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Government employees join Maloney in shutdown protest

Government employees join Maloney in shutdown protest
By Philip Newman

Scores of idled Internal Revenue Service workers and other government employees demonstrated Monday in Midtown Manhattan in an appeal for an end to the congressional stalemate that has shut down the federal government and shared stories of the resulting financial strain.

Charlie McNally, a Sunnyside resident who works as a portfolio management specialist in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban development office, said he has a baby and a wife, who is working part time. He told the rally that his wife is planning on going back to work full time if the shutdown goes on. McNally said the forced furloughs had already cut his pay by $1,500 and that they had considered taking out loans to pay their mortgage, due Nov.2, as well as child care.

“This shutdown should never have happened,” U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Astoria), who organized the event and press conference.

“But because of these demands by the most extreme elements in Congress, it did. And now the country is saying loudly and clearly, it needs to end. It is time to heal this inflicted wound.”

Nancy Goshow of Goshow Architects, said because of the shutdown, her invoices for $160,000 cannot be processed. The shutdown means she cannot continue the work at her Manhattan firm and that she may have to lay off one third of her staff.

The demonstration took place in front of the Midtown Manhattan Social Security office at 41st Street and Second Avenue.