CVH and VOCAL-NY Hold “Bake Sale to Save New York” Outside Gov. Cuomo’s “Top of the Rock” Fundraiser
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(Feb 17, 2011) CVH, VOCAL and allies from around New York City converged on Rockefeller Center on Thursday night to protest the fundraiser Governor Andrew Cuomo’s was hosting on the 67th floor of Rockefeller Center, also known as “The Top of the Rock.” The funds raised at the governor’s event -- $15,000 per person -- are reported to be for Cuomo’s re-election campaign, which is more than 3.5 years away, but the fundraiser’s invite stated plainly that the funds were actually, “to help fund a planned public-relations blitz” to defend the drastic budget cuts the Governor has proposed.
A small contingent of protesters disrupted the lavish Top of the Rock party, holding a 9 foot banner that asked of the wealthy guests and the governor himself, “Cuomo, whose side are you on? Wall Street or Main Street?” The group disrupted the event by chanting, “Hey you, millionaires, Pay your fair share!”
"We are here today to highlight the fact that this is not a budget crisis it is a revenue crisis. The focus should be on raising revenue and keeping critical services in the budget,” said Ann Valdez, a leader with Community Voices Heard. “We elected Cuomo so that he would care about those most in need and instead of pushing for tax cuts for wealthiest New Yorkers, he should keep his commitment to the vast majority of New Yorkers. He should renew the millionaire’s tax instead of cutting services, because if he doesn’t renew the tax it is simply a billion dollar bonus to those already doing well.”
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Diane from CVH discussing the protest from VOCAL NY on Vimeo.