New York – Earlier today, a group of Council Members leading the fight to restore Priority 7 vouchers had a rare meeting with Mayor Michael Bloomberg and several of his top aides to discuss the fate of the Priority 7 program.  Priority 7 is a lifeline for thousands of this city’s neediest families, ensuring that children are provided safe, professional childcare. And, since April of this year, Council Members David Greenfield, Lew Fidler, Letitia James, Brad Lander and Stephen Levin have advocated vociferously, both publicly and privately, to save this vital program. Those Councilmembers were joined today by Council Finance Chairman Domenic M. Recchia, Jr. in their meeting with the Mayor today.

“We made an incredibly compelling case today as to why Priority 7 vouchers should be saved and how these cuts disproportionately impact the Orthodox Jewish community,” explained Councilman David Greenfield.  “Unfortunately, the Mayor did not agree with us.”

In recent years, Priority 7, which primarily benefits Orthodox Jewish families, has become the default option for reducing the Administration for Children’s Services’ budget shortfall. But, while other programs are recommended for funding reductions, Priority 7 is consistently, completely eliminated at the expense of a single, exceptionally needy community.  In fact, by ACS’s own admission, over 70% of children in Orthodox neighborhoods like Boro Park and Williamsburg are eligible for free childcare; however, only a fraction of those needy children actually receive it.  For years, the waiting list for the Priority 7 program, which is slated to end on December 31, 2010, remained lengthy.

“We are very disappointed that the Mayor did not agree to restore Priority 7 vouchers — so essential for thousands of families — even though we presented him with an extremely reasonable proposal that would reduce funding dramatically each year going forward,” said Councilman Lander.  “On the last day of Hanukkah, we were hoping for better.”

“Over the past year, Council Members Greenfield, James, Fidler, Lander, Recchia and I have worked tirelessly to advocate for the preservation of Priority 7 vouchers,” noted Councilman Levin.  “The loss of Priority 7 vouchers would have a devastating effect on the communities we represent.  Today, we made a highly persuasive case to the Mayor, detailing exactly how devastating the loss of the program would be.  All of us — the elected officials and the community — need to continue to collectively press the Administration to continue Priority 7 vouchers.”

At today’s meeting, the Council Members hand-delivered over 15,500 letters from their constituents, in addition to the over 12,000 letters that were delivered in June, pleading with the Mayor to save Priority 7.  The Council Members even offered a compromise that was pre-approved by the majority of yeshiva leaders, to phase out the program by cutting it 20% each year for the next five years. The mayor said he would consider the compromise.  However, in light of the $1.6 billion in current mid-year budget cuts and several billion dollars in planned cuts for next year, he didn’t think that Priority 7 would be restored.

“It is simply unacceptable that the City is ending the Priority 7 program,” said Councilman Greenfield. “My colleagues and I have done everything in our power to restore these vouchers, including securing this rare personal meeting with Mayor Bloomberg. To be clear, the battle is not over.  We will continue to fight for Priority 7, and for the families and mosdos that will be gravely hurt by the loss of this program.”

(YWN Desk – NYC)