Res. No. 243
Resolution calling upon the United States Congress to enact H.R.3734, the "Urban Revitalization and Livable Communities Act," which would authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to establish and carry out an urban revitalization and livable communities program to provide federal grants to urban areas for the rehabilitation of critically needed recreational areas and facilities and development of improved recreation programs, and for other purposes.
By Council Members Eugene, Barron, Brewer, Chin, Dickens, Fidler, Gentile, Lander, Mendez, Nelson, Palma, Reyna, Vann, Williams and Rodriguez
Whereas, According to the 2000 United States Census, 79 percent of the population of the United States lives in urban areas; and
Whereas, The quality of life in urban areas is closely related to the availability of fully functional park and recreation systems including land, facilities, and programs; and
Whereas, Residents of urban areas need close-to-home recreation opportunities that are adequate to specialized urban needs, with parks and facilities properly located,
developed, and well-maintained; and
Whereas, Inadequate federal financing of urban recreation programs has led to the
deterioration of facilities, non-availability of recreation services, and an inability to adapt
recreation programs to changing circumstances; and
Whereas, According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over the last 25 years, rates of obesity have more than tripled among adolescents ages 12 to 19 and doubled among adults ages 20 to 74 and children ages 6 to 11; and
Whereas, The CDC also found that the creation of, or enhanced access to, places for physical activity led to a 25.6 percent increase in the percentage of people exercising on 3 or more days per week; and
Whereas, Physical activity can improve physical and mental health; and
Whereas, The annual costs of medical spending and lost productivity from individuals in the United States being obese and overweight are estimated by the CDC to be $139,000,000,000; and
Whereas, local parks and recreation facilities play key roles in improving the health of the population of the City of New York by providing convenient access to the places, spaces, and opportunities that lead to increased physical activity; and
Whereas, According to the Juvenile Justice Bulletin, without structured, supervised activities in the after-school hours, youth are at greater risk of being victims of crime or participating in anti-social behaviors; and
Whereas, Juveniles are at the highest risk of being a victim of crime between 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., and the peak hour for juvenile crime is between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., the first hour after most students are released from school; and
Whereas, The National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center reported that students who spend no time in extracurricular activities, such as those offered in after school programs, are 49 percent more likely to have used drugs and 37 percent more likely to become teen parents than are those students who spend 1 to 4 hours per week in extracurricular activities; and
Whereas, The Urban Revitalization and Livable Communities Act will help enhance urban areas through economic development; prevent chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, and obesity; and improve recreational areas and facilities and expand recreation services in urban areas with a high incidence of crime
and to help expand recreation opportunities for at-risk youth; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the United States Congress to enact H.R.3734, the "Urban Revitalization and Livable Communities Act," which would authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to establish and carry out an urban revitalization and livable communities program to provide federal grants to urban areas for the rehabilitation of critically needed recreational areas and facilities and development of improved recreation programs, and for other purposes.
LS#739
BJG
5/11/2010