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**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
June 19, 2008
Contact: Alex Shoor
(212) 669-4691; (202) 669-7059
Release #:23-2008
Gotbaum: To Fight Rise in Youth Violence, City Must Help Kids Get Summer Jobs, Keep Open Community Centers
Gotbaum, Advocates call for increasing funding for Summer Youth Employment Program, NYCHA Community Centers
MANHATTAN – Public Advocate Gotbaum called on the Mayor to help fight growing gun violence among teens by increasing funding for New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) community centers and restoring at least $8 million for the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). Last year in New York City, 25 percent of the 4,000 illegal guns confiscated were taken from children under the age of 21, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Furthermore, a recent Children’s Defense Fund report indicates that 3,006 children and teens were killed nationwide in 2005 by firearms, the first increase in gun-related deaths among young people since 1994.
Over 103,000 youth applied for a job through SYEP this year, but the proposed budget cuts will eliminate 5,600 jobs for youth, leaving only one-third of applicants with positions. Moreover, because of NYCHA’s latest budget problems, youth programs at community centers will be forced to close and about 150 childcare, Head Start, and Out of School Time programs operating in NYCHA developments, serving 11,000 kids, may be at risk of having to cut back on services or shut their doors.
Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum said, “Getting kids off the street and into jobs and community programs is one of the best ways to keep them safe. Jobs have the added benefit of helping youth learn workplace skills and make a little extra money, which goes a long way for those who come from low-income homes. With gun violence on the rise, we should be taking active steps to promote these programs, not cut their funding. With school out, the time to act is now. Let’s make sure keeping kids safe is our priority.”
Public Advocate Gotbaum sent a letter [full text below] to the mayor yesterday urging him to restore funding to the cut programs.
June 18, 2008
Honorable Michael Bloomberg
Mayor of the City of New York
City Hall
New York, NY 10007
Mayor Bloomberg:
The Memorial Day crime spree in Harlem was a stark reminder of the serious battle we face against gun violence. The recent incidences were made more tragic because they involved half-a-dozen school-age children.
Data from the NYPD, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Children’s Defense Fund, seems to support the fact that the city seems to be facing a serious youth gun violence problem. In addition to your persistent and important fight to get guns off our streets, I believe we need another strategy.
In talking to teens across the city about violence, the challenges they face, and the prevalence of gangs, I have learned that most want positive alternatives to hanging out on the street.
Unfortunately, the budget fails to provide sufficient funding for the opportunities kids want. I call on you to restore and even increase funding to SYEP and provide funding to NYCHA so that it may maintain youth programming that serves hundreds of thousands of children during non-school hours.
Funding for SYEP
While I commend you for increasing funding for SYEP, the current cut would mean, that out of the nearly 103,000 kids applied for the SYEP less than one-third would receive a job.
If you restore the approximately eight million dollars in funding for SYEP it will result in 5,600 more jobs for kids. I also urge you to work with the Conference of Mayors to call on the federal government to restore their cuts to this very valuable program.
Funding NYCHA Recreation Centers for Kids
The New York City Housing Authority’s latest budget problems may result in the closing of centers which provide positive recreation and educational opportunities for kids around the city, especially in the summer months when school is out.
Furthermore, about 150 childcare, Head Start, and Out-of-School Time programs, serving 11,000 kids and teens may also be at risk. I urge you to consider providing financial assistance to NYCHA and reducing or eliminating the transfer payments NYCHA must make to the city for police, sanitation and other services.
You have admirably taken on the fight against illegal guns, but it’s a fight we will not win without doing more to provide kids in this city with the positive opportunities they want.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Betsy Gotbaum
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