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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Dr. Melony Samuels, Executive Director of The Campaign Against Hunger
1:04:32
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3 min
Dr. Melony Samuels, Executive Director of The Campaign Against Hunger, testifies about the critical role of nonprofits in serving New York City and the urgent challenges they face due to federal funding cuts. She highlights the impact of a recent funding freeze on their ability to provide food assistance to vulnerable populations.
- The Campaign Against Hunger distributed over 17 million meals to more than 1.5 million New Yorkers in the past year.
- A $1.3 million grant from DHS and FEMA for migrant family support has been frozen without due process, threatening food access for thousands.
- Dr. Samuels calls for city council action, including advocacy at the federal level, legislation to protect nonprofits, and emergency stabilization funding.
Dr. Melony Samuels
1:04:32
Good morning, chair Ressler, chair Brannon, and esteemed members of the community and committee of government operations and committee of on finance.
1:04:43
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today on behalf of the campaign against Sanger Tikka, a leading anti hunger and social service non for profit that has proudly served New York City for over twenty six years.
1:04:55
My name is doctor Melanie Samuels, I appear before you with deep sense of urgency.
1:05:01
Our non for profit, like many others, stand at a breaking point.
1:05:06
While our mission has always been to fight hunger and poverty through emergency food assistance, workforce development, urban agriculture, today, we must also fight to defend the very infrastructure that allowed us to serve.
1:05:19
Non for profit like Tikka are essential to the functioning of this city.
1:05:24
We are not peripheral.
1:05:26
We are a lifeline.
1:05:28
In the past year alone, we distributed over 17,000,000 culturally responsive meal to more than 1,500,000 New Yorkers, including seniors, working family veterans, and newly arrived asylum seekers.
1:05:44
Recently, the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA awarded Tika over 1,300,000.0 through a Shelter and Service Program, SSP, to support migrant families.
1:05:56
This grant intended to sustain emergency food distribution through 2026, has now been frozen without due process or cause.
1:06:06
Chica was the only New York City nonprofit selected for this funding.
1:06:11
No violations were cited, no wrongdoings alleged, and yet we were being punished through vague politically charged policies that indiscriminately target organizations under the guide of border enforcement rhetoric.
1:06:27
This funding freeze is more than a blur or this funding freeze is has become inconvenient.
1:06:36
It is a direct threat to food access for thousands.
1:06:39
We have already invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in staffing, food procurement, and operation.
1:06:46
Now we are being told to wait indefinitely while the families we serve cannot wait another day for a meal.
1:06:54
We presently, have obtained a lawyer because of we are now in violation.
1:07:00
This moment this moment calls for bold municipal advocacy.
1:07:05
We ask the city council to, one, advocate on the federal level for a fair and expeditious review process for funding disbursements to non for profit, especially those caught in the broader enforcement dispute that do not apply to them.
1:07:23
Two, introduce or support legislation that protects non for profit contractors from harmful and arbitrary funding freezes.
1:07:32
Three, ensure transparency and accountability mechanism in how federal funding administrated through city agencies are allocated and to withheld from non for profit partners.
1:07:45
Four, and last, champion emergency stabilization, funding for non for profit facing inter in in interruptions in federal funding streams and jeopardizing essential services.
1:07:57
While we remain focused on our mission to feed, empower, and uplift our communities, we cannot do it with our hands tied behind our backs.
1:08:06
Thank you for your leadership and for the opportunity to testify.
1:08:10
Please refer to the written testimony.
1:08:12
Are there any questions?