City Hall – The New York City Council delivered over $5 million in funds to Jewish organizations and neighborhoods in the Fiscal Year 2010 budget passed last Friday at City Hall.
Despite the tough economic times, the City Council was able to direct funding to dozens of neighborhood organizations such as the Masbia, Bonei Olam, Shomrim Safety Patrol, Chaverim, and Chai Lifeline and to vital citywide organizations such as the Metropolitian Council on Jewish Poverty, Agudath Israel of America, OHEL Children’s Home and Family Services, Mekimi, and Yeled V’Yalda Early Childhood Center.
“These organizations provide invaluable support to families across the city and I am proud to have helped them fulfill their missions. This would not have been possible without the hard work and cooperation of Councilman Felder and Speaker Christine Quinn,” said Councilman Fidler.
“We are grateful to the entire City Council and in particular Councilmen Felder and Fidler for their tireless advocacy on our behalf. With layoffs, business collapses, and the needs of New Yorkers increasing daily, this will help us provide our crucial services to those who need it most,” said William Rapfogel, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty.
“Thanks to the great work of Councilmen Felder and Fidler, Speaker Quinn and Mayor Bloomberg, our organization will be able to continue helping people acquire new skills, gain access to affordable housing, and provide social services to the poor and elderly. Moreover, the restoration of funds for the Priority 7 childcare vouchers will help thousands of low-income families in our community,” said Rabbi David Zwiebel, Executive Director of Agudath Israel of America.
“I am proud that I was able to help deliver funding to help support the vital services provided by these outstanding nonprofit organizations. Good schools, clean parks, and well funded local organizations are the necessary ingredients for ensuring that our community continues to be a great place for seniors, families, and young people to live,” said Councilman Felder. “I want to thank Speaker Quinn, Councilman Lew Fidler, and my colleagues in the City Council for recognizing the importance of these groups and making sure they receive the funding they need to serve the community.”
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11 Responses
I guess in New York City, you can be yotzeh your mitzvah of tzeddakah by paying taxes.
Thank you Simcha Felder for doing your job well. As for all of the apologists who will find a reason why every other community in the city should receive our share of the pie- our organizations were severly cut in last years budget and have been working with very limited resources. This new funding is vital to our community and much thanks should be given to all that played a role in helping us to get it back.
These sites are read with great interest by the secular world as well as by the staffs and political officials themselves. Before you post your questionable naysaying comments- on behalf of thousands of Jews everywhere who are effected by your selfish instincts, please think before you post.Your comments will not be understood as the simple rantings of self doubters and haters- so please contain yourself.
Thank you.
We are proud that Ohr HaLimud has gotten help from the City Council… Thank you to Councilman Felder, Councilman Nelson, Councilman Stewart and all of your staff. It nice to know that the City Council understands how important it is for all of our children to read. Please help a child read!
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http://www.ohrhalimud.org…..Thank You
Askan,
Elected officials have the fiduciary duty to ensure tax money is well spent. Organizations and initiatives that benefit the population of the city taxpayers, should be funded. At the same time, they are required to keep expenses in check to avoid a massive shortfall, should disaster strike.
Non-profit organizations are granted their status in appreciation of their dedication to a cause. It is expected that organizations raise the neccesary capital to remain afloat. Government grants are supposed to supplement and assist in the health of the non-profit. So, if the organizations were not granted tax money last year that should not be used as a justification to grant “kosher pork”.
I am also an askan, but askanus means drumming up community support for an organization, not asking for taxpayer handouts. If a non-profit can’t be almost fully funded by their target community, it needs new management. When some organization heads of the “kosher pork” taxpayer beneficiaries make close to 250K annually, yet lays off employees making 25K, one must question the non-profit status.
THANK YOU – SIMCHA!
Wonderful news, just curious why was Hatzoloh left out?
Artchill, I truly appreciate the civics lesson and couldn’t agree with you more. Masbia, Bonei Olam, Shomrim, Chaverim, Chai Lifeline, the Metropolitian Council on Jewish Poverty( met council), Agudath Israel of America, OHEL Children’s Home and Family Services, Mekimi, and Yeled V’Yalda Early Childhood Center are all responsible organizations heavily involved in the community and certainly working hard to be worthy of community financial support. In these tough economic times, fundraising sometimes is just not enough. These dollars are really vital to the bottom lines. My message above was to the usual naysayers who always seem to apologize for any funding we do receive or criticize the never ending fight for our rightful share of government funding that has been allocated towards all community organizations across the city- but sometimes forget us. Our community contributes mightily to the city be it in tax dollars and/or community services. If we can become a major voting block again- we will really be able to flex some political muscle and help even more people. After last years embarrassment to Speaker Quinn , the city council tightened up their rules and regulations as to who can and who does not qualify for these funds. Kol Haokovod to these very worthy organizations who clearly have passed the mustard and tremendous thanks to all of the various officials (The Mayor,Speaker,S. Felder, M.Nelson, L. Fidler, B.De-Blasio, D. Yassky etc…)who made it happen. Our community is very appreciative to them and will support them where it counts. One name that was omitted but also deserves credit is Councilwoman Melinda Katz of Queens who was also very instrumental in helping our community.
Again a major thanks goes to Simcha Felder and Bill De Blasio for spearheading and leading the fight for Priority 7.
Sinaipres:
An organization must first request this funding and go thru the process. Its open to everybody thru their council representatives office but approvel is another story.
Without knowing specifics I would assume that Hatzoloh did not make a request for this funding.
It’s nice that they are making room for us in the lifeboats, but perhaps we should be concerned that the ship is sinking!!!!!!!!!!!
Not to point fingers at any one organization. It is very important that Donors get independent verification from people themselves, of how , and if in fact, they were helped by this organization. There are dozens of stories going around regarding heroic assistance given to those in need. But when one investigates the original sources, he would find that all these stories originated from: a) the Organizational pamphlets, b) speeches given at Org. functions, c) anonymous comments to various websites posted by the Org. Admin themselves.
Hatzolah does not request any public funding.
As far as this article goes, this is actually a very wise move on the part of the city council.
Anyone who works in the social services world can tell you that giving these types of organizations money actually SAVES the taxpayers’ money.
The reason for this is because a large amount of people helped by these groups would otherwise be exclusively relying on the public for their needs. The city government does not direct and spend money as efficiently as these groups do and so more money would be spent per person.
By helping out these groups the city is saving money in the long term.
These groups are part of the communities they serve. They are involved day to day and know where the need is. It’s impossible for the HUGE city government to do that.
Thank you to the city council for helping these groups help others, and save the city millions in the long term.