FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 2, 2017
Contact: Elysia Murphy, emurphy@cccnewyork.org, 212-673-1800 ext 18

Statement of Jennifer March, Executive Director in Response to City Fiscal Year FY18 Budget Agreement

Citizens’ Committee for Children (CCC) is pleased to see that the CFY18 budget agreement between the Mayor and the City Council includes critical new investments in much-needed programs and services for children and their families, while also being fiscally prudent by ensuring the City builds its reserves. CCC is particularly grateful for the budget commitments to expand universal lunch, expand breakfast in the classroom, increase funding for emergency food programs, expand the Work, Learn and Grow year-round youth jobs program, baseline 70,000 slots for the summer youth employment program, restore elementary after-school programs, improve child protective services, ensure all public schools are in compliance with physical education requirements and have PE facilities, and make critical restorations to programs funded last year. Furthermore, CCC is grateful to the Mayor for recognizing the severe underfunding of the nonprofit sector and for the City’s commitment to increase indirect costs in human services contracts to 10% over a five year period and to also engage in a model contract process, starting with homeless shelters, child abuse prevention programs, and runaway and homeless youth programs.

Finally, this is the final budget for both Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and City Council Finance Chair Julissa Ferreras-Copeland, both of whom have been tremendous allies in ensuring the City
budgets make New York City a better place to be a child. Special thanks to both of these extraordinary women with whom CCC has had the pleasure to work these past four years.

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About Citizens’ Committee for Children
Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York educates and mobilizes New Yorkers to make the city a better place for children. Since 1944, our advocacy has combined public policy research and data analysis with citizen action. We cast light on the issues, educate the public, engage allies, and identify and promote practical solutions to ensure that every New York City child is healthy, housed, educated and safe. For more information on CCC, visit our web site at www.cccnewyork.org. Stay up to date on the latest news and information regarding the well-being of New York
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