Res. No. 356
Resolution calling upon the Mayor and The New York City Department of Youth and Community Development to fund the Summer Youth Employment Program utilizing a formula based solely upon each boroughs’ proportion of the City’s total number of low income youth.
By Council Members Foster, Barron, Gonzalez, James, Jennings, Koppell, Lopez, Martinez, Palma, Recchia, Reed, Sanders, Seabrook and Stewart
Whereas, According to the Request for Proposals (the “RFP”) for the Summer Youth Employment Program (“SYEP”) issued on January 5, 2004, the purpose of the SYEP is to provide New York City youth, ages 14 to 21, with summer employment and educational experiences; and
Whereas, According to the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development’s (DYCD) internet article entitled “DYCD Services, Summer Youth Employment”, the SYEP is a full-service youth development initiative that provides youth with adult support and guidance, engaging activities and seven weeks of entry-level work experience; and
Whereas, While the RFP states that greater consideration in the selection process will be given to SYEP proposers who recruit youth from areas of high unemployment within each borough, pursuant to the current formula, 50 percent of SYEP funding is allocated based on each borough’s proportion of the City’s total number of low income youth and 50 percent of such funding is allocated based on each borough’s proportion of youth, regardless of income; and
Whereas, The current formula will adversely impact low income youth in a number of New York City communities; and
Whereas, According to the RFP, the Bronx, which has 25.46 percent of the City’s low income youth, will receive 22.44 percent of total SYEP funding; Brooklyn, with 37.04 percent of the City’s low income youth, will receive 35.73 percent of such funding; and Manhattan, with 17.28 percent of low income youth, will receive 15.28 percent of such funding; and
Whereas, On February 25, 2004, the Bronx Borough Board adopted a resolution calling upon DYCD to allocate SYEP funds based on the number of low income youth in each borough, as opposed to the total number of youth in each borough; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, that the Mayor and the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development fund the Summer Youth Employment Program utilizing a formula based solely upon each boroughs’ proportion of the City’s total number of low income youth.
LS#1011
PS
5/14/04