Res. No. 744
Title
Resolution calling upon the Council of the City of New York to support the City's software and information technology industry and to support the "Buy NY" campaign of its trade association, the New York Software Industry Association; all software and information technology buyers and procurers, in private industry, the not-for-profit sector, and all levels of government, to take part in the "Buy NY" campaign by including one or more New York City producers or vendors on all evaluation lists; and all buyers and procurers in the software and information technology field, in private industry, the not-for-profit sector, and all levels of government, to support the Buy NY campaign by meeting New York City vendors and producers at the NYSIA "Buy NY" fair on Friday, March 21, 2003.
Body
By Council Members Brewer, Barron, Clarke, Comrie, Davis, Fidler, Gerson, Jackson, Martinez, Monserrate, Nelson, Quinn, Reed, Sanders, Seabrook, Sears, Vann, Weprin, Reyna, Recchia, Jr. and Espada, Jr.
Whereas, The software and information technology industry in New York City was a major engine of economic growth in the past decade, producing tens of thousands of new jobs; and
Whereas, New York City and the surrounding region became in that period a leading national center of software and information technology; and
Whereas, The industry is currently in a severe recession, provoked in great measure through the freezes in spending in the aftermath of September 11, 2001; and
Whereas, Our City's software and information technology industry is further threatened by a simplistic emphasis on "overseas outsourcing" where buyers in the private sector and government are often urged to "look overseas first" when procuring vendors for a technology project; and
Whereas, According to a recent Crains New York article, New York City's technology sector has lost more than 30,000 jobs in the last two years, a number that exceeds the 26,000 positions that securities firms have eliminated over the same time period; and
Whereas, New York City producers and consultants in the industry offer quality products and services at affordable prices; and
Whereas, The recovery and renewed growth of this industry is crucial to the City's long-term economic health; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, The Council of the City of New York supports the City's software and information technology industry, and supports the "Buy NY" campaign of its trade association, the New York Software Industry Association; calls upon all software and information technology buyers and procurers, in private industry, the not-for-profit sector, and all levels of government, to take part in the "Buy NY" campaign by including one or more New York City producers or vendors on all evaluation lists; and calls upon all buyers and procurers in the software and information technology field, in private industry, the not-for-profit sector, and all levels of government, to support the Buy NY campaign by meeting New York City vendors and producers at the NYSIA "Buy NY" fair on Friday, March 21, 2003.