Major Achievement for
Hardworking Families
UJO lauds Mayor de Blasio for keeping
his longstanding promise by increasing funding to restore non-mandated vouchers
to 2014 level. Thanks to Speaker Corey Johnson and General Welfare Chair Steve Levin for their continued
efforts to increase Special Child Care Funded Vouchers, and Councilman Chaim
Deutsch for his leadership and support.
Brooklyn, NY—After tremendous efforts by Williamsburg’s
Councilman Stephen T. Levin, Chair of the General Welfare Committee, Speaker
Corey Johnson and the de Blasio administration - a much-needed increase in the
Special Child Care Funding was secured in the FY20 City budget that was
announced today. The Mayor and Speaker announced the much-anticipated increase
today, adding an additional $19.7 million to the program, bringing the total
funding for the program benefitting hard-working families to nearly $47 million.
This will add roughly 2,600 new vouchers for working-needy families and
children.
This much-heralded increase will alleviate the strain to
families created after Mayor Bloomberg, in his final year, ended the issuance
of new Priority 5 vouchers that provided child care for families leaving the
welfare rolls post one-year transitional child care.
UJO worked closely with Councilman Levin and was assisted by
Councilman Chaim Deutch, Chair of the Jewish Caucus and the Council Finance
team, to request additional funding to reach the level of vouchers during the
start of the current administration.
A month ago, Rabbi David Niederman, UJO President, joined a
meeting to discuss the restoration of the lost vouchers with Councilman Levin’s
staff, Councilman Chaim Deutsch, Councilman Kalman Yeger and representatives
from ACS, OMB and City Council Finance staff. The meeting took place at City
Hall, with the close aide to Mayor de Blasio, Mr. Lincoln Restler, who
consistently works diligently for all communities and has a keen understanding
of the Brooklyn community’s needs.
Councilman Levin also organized a letter – co-led by
Councilman Deutsch and signed by 18 council members asking for the restoration
of the vouchers to the 2014 level.
Today’s announcement will add services to thousands of
children in the coming months, increasing the total number of non-mandated Child Care Vouchers to the 2014 level.
"We are elated that today’s handshake on the budget, is
extending a helping hand to thousands of needy children and families,"
says Rabbi David Niederman, UJO President. "We are indebted to Councilman
Steve Levin for his leadership on this and for establishing and championing the
SCCF vouchers. Today’s achievement was only made possible thanks to the compassionate
leadership of Speaker Corey Johnson, who led the negotiations which brought
this to fruition. All hardworking New Yorkers are grateful to you.
“We are very grateful to Councilman Deutch for joining the
advocacy on this issue. We are thankful as well to Councilman Yeger for joining
the efforts, and to all the Council members who signed the letter including
Council Majority Leader Laurie Cumbo; Council Member Ben Kallos; Council Member
Robert Cornegy; Council Member Helen Rosenthal; Council Member Vanessa Gibson;
Council Member Mark Treyger; Council Member Margaret Chin; Council Member
Justine Brannan; Council Member Rafael Espinal; Council Member Brad Lander;
Council Member Inez Barron; Council Member Alan Maisel; Council Member Alicka
Ampry-Samuel; Council Member Carlina Rivera; and Council Member Carlos
Menchaca. Last, but most important, we are thankful to the Mayor and his
administration for reversing the unjust trend of hardworking families losing
much-needed support, and for increased funding for the vouchers for now and
going forward. A special shout-out goes to a dear friend, Lincoln Restler, for
his assistance throughout this process."
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| Letter sent by the City Council asking for the funding |
