One Brooklyn
April 19, 2020
Brooklyn, NY – Today, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, and leaders from the Cure Violence initiative, a violence intervention program, held a virtual press conference to demand the City convene community leaders from throughout the five boroughs to develop a comprehensive summer youth engagement plan. The call comes after the Mayor’s Executive Budget proposed canceling the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), which has historically provided employment to over 75,000 young people across the city, and the closure of public pools across New York City for the summer in response to budgetary shortfalls stemming from the COVID-19-related economic slowdown. Borough President Adams and the Cure Violence leaders, who have long advocated for employment and enrichment opportunities for underserved youth, urged the City to protect funding for these important programs and services, and develop a plan that will uphold public health and public safety for all New Yorkers.
“The ongoing COVID-19 crisis has forced our city to make difficult choices, and it’s clear we have already experienced and will continue to experience economic pain as a result of this public health crisis. But we can’t balance our budget on the backs of our low-income residents, particularly our young people. The proposal to cut funding for the Summer Youth Employment Program, which serves over 75,000 young people and their families, along with We know that the summer is the most challenging time of year from the perspective of violence prevention, which is why we’re calling on the City to bring our Cure Violence leaders to the table and develop a comprehensive strategy for young people throughout the city over the summer months. Coronavirus can’t lead to corner violence because young people lack constructive employment and enrichment opportunities,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.
Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams said, “The last time the Summer Youth Employment Program faced cuts, it was under the Bloomberg administration, and I and others have spent the years since fighting to restore and expand it. It is deeply disappointing to see the Mayor following the model of his predecessor, but the fight to preserve this critical program is not over. In fact, it is even more vital now to preserve the employment and educational opportunities available – the immediate response to the COVID-19 crisis has relied on restrictions, and rightly so, but as I laid out in my recent report, the long-term recovery will rely on expansion of programs we know can work, and the SYEP has proven each year to be one of the most vital programs for young people in our city.”
We have a responsibility to the most vulnerable members of society to ensure that they have the resources necessary to be successful this summer. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, ‘The future depends on what we do in the present.’ An emphasis must be put on securing the funds necessary to engage youth and young adults this summer and beyond, saidTiffany Lamela, Director of Crisis Management System and Wraparound Services, G-M.A.C.C. Inc.
The video of the full virtual press conference is available here.
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