Penny Wise and Pound Foolish

The city of New York wants to reduce the security guards at their agencies
Penny wise and pound foolish is what they’re coming to be
To try and save less than .05% in a budget that’s in the billions
To put a wrench in the safety and well-being of a city of 10 million

If’s there’re no security officers to watch over the DEP water sheds
What’s to stop terrorists from poisoning the water and thousands being dead?
If there’re no security officers at the DHS shelters 
the situation could be dire
As you won’t have enough personnel on hand 
to warn the clients when there’s a fire
If there’re no security officers at the Human Resources Administration sites
Who would be there to protect the workforce in the event of a fight?

Penny wise and pound foolish when it comes 
to our children’s safety and well being
If there’s no one to adequately clean the schools 
a major outbreak we might be seeing
Penny wise and pound foolish in regards to the City’s financial resource
Trying to save a few pennies while pounds of dollars
will be in litigation in the courts

If someone is hurt in a fall it’s the city they will sue
If someone dies in a fire it’s the city they will sue
If a worker is assaulted on the job it’s the city they will sue
So I ask New York City leaders, what are you going to do?
Penny wise and pound foolish when it comes to New Yorker’s safety
It’s time to stop all this nonsense and keep the school cleaners and security
Copyright © | Year Posted 2011

Poem

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