Following Intensive Efforts by Councilman Levin, Chair of the General Welfare Committee
UJO Thanks:
Mayor de Blasio and Speaker Viverito for Expanding Assistance that Thousands of Families Rely On;
Councilman Levin for Leading the Campaign for these Children and Families;
The Coalition of Council Members Brad Lander, David Greenfield, Chaim Deutsch - Chair of the Non-Public School Committee, Mark Levine - Chair of the Jewish Caucus, and Mark Treyger; Special Thanks for Mayor's Aides Jon Paul Lupo and Avi Fink
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Williamsburg - Parents and administrators greeted with happiness the news that the city's final budget - unveiled the past Thursday night by Mayor de Blasio and Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito - provides funding for all existing Priority 5 Vouchers and additional ten million dollars for new vouchers. It follows intensive interventions by the dedicated Williamsburg Councilman Steve Levin, Chair of the important General Welfare Committee that oversees the program, and a group of Councilmen representing the interests of the community.
The article goes on to detail a series of talks and other measures that Councilman Levin spearheaded to ensure that this vital Child Care program is fully funded and is expanded to additional families waiting for these services. Even before the final budget was released, Councilman Levin was able to ensure that this program will be full funded, unlike the Bloomberg years when they were on the chopping table annually.
Levin was joined in his efforts by his colleagues: Brad Lander, of the Council leadership; David Greenfield, representing Borough Park; Chaim Deutsch, Chair of the non-Public School Committee who already achieved tremendous results for Mosdos and parents; Mark Levine, Chair of the Jewish Caucus; Mark Treyger and others.
“I am elated that New York City’s budget will restore $10 million for low-income child care vouchers. Thousands of children and families in New York City depend on these vouchers and today I am proud that we are making them a priority in our budget," Councilman Levin said in a statement.
"Throughout the budget negotiations I made the restorations of low-income vouchers my top priority. Not only will these vouchers help individual families, but they will help our communities as a whole. I want to express my gratitude to Mayor de Blasio, Speaker Mark-Viverito, my colleagues on the Council, and advocates in the community who stood strong in advocating for low-income vouchers,” Councilman Levin concluded his statement.
Speaking on behalf of thousands of parents, Rabbi David Niederman Said: " We express our thanks to Mayor de Blasio and Speaker Mark-Viverito. It's a refreshing change that the City budget ensures that the need and priorities of all communities are ensured, instead of cutting programs that we depend more on them due to the limited child care opportunities that we have. We are very grateful to the Mayor and Speaker for taking our needs into consideration."
"We want to send a special thank you to our dedicated Councilman Steve Levin. He spent tens of hours to talk to us, Yeshivos and Askunim (community activists) to ensure that the Priority 5 program continues to be funded and it is expanded to benefit additional families. He spent even more hours in talks with the administration and to build a strong coalition, and to work with the Speaker's office, leading to the tremendous achievement," Rabbi Niederman added.
"We also want to deeply thank Council-members Brad Lander, David Greenfield, Chaim Deutsch - Chair of the non-Public School Committee representing the interests of Yeshivos and all private schools and parents, Mark Levine - Chair of the Jewish Caucus, Mark Treyger and others."
"I want to give a special thanks to the Mayor's aides Avi Fink, Director for Intergovernmental Affairs, and Jon Paul Lupo, Director for Legislative Affairs, for delving into the. They ensured that the assistance is expanded to programs that will benefit our community among others," Rabbi Niederman concluded.
