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Elected officials joined with advocates, providers and clients on the steps of City Hall today to protest a devastating combination of service cuts proposed in both the State and City budgets. Annabel Palma, Chair of the New York City Council’s Committee on General Welfare, and Public Advocate Bill de Blasio played a leading role in voicing concerns about cuts to child care, senior services, youth programs, housing and homelessness funding and more.
“The $300 million dollars in cuts to social services outlined in the Mayor’s budget are part of an unwavering assault on our City’s working families and most vulnerable,” said Palma. “These cuts will directly and negatively impact the already-strained programs that a great number of New Yorkers have come to rely on for survival. We cannot balance the budget on the backs of our most fragile with some of the most significant cuts to social services in our City’s history.”
“The administration's proposed budget places far too great a burden on New York City’s most vulnerable,” said Public Advocate Bill de Blasio. “These cuts would take away critical resources we need to protect our children and substantially reduce resources for the homeless at a time when struggling New Yorkers need more help than ever. As our City recovers from the recession we should be providing the resources necessary to ensure all New Yorkers, even those at the bottom, have an opportunity to rise together.”
“Cuts to Human Services will create havoc in people’s lives,” said Michael Stoller, Executive Director of the Human Services Council (HSC). “For instance, the proposed $192 million dollars in cuts to the Advantage housing subsidy will mean that thousands of families will have no viable path out of the shelter system and into permanent housing. We can’t simply cut our way out of this budget crisis.”
“The Governor’s proposal to eliminate 19% of state funding for adult homeless shelters will severely jeopardize the almost 9,000 homeless single adults currently living in city shelters,” said Council Member Stephen Levin. “At a time when New York City’s shelters are overwhelmed by unprecedented numbers of homeless individuals, this $15.7 million cut will further devastate the system. New York City needs the state to work with us to find real ways to quickly transition individuals into permanent housing and decrease recidivism rates in the shelter system. The state has a responsibility to continue to share responsibility for the shelter system and I call on Governor Cuomo to restore this funding.”
“Our City cannot afford to lose any child care slots or preventative slots," stated Council Member Julissa Ferreras. The City has proposed cutting more than 16,000 child care subsidies and 2,500 preventive service slots. “Families are struggling; they are being forced to make hard decision that can put a child’s life in danger. We need this funding restored so families can focus on strengthening their families rather than tearing them apart. The welfare of our children should not rest on just the families, this needs to be a partnership.”
“The elimination of over 900 day care slots from East New York is racist, punitive, unconscionable and unacceptable,” said Council Member Charles Barron. “Cutting nearly $17 million from preventive and homemaking services is both a social and an economic injustice, particularly considering that our City’s most vulnerable families depend on these programs. It’s time to cut the tax breaks for the rich and not balance the budget on the backs of working class families and their children. Shame on you Mayor Bloomberg!”
“In failing to restore funding to the HIV/AIDS Services Administration, the Mayor's Preliminary Budget risks cutting off essential supportive housing, medical and mental health services for some of the neediest New Yorkers,” said Council Member Gale Brewer. “Cuts to case management funding would also overwhelm staff while violating legal requirements on case ratios and blocking access to needed services.”
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Comments
Who suffers surely not our mayor or any other legislators who support these cuts. As a tax paying law abiding citizen I as when does it end. As long as I can remember the only individuals that reaps the residue of these erroneous cuts are your working class tax payers" like myself which is unlwful as well as disheartning as a born new yorker.
I have been receiving assistance with daycare for my 2 year old based on my income does not meet the total cost of my childs day care. I pay .00 weekly which is 4 monthly or sometimes more if there are five weeks in a month which this alone is a financial strain on myself and my family. I recently received a letter informing me that I will no longer receive this assistance based on the cuts proposed. I cannot afford the cost of the daycare fee soley based on my income should I be denied assistance that helps me to sustain my employment as well as my 2 year old receiving the necessary tools needed to enhance his growth and development.
As a taxpayer citizen i should be entitiled to receive a necessary assistance that I qualify for, but again who suffers surely not my government politicans that suppose to service me the taxpayer. I am extremely outraged and alarmed by the unjust treatment being stuffed down my throat to digest and I ask "who cares?" Who do I voice my concerns and hardships to and be heard?
I have not received a increase in my salary for three years based on the recession in this economy , but yet still the cost of living is rising each day and I am forced to meet these increases and my income continues to remain the same. I am appalled that thisgovernment allows such injudicious laws and cuts to demoralize its people. From a concerned TAX PAYING LAW ABIDING CITIZEN MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER