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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Mohammad Razvi, Executive Director of Council of People's Organization, on Impact of Federal Funding Cuts
1:20:18
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138 sec
Mohammad Razvi, Executive Director of the Council of People's Organization, testifies about the ongoing need for food assistance and other essential services in his community, particularly among South Asian and Muslim populations in Brooklyn. He urges the council to maintain funding for these crucial programs despite federal cuts, emphasizing that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are still being felt by many vulnerable New Yorkers.
- Razvi's organization saw a tenfold increase in demand during COVID-19, distributing over 20,500,000 pounds of food.
- He notes that recent cuts to programs like SNAP are devastating to community members who rely on these services.
- Razvi stresses that contrary to some perceptions, the need for assistance has not ended with the official end of the COVID-19 emergency.
Mohammad Razvi
1:20:18
Wonderful.
1:20:19
Thank you chair Ressler and chair Brennan.
1:20:24
My name is Mohammad Razvi and I run one of the largest South Asian Muslim organizations in Brooklyn.
1:20:29
I just wanted to give you a sense of when someone says there's a few thousand people that come to your office for services, this is that data.
1:20:38
This is how many thousands and thousands of people are coming to our office for services.
1:20:43
Secondly, during COVID, this is this book was multiplied by 10.
1:20:49
So during COVID, I had 10 of these books.
1:20:52
That's how many people were coming through our offices.
1:20:54
We serviced over 20,500,000 pounds of food.
1:20:59
And I can't even explain to you how desperate the people were.
1:21:04
You just had to see them on the line that, you know, people who were average New Yorkers who had good jobs and how they were trying to survive.
1:21:13
At this moment, all these cuts that are happening, I know some folks say the food you know, the COVID's over, but it's not over for our folks.
1:21:22
And when I say our folks, I mean the folks who are hard workers, and they're the ones who actually need.
1:21:27
All these cuts that are happening are devastating.
1:21:30
Recently, we were able to fortunately, have our council member, Ina Vernikov, also participate in, providing food for during Passover, which was great.
1:21:42
Yesterday, we did it with our city council member, Farrah Lewis, which was great.
1:21:46
But for the Muslim community, for other community members, there's so much need, and it's a never ending story.
1:21:53
Everyone thinks it's over.
1:21:55
It's not over.
1:21:56
We we urge you to actually even if the OMB is going to think or or the administration is thinking a way to put the funding or put the money, please put it into at least these programs which are essential, you know, which is the survival for these community members because these folks have nothing else.
1:22:15
All they're here on those lines is just trying to get some food for their kids.
1:22:19
And we do help them to enroll for SNAP, which also is being cut, which is unfortunate.
1:22:24
So this is where our, you know, request is just to make sure these essential services that are being cut, please focus on that and please keep that continuous for us.
1:22:35
Thank you.