Remarks of Thomas C. Short, International President of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories and Canada

September 21, 2005

To see clips from this Press Conference, go to NY1 Web site.

The IATSE and its New York locals in the film, television, and stage industries are standing here today in the heart of the Broadway theatre district to endorse Mike Bloomberg to serve another four years as New York’s 108th Mayor of the City of New York.

We’re doing that for three reasons: jobs, jobs, and jobs.

The IATSE recognizes that this mayor has created 62,000 jobs in New York City in the last two years. More New Yorkers are working now than anytime in the last quarter century.

There are over 100,000 members of the IATSE in the United States and Canada and more of the members are working in New York City today than ever before. We have Mike Bloomberg to thank for that.

This year alone, Mike Bloomberg has attracted $450 million worth of movies and television production to New York City that would have gone elsewhere. That’s 6000 new jobs.

New York set a record for Broadway box offices in 2004: a record $748.9 million in ticket sales. This year, for the first time in memory, every Broadway theatre was either lit or being readied fora new show.

The future looks brighter from where we stand thanks to what Mayor Bloomberg has accomplished in the last year alone:
This Mayor signed into law 5% New York City refundable tax credit for production within the five boroughs. This Mayor successfully lobbied the state to give an additional 10% refundable tax credit for film and television production.

Mike Bloomberg’s administration has overseen the opening of the new $118-million Steiner Studios at the old Brooklyn Navy Yard, a new 280,000-square-foot facility with sound stages of 16,000 to 27,000 square feet. There are a lot of IATSE jobs at the Steiner Studios today and more to come as the facility expands. Mr. Mayor, we’re grateful for that.

We’re also grateful for the new 18,000-square-foot soundstage at the Kaufman Astoria Studios and the new film and television jobs to be created there.

And we expect to thank this mayor when the Silvercup Studios in Long Island City expands and creates new jobs.

He’s a self-made man who has earned my respect and the respect of my members. Mike Bloomberg regularly takes the subway and works 18 hours–day for a dollar a year.

Mike, standing behind me today are many of my IATSE locals who are here to support you. They include the Stagehand Locals One and Four, the New York Studio Mechanics Local 52, the New York Projectionist and Front of House Local 306, the Motion Picture Film Editors Local 700, the New York Treasurers & Ticket Sellers Local 751, the New York Wardrobe Local 764, the New York Make-Up & Hair Local 798, the New York Exhibition Employees Local EE829, the Ball Park Ticket Sellers Local F-72, United Scenic Artists USA829, Script Supervisors Local 161,and the Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers Local 18032.

We are all united in supporting you for another four years as Mayor of New York for the same three reasons all working people will support you. Jobs, jobs, jobs.