New York, NY – Yesterday Mayor de Blasio released New York City’s Executive Budget for FY21. This budget aims to address a $8.7 billion deficit due, in great part, to the devastating financial impact of the coronavirus on the city while also ensuring that vital food supports, human services, and health care are available to all New Yorkers to both fight COVID-19 and put the city on the road to recovery.
These are challenging times that are forcing our city leaders to make difficult decisions. But in making these decisions, they must be vigilant about not causing further harm. The individuals, children, and families most challenged by the coronavirus will be the most impacted by many of the proposed cuts. This is especially troubling considering that they are the very persons who were struggling economically and academically to get on track and forge ahead before COVID-19.
This is why we are dismayed that all summer programs for children and youth, including SONYC, Beacon, Compass, Cornerstone, and the Summer Youth Employment Program, have been eliminated for the coming summer and fiscal year. These programs have provided both enrichment learning experiences and jobs for children from low-income families. The high quality and easy access of these programs help mitigate the achievement gap and ease financial hardship. If they are cancelled without anything to replace them during the summer, many of New York City’s children and youth are likely to fall further behind.
Our Mayor and his administration have spent more than six years working to build equity and opportunity for everyone in our city. Implementing cuts that threaten the great progress they’ve made is something we believe the Mayor wants to prevent at all costs.
FPWA remains committed to working with the Mayor, his administration, and the City Council to achieve a budget that realistically reflects the deep challenges facing our city, is fiscally responsible, and is responsive to the pressing needs of our children and the most vulnerable New Yorkers.
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