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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Aaron Sanders, Deputy Director of Government and Community Relations at Grand Street Settlement
10:32:43
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179 sec
Aaron Sanders, representing Grand Street Settlement, testified on the importance of preserving and strengthening early education programs in New York City. He urged the city to reverse $300 million in proposed cuts to these programs, highlighting their crucial role for working families and the broader economic impact.
- Advocated for restoring $197 million for 3-K programs, funding universal childcare, baselining funding for learning to work programs, and restoring $14 million for community schools
- Emphasized the potential catastrophic impact of budget reductions on working families, particularly those living in NYCHA housing
- Cited a comptroller's report on ongoing challenges in the childcare sector, including lack of slots, workforce retention issues, and high costs
Aaron Sanders
10:32:43
Good evening, everyone.
10:32:44
My name is Aaron Sanders, and I'm the deputy director of government and community relations at Grand Street Settlement.
10:32:50
Thank you, Chair Joseph and members of the New York City Council Committee on Education for convening this important preliminary hearing around the education budget.
10:33:00
Grand Street Settlement is a hundred and nine year old multi service social service agency, and we serve over 18,000 New Yorkers through vital early childhood youth and older adult programs infused with impactful benefits assistance on the Lower East Side, Manhattan, and The Bronx.
10:33:16
We're also a member of United Neighborhood Houses, a policy and social change organization representing neighborhood settlement houses that reach 800,000 New Yorkers across the state.
10:33:26
Additionally, we're a member of the Day Care Council of New York, a membership organization dedicated to the expansion of quality childcare and family services.
10:33:35
Today we're asking the city to strengthen and preserve early education programs for families by reversing $300,000,000 in proposed cuts.
10:33:44
Expenditure reductions to the city's early education programs would adversely impact children and families.
10:33:50
Specifically, we're advocating for the following.
10:33:53
Restoring a hundred and 97,000,000 to the DOE for three k programs, continuing towards the path on to universal child care by codifying and funding to care, and baselining funding for learning to work programs, and finally, restoring 14,000,000 for community schools.
10:34:12
City funding supports our network of center based early childhood education programs throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, and The Bronx.
10:34:18
Grand Street early childhood education programs serve working families and their children, many of whom live in NYCHA housing and face multiple obstacles as it relates to education, health, and economic prosperity.
10:34:30
Our network of child care and educational programs provide families with the opportunities that they need for long term short term and long term development.
10:34:40
Budget reductions for the city's early education programs would be catastrophic for working families.
10:34:45
According to a recent report from the New York City Comptroller's Office, the child care sector faces ongoing challenges post pandemic, including a dearth of child care slots, retention in its workforce, and soaring child care costs.
10:34:59
These disruptions not only impact working families, but they also impact the business sector and commercial corridors.
10:35:06
A lack of universal childcare is projected to reduce revenue by 384,000,000, according to the aforementioned report.
10:35:12
Investments in this sector will promote economic growth as parents and the labor force will be able to balance family and work.
10:35:20
We're also concerned about proposed cuts to youth education programs.
10:35:23
A restoration of funding will provide much needed support for our talented and bright students.
10:35:31
In closing, we urge the city council and the administration to reverse the proposed cuts.
10:35:37
And on a personal note, chair, I wanna thank you for all your support in supporting our youth.