Councilman David G. Greenfield is pleased that the New York City Council and Mayor Michael Bloomberg have reached a budget agreement that restores funding for many programs that his district’s residents and families rely on and for the many outstanding nonprofit groups serving the district. The handshake agreement on the $70 billion budget plan came late Sunday evening and is expected to be finalized at Wednesday’s Stated Council meeting. Councilman Greenfield played an instrumental role as a member of the Council’s budget negotiating team and as co-chair of the Brooklyn Delegation fighting for programs and services that are especially important to local families, children and seniors citizens.

“I am very proud to have helped deliver a budget that maintains vital services without raising taxes. As a result of months of negotiations, we have avoided destructive cuts to many programs and services that are essential to maintaining the quality of life that local residents, families and seniors deserve. The end result is a fiscally-responsible budget that prioritizes important areas including child care, after-school programs, senior centers, libraries and neighborhood firehouses. My thanks to Speaker Quinn, Council Finance Chairman Domenic Recchia and my colleagues for their hard work on a sensible budget,” said Councilman Greenfield.

During the budget negotiation process, Councilman Greenfield was again successful in securing $5 million to maintain child care vouchers for our community, along with more than $2 million in direct funding for nearly 100 outstanding charitable and nonprofit organizations serving Boro Park, Midwood and Bensonhurst and other neighborhoods throughout New York City and over $3 million more in funding for parks projects in the Councilman’s district.

Greenfield also advocated strongly for the restoration of $1.3 million in funding for the autism initiative that benefits many community groups that help children with autism including OHEL, Shema Koleinu and Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services. Also, for the first time ever, council districts in Southern Brooklyn including Greenfield’s district will receive funding to address domestic violence. This will benefit groups like Shalom Task Force that serve the frum community.

Greenfield was also able to restore funding for the JCC of Bensonhurst senior center. The JCC houses a shtiebel on the outskirts of Boro Park at 63rd Street and 23rd Avenue that would have had to close down due to the lack of rent received from the kosher senior center.

Finally, one of the most important aspects of the city budget for many local families is funding to the city Administration for Children’s Services to support child care and after-school programs.

This year, the mayor’s proposed budget included drastic cuts to early childhood education and after-school programs that would have eliminated thousands of slots in these services that working families rely on. As a result of the tireless advocacy from Councilman Greenfield, Council Speaker Christine Quinn and many of their Council colleagues, $143.6 million has been restored for these programs. This includes $60 million for early childhood education and $72 million for after-school initiatives that prevents a proposed $10 million cut to the Out-of-School-Time program and provides $51 million to create an additional 30,000 slots.

“Our families deserve great neighborhoods with nice parks and libraries, adequate fire protection and access to child care and after-school programs that provide a safe and educational environment for our children. I am very pleased to have successfully fought for these important programs throughout the negotiation process, and I am proud of the key role I played in passing a responsible budget on behalf of my constituents,” added Councilman Greenfield.

(YWN Desk – NYC)