HHC Mayoral nurses can now live outside NYC

New York City Council overturns Mayor’s veto of residency bill

July 29, 2009 – New York City – Today the New York City Council overrode Mayor Bloomberg’s veto of a residency bill requiring those city nurses employed by the “mayorals,” and other city agencies, to live in New York City.

The “mayorals” are considered part of NYSNA’s Health and Hospital Corporation bargaining unit and include NYSNA nurses working for the NYPD, FDNY, ACS, HRA, Correctional Health Services, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Sanitation and the Office of the Aging. The rest of the HHC nurses work in NYC’s public hospitals.

The City Council vote to override was 46 to one. City Council Speaker Christine Quinn made a strong pitch at the beginning of the meeting for council members to override the bill, and City Councilmember Robert Jackson also spoke strongly in favor of the bill.

Thousands of other municipal workers will be affected by this override. They include lawyers for city agencies and Housing Authority workers. The rest of the HHC nurses, police, firefighters and teachers, among others, were already permitted to live outside the city and commute to their jobs.

The New York State Nurses Association is the voice for nursing in the Empire State. With more than 37,000 members, it is the state's largest union and professional association for registered nurses. It supports nurses and nursing practice through education, research, legislative advocacy, and collective bargaining.

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