really take a look at the 4 day work week. I agree. Monday to Thursday work work work - Fridays for Coney Island. There, standing on the sand surrounded by horse shoe crabs,  I can see all the damn parlor tricks I please.