TESTIMONY
Peleya Patterson, Vice President of Justice Initiatives at Good Shepherd Services, on Proposed Cuts to Youth Justice Programs
6:34:52
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112 sec
Peleya Patterson discusses the negative impact of proposed budget cuts on youth justice programs in New York City.
- Patterson represents Good Shepherd Services and testifies against the budget cuts to programs like Arches.
- Advocates for the restoration of funding for Arches and other essential youth support services.
- Highlights the importance of education, vocational opportunities, mentoring, and positive adult relationships for youth.
- Criticizes the city's decision to cut critical services, emphasizing that it undermines youth welfare during financial crises.
- Urges the council to reinvest in youth, underscoring their importance to the city's future.
Peleya Patterson
6:34:52
Good afternoon.
6:34:54
Thank you chair a nurse.
6:34:55
And the members of the committee on criminal justice for the opportunity to testify on a preliminary budget hearing for the Department of probation.
6:35:04
My name is Paulia Patterson, and I am the vice president of justice Initiatives at Good Shepherd Services.
6:35:10
Good Shepherd Services is a provider of community based youth justice programs, care violence, family enrichment centers, and community partnerships programs.
6:35:20
As well as community centers and after school programming.
6:35:24
When I last testified before the committee in September, I was demanding that the Department of Probation reinstate the next steps mentoring program, which the Department of Probation abruptly terminated in August of last year.
6:35:38
Today, I am urging the council to restore cuts to the arches program, which were announced in the November plan and to protect programs that support youth across New York city, such as Arch's Workplace, and many more.
6:35:52
I heard testimony today about the need for educational and vocational opportunities but a failure to recognize the impact of credible messages, positive adult relationships, and mentoring have on youth that helped them navigate the challenges they face to attain these opportunities.
6:36:09
Credible messages not only help you cope with and navigate the daily challenges of their lives, but also provide you with tools that can later serve as a foundation for future success.
6:36:22
In the time of financial crisis, young people should not be under attack.
6:36:27
The city has decided to remove critical services that will have a negative impact across the city.
6:36:34
Young people are facing so many issues, and they are asking us to reinvest in them, not take resources away.
6:36:42
Thank you again for the opportunity to testify.