Syracuse Residents Condemn Rep. Buerkle’s Vote Against Unemployment Insurance Extension
Community Leaders & Local Unemployed Tell Buerkle: Vote Is Out of Step with Syracuse’s Needs
Ask Congresswoman to “Walk In Our Shoes,” Deliver Old Shoes Symbolizing 25k+ Syracuse Unemployed
Syracuse, NY – Outside of a re-election campaign kick-off party hosted by Representative Ann Marie Buerkle at her campaign headquarters in Syracuse on Saturday, local residents, families and community leaders shared personal stories detailing how unemployment insurance benefits help them make ends meet and keep our economy moving toward recovery.
The protest was held in response to Rep. Buerkle’s vote against an extension of unemployment insurance benefits cast last week. Unemployment insurance benefits generate not only significant economic activity, but also help those families in our community most in need.
“Ann Marie Buerkle doesn’t understand what we’re going through,” said Syracuse resident Kanessa Keane, “I’m unemployed and have been for a while – I’m trying to find a new career, my husband and kids and I are trying to start a new life while keeping our housing and family stable – which is that much harder when politician’s like Ann Marie Buerkle vote to cut off benefits.”
Protesters asked Rep. Buerkle to “Walk in My Shoes,” urging the Congresswoman to understand what it’s like to live without employment. Pairs of old shoes were delivered to the Congresswoman’s office to symbolize the hardship faced by the long-term unemployed in our community.
“More than 25,000 people in Syracuse are unemployed and that doesn’t include people who’ve stopped filing. They’re looking for work, they’re trying to keep the lights on and their kids fed during these hard times. Rep. Buerkle says she understands that being unemployed is “difficult,” – difficult? High long-term unemployment is devastating for families and communities. Leaving people out in the cold is not the way to boost the economy. Try pulling yourself up by your bootstraps when you can’t afford boots,” said Lauren Ford, a community organizer for Citizen Action of New York.
Demonstrators called on Rep. Buerkle to work in Congress to create a real jobs program that would get Syracuse back to work, not just more schemes to give big corporations more tax breaks.
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