The real budget OST Coalition Monday Update #4

[IMANI HOUSE]

  Hi everyone, this is the real deal with the Mayor and OST.  There's no money allocated to restore programs like us.  The cuts now total 23.4 million.  I call this advocacy group that's been keeping us abreast and they told me that basically nothing has changed except the language.  It's hard to understand.  Seems the extra money that wasn't cut is only so that current OST programs can absorb ACS children.  She said they need us to keep the pressure on our City Council members and join them in demonstrations, call ins and Rallies.  Thanks for doing your part.  SB

 

Good Afternoon Coalition –

 

Our next meeting is Wednesday, May 11th, at 10:30am at Neighborhood Family Services Coalition (120 Broadway, Ste. 230 same office as PASE). Please RSVP to Gigi Li at gi...@nfsc-nyc.org  no later than Close of Business May 10th. To be sure you have no complications entering the building please bring your IDs and tell security you are going to PASE. It is extremely important that providers come to this meeting; we appreciate your steady commitment to this issue.

 

The FY12 NYC Executive Budget was released on Friday, as many of you may know; there were some critical and impactful cuts to OST. We most definitely have our work cut out for us this year. Wednesday’s meeting will highlight the City budget and how it impacts OST. We will also strategize about upcoming advocacy efforts and events.

 

We are now asking for an OST restoration of $23.4 Million for more than 16,000 slots.

 

Attachments:

ü  Tentative Agenda for Wednesday’s meeting

ü  Borough Media template for upcoming Borough-wide events : please use this for pitching the events to local borough media and feel free to customize it and make it more personal

 

Action Updates Reminder:

                -Council Meetings - It is critical that Council Members hear from you regarding the Out of School Time cuts impacting clients in their districts.  Please flood Council Member offices with calls this week to set up meetings – we need everyone’s participation to make this effective!

                CALL INSTRUCTIONS:  You may use the Council website at: http://council.nyc.gov/html/members/members.shtml to look up your Council Member by your site addresses and get the Council Member’s phone numbers.  We recommend that you call their district office first, rather than the 250 Broadway offices. 

 

                -PETITIONS: Please continue to get signatures!  We are just over 500 signatures on the Save After School online petition. Here is the link (http://edalliance.wufoo.com/forms/mayors-budget-will-halt-afterschool/) We want to reach at least 17,000 Signatures!!

 

Upcoming Events:

 

§                  May 11th  OST Coalition Meeting at NFSC

§                  May 18th is OST Twitter Day! #saveafterschool

§                  May 19th  Youth Services Committee Hearing

 

 

Please look out for an updated fact sheet with the new cuts. We look forward to seeing you all Wednesday at 10:30. Thank  you.

 

 

Please see below for last week’s Monday Update.