New York, NY - FPWA
commends New York City Mayor de Blasio for once again presenting an Executive
Budget for the coming fiscal year that has the real potential of improving
opportunity for individuals, children and families. Funding to increase
wages for City-contracted low-wage workers, Pre-K seats, supports for youth
through afterschool programs and summer youth employment, and funding for legal
services for the City’s immigrant and undocumented residents all demonstrate a
continued commitment to moving New York City forward.
If we are to truly be a city of equity
and opportunity for all, however, the City must also invest in older adults,
and in the human services sector that cares for them and for all New Yorkers in
need. Despite mounting waitlists for services for the city's fastest growing
population, the Department for the Aging's budget continues to stagnate with no
plan to address rapidly increasing needs. We urge the administration and the
City Council to prioritize funding for supportive services for the aging in the
adopted budget with an investment of $60.6 million in FY18 to baseline core
services, meet current needs, and begin to plan and build out a strong safety
net for older New Yorkers.
Decades' old underfunding of the human
services sector, upon which the City relies for mandated and other services
like child care and UPK, homeless services, youth services, and senior
services, remains a serious and time-sensitive issue. The Executive Budget does
include a 2% cost of living adjustment over three consecutive years for non-profit,
City-contracted staff, but the City must also invest in the infrastructure of
the sector and pay the full cost of delivering services before these and
organizations are forced to turn back contracts and even close their doors.
FPWA appreciates the City's efforts to address this critical need, and
the opportunity to partner with the City in doing so.
We join with other advocates in calling
upon Mayor de Blasio to provide reduced fares for public transportation for low
income New Yorkers for whom a subway or bus ride at full fare sometimes means
missing a meal. We urge Mayor de Blasio to include funding for
half-priced MetroCards in the City’s budget, beginning FY18.
Preserving New York City’s status as a
leader and model of progressiveness requires that the final budget include
these critical supports. We look forward to continue working with the
administration to strengthen our vital safety net and move us closer to being a
City of equal opportunity for all. – Jennifer Jones Austin, FPWA CEO and
Executive Director
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