Res. No. 687-A
Resolution calling on the New York City Congressional Delegation and President Barack Obama to prevent cuts to the Community Services Block Grant Program.
By Council Members Comrie, Brewer, Cabrera, Chin, Dickens, Dromm, Fidler, Gonzalez, James, Lander, Mealy, Mendez, Rose, Sanders Jr., Vann, Williams, Foster, Nelson, Koo, Arroyo, Levin, Rodriguez, Palma and Eugene
Whereas, The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Program provides federal funding to states and localities in order to support a broad range of community-based programs that combat poverty, empower people to achieve self-sufficiency, and revitalize low-income communities; and
Whereas, President Obama's current budget proposal for Federal Fiscal Year 2013 includes a 50 percent cut to CSBG, and could eliminate formula allocations to Community Action Agencies across the nation and replace it with a competitive grant program, with claims that the program's current structure does too little to hold agencies accountable for outcomes; and
Whereas, Programs are already held accountable through a national outcome reporting system, called Results Outcome Management and Accountability (ROMA); and
Whereas, New York City also competitively bids all of the funding for CSBG to service providers to ensure integrity of the programs, services and providers; and
Whereas, The New York State Department of State, Division of Community Services administers the New York State CSBG program; and
Whereas, The Department of Youth and Community Development, the designated Community Action Agency for New York City, administers the CSBG program locally; and
Whereas, In Federal Fiscal Year 2012, New York City received $31.9 million in funding from the CSBG program, which continues to fund more than 200 community-based organizations and serve more than 30,000 people; and
Whereas, Community-based organizations have used this support to leverage additional resources and to strengthen their ability to provide critical services to neighborhoods, including educational support, leadership development and job readiness trainings for at risk youth; domestic violence prevention, nutrition education and parenting skills for families; social and cultural services for seniors; and legal services for immigrants; and
Whereas, The elimination of CSBG program funding would severely impact every low-income community in New York City by reducing the availability of resources that are essential for overcoming poverty and achieving economic independence; and
Whereas, The elimination of such programs would amount to an unacceptable erosion of the social service infrastructure of New York City; and
Whereas, The elimination of CSBG funding would signal a federal disengagement from the current efficient and successful community development model; and
Whereas, Hundreds of New Yorkers employed by community based organizations and other service providers will potentially lose their jobs; and
Whereas, These cuts threaten to undermine our nation's and City's fragile economic recovery; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York City Congressional Delegation and President Barack Obama to prevent cuts to the Community Services Block Grant Program.
FCC/JW
LS #2080
5/31/12