For Immediate Release:
January 31, 2024
Contact:
Rachel Noerdlinger, rnoerdlinger@actumllc.com
Emma Brodsky, ebrodsky@actumllc.com
NYC COMPTROLLER BRAD LANDER JOINS ANTI-POVERTY NONPROFIT FPWA TO CALL FOR EQUITABLE HUMAN SERVICES FUNDING
FPWA Unveiled New NYC Funds Tracker To Promote Budget Transparency
**A Recording of Lander and Jones Austin’s Discussion is Available HERE**
New York, NY (January 31, 2024) — FPWA, a leading anti-poverty policy and advocacy organization, hosted Beyond Numbers: Empowering Human Services Through Fiscal Transparency today to shed light on the city’s budget priorities and funding for human services. The event featured a fireside chat between the Honorable NYC Comptroller Brad Lander and Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO of FPWA, as well as a panel of budget and economic equity leaders across City government and the nonprofit sector.
Lander, known for his steadfast commitment to budget transparency and equitable compensation for the human services sector, brought a crucial perspective to the event. In the wake of recent budget cut announcements by Mayor Adams, Lander and Jones Austin illuminated the disproportionate harm that spending reductions on key social services and programs will have on low-income and historically marginalized New Yorkers.
FPWA also debuted its new NYC Funds Tracker, a cutting-edge public advocacy data tool designed to enhance understanding of New York City’s budget process, promote bureaucratic transparency, and empower average citizens to advocate for their public needs. The interactive tool provides a comprehensive examination of the city’s revenue streams and expenditure decisions.
“In the face of growing challenges, our city’s commitment to fairness and effective resource allocation is more crucial than ever,” said Comptroller Brad Lander. “The introduction of FPWA’s NYC Funds Tracker is a testament to our dedication to transparency and collaboration. It’s essential that we understand where every dollar goes. But this tool is not just about numbers; it’s about setting city priorities that reflect our values and address the needs of all New Yorkers, especially those who have been made vulnerable.”
“In order to arrive at a city that is truly fair and equitable, a well-resourced and strong human services sector is key,” said Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO and Executive Director, FPWA. “Yet we all know that the funding of our sector has been needlessly complex, consistently shrouded in secrecy, and simply and painfully inadequate. The lack of transparency in New York City’s budgeting process makes the difficult task of advocating for funding all the more arduous. FPWA’s NYC Funds Tracker begins to unravel the city’s complex budgetary documents to help the human services sector gain control of the narrative, so nonprofits, community members, and policy makers can advocate, mobilize and become main actors in fighting for a budget that upholds the dignity and security of all New Yorkers.”
The event also featured a meaningful dialogue about human services funding with a group of esteemed panelists, including Louisa Chafee, NYC Independent Budget Office; David Greenberg, NYC Office of Management and Budget; Chai Jindasurat-Yasui, Nonprofit New York; Sharon Sewell-Fairman, Women Creating Change; and moderated by Raysa S. Rodriguez, Chief Program and Policy Officer, FPWA.
About FPWA
FPWA is a leading, anti-poverty policy and advocacy organization dedicated to strengthening human services organizations and faith institutions, and advancing economic opportunity and justice for New Yorkers with low incomes. Since 1922, FPWA has driven groundbreaking policy reforms to better serve those in need. We work to dismantle the systemic barriers that impede economic security and well-being, and strengthen the capacity of human services agencies and faith organizations so New Yorkers with lower incomes can thrive and live with dignity.
Find out more at fpwa.org, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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