Res. No. 2
Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to fully fund summer youth employment programs.
By Council Members Fidler, Cabrera, Arroyo, Barron, Brewer, Dickens, Ferreras, Foster, Gentile, Gonzalez, James, Koppell, Koslowitz, Lander, Mealy, Nelson, Palma, Reyna, Sanders Jr., Seabrook, Vann, Williams, White, Mark-Viverito, Rodriguez, Dromm, Van Bramer, Eugene, Gennaro, Jackson, Recchia, Vacca and Halloran
Whereas, The Summer Youth Employment Program (“SYEP”) provides New Yorkers between the ages of 14 and 21 years of age with summer employment and educational opportunities; and
Whereas, According to the Department of Youth and Community Development (“DYCD”), SYEP “strives to emphasize real-world labor expectations, increase awareness of services offered by community-based organizations and provide opportunities for career instruction, financial literacy training, academic improvement and social growth;” and
Whereas, In 2009, the SYEP included five contracts awarded to serve 600 vulnerable youth participants including runaway and homeless youth, youth in foster care, and court-involved youth and twenty-five SYEP providers were allocated slots to serve 3,812 participants with disabilities; and
Whereas, SYEP benefits not only youth participants but also local businesses that are eager to partner with the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) and tap into an energetic and ambitious pool of young workers; and
Whereas, SYEP offers a variety of employment opportunities including clerical work, customer service, childcare, web design and community service through various organizations such as government agencies, hospitals, summer camps, non-profits, small businesses, law firms, museums, sports enterprises and retail organizations; and
Whereas, In 2009, a record-high number of young people, 139,597, submitted applications to participate in SYEP, but the amount of funding available only allowed 52,255 participants to enroll; and
Whereas, State funding for SYEP in 2009 amounted to $19.5 million which enabled the city to enroll 13,000 participants; and
Whereas, Summer youth employment can also help stimulate the local economy, as evidenced by the fact that DYCD found that the most common uses of earnings from the SYEP programs were food, clothing, savings, and help with household expenses; and
Whereas, Governor David Paterson’s proposed 2010-2011 executive budget eliminated funding for the state’s Summer Youth Employment Program; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to fully fund summer youth employment programs.
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LS # 402
JW
Date 01/22/10