Res. No. 2146
Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to establish a Recovery and Opportunity Trust Fund to help train New York residents disproportionately impacted by chronic long-term unemployment factors.
By Council Members Seabrook, Barron, Comrie, Foster, James, Liu, Sears, Vann and White.
Whereas, The Dubois Bunche Center for Public Policy has issued a policy plan (the “Thurgood Marshall Plan”) which calls for lawmakers to create new localized systems for employment opportunities and business development within urban centers to address the negative impact of economic disparities that impact African American and Latino communities within New York City; and
Whereas, The 2008/2009 recession has had a severe effect on the United States’ economy leading to an increase in the unemployment rate, and
Whereas, It has been reported that in New York City, the unemployment rate will reach 9.5 percent by 2010 leaving 400,000 New Yorkers jobless; and
Whereas, Additionally, black New Yorkers have been disproportionately impacted with an unemployment rate of 14.7 percent in comparison to the unemployment rate of 5.7 for white New Yorkers; and
Whereas, A component of the Thurgood Marshall Plan calls for the establishment of a Recovery and Opportunity Trust Fund modeled after the Massachusetts Workforce Training Fund; and
Whereas, The Recovery and Opportunity Trust Fund should finance job training for residents living with in neighborhoods plagued with high rates of long-term chronic unemployment; and
Whereas, Proponents believe the Recovery and Opportunity Trust Fund should also subsidize pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship training that is linked to energy conservation, renewable energy, the rebuilding of core infrastructure, and the installation of broadband telecommunications networks throughout the City; and
Whereas, Lawmakers should develop policies that acknowledge disparities in urban neighborhoods, that identify those with high rates of chronic unemployment and that promote outcomes that advance equity and stability in job opportunities; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to establish a Recovery and Opportunity Trust Fund to help train New York residents disproportionately impacted by chronic long-term unemployment factors.
S.O.
LS # 7659
8/14/08
10:46am