New York, NY – Today Mayor de Blasio described the City’s proposed budget as a statement of “our values and principles” and as a means to “lift up communities.”  We agree and are grateful for the new investments that will improve the well-being of children throughout New York City.  These include an increase in funding for Beacon community centers, the commitment of $170 million to create a new adolescent facility for youth currently housed on Rikers Island, resources to expand health and social work services for homeless children in schools, funding needed to ensure all elementary schools will be in compliance with state physical education requirements, and investments in strengthening the child welfare system for foster children.  That said, we are deeply disappointed that this proposed budget for FY’17 fails to save summer programs for 31,000 middle school students and fails to address the need for salary parity for early education staff in community based organizations.

About Citizen’s Committee for Children

Citizens’ Committee for Children (CCC) educates and mobilizes New Yorkers to make the city a better place for children. CCC’s advocacy combines public policy research and data analysis with citizen action. CCC casts light on the issues, educates the public, engages allies, and identifies and promotes practical solutions to ensure that every New York child is healthy, housed, educated and safe. For more information about CCC, visit www.cccnewyork.org.

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