TELL THE MAYOR TO SAVE EDUCATION, HOUSING & YOUTH PROGRAMS IN EAST NEW YORK

Call to action: Sign this petition to tell Mayor de Blasio to stand up for East New York!

#NYCBudgetJustice #FundYouthNYC #SaveBasementPilot #SaveStudentSuccessCenters

Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has only worsened existing inequities in housing, food insecurity, joblessness, evictions, education, and so much more. Now, the City’s budget is up for review, and the City and State are likely to cut even more programs that benefit East New York. Help us call on Mayor de Blasio to demand that he invests in and advocates for communities like East New York and Cypress Hills.

Background: Mayor de Blasio has already made significant cuts to education, youth and human services programs while the NYPD budget remains at over $5 billion. The current budget reduced funding for youth services by $87 million and education funding by $707 million.  The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s capital budget for affordable housing was reduced by $498 million. And the City keeps paying out claims for police misconduct - - in FY 19, there were 5,848 claims made against the New York City Police Department, resulting in $220.1 million in settlements (comptroller.nyc.gov) 

Now once again, we are at risk of losing even more funding for our Student Success Centers, the Basement Apartment Conversion Pilot Program, Community Schools, and more. Cutting these programs will result in a reduction in supportive resources that are integral to the development and education of our young people and for the overall safety and health of our neighborhood.  

The current budget is up for review in early November. If Mayor de Blasio fails to restore these critical programs or cuts them further, our community’s livelihood and well-being are at stake. 

We are demanding that Mayor de Blasio shift funding from the NYPD, and redistribute that funding to services that foster health and safety for our communities, such as housing, education, and youth and human services.

Thank you,

Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation