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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Tatiana Arguello, Executive Director of Nonprofit Staten Island
2:12:15
·
3 min
Tatiana Arguello, Executive Director of Nonprofit Staten Island, testifies about the underfunding of Staten Island nonprofits and the potential impact of federal funding cuts. She emphasizes the disproportionate allocation of resources to Staten Island compared to its population and the critical services provided by local organizations.
- Staten Island receives only 2% of the city speaker's fund despite making up 6% of the city's population
- Nonprofit Staten Island lost 10% of its budget in fiscal year 2025
- The organization serves residents from all boroughs, not just Staten Island
- Arguello calls for equitable distribution of city funds and increased investment in Staten Island nonprofits
Tatiana Arguello
2:12:15
morning, Chair Brennan and Chair Resler, and the members of the committees.
2:12:20
Thank you for hosting this timely hearing.
2:12:23
My name is Satyana Arguello and I am the executive director of nonprofit Staten Island.
2:12:28
We are the hub for community based organizations serving one of the most underfunded boroughs, Staten Island.
2:12:37
Serving organizations working on the front line of care, equity, and crisis response in Staten Island.
2:12:44
Today, I'm not speaking just for myself, but for a growing network of more than a 50 Staten Island nonprofits and for the thousands of residents they serve every single day.
2:12:55
Children, older adults, immigrants, and families working hard to survive.
2:13:01
We submitted our full written testimony with all the data points because I don't want to bore you.
2:13:06
But the bottom line is that we are underfunded and we need some more services for our children and families, for immigration services, for our senior care, and for our health care services on Staten Island.
2:13:18
And that is why I'm here today supporting our organ members that are testifying.
2:13:25
We're not asking for special treatment, but for support.
2:13:29
We make up 6% of the city's population.
2:13:33
But last year, we received only 2% of the city speakers fund on Staten Island.
2:13:40
Our organization being the one of those organizations that were cut last year, we lost 10% of our budget in fiscal year twenty five.
2:13:49
As a borough, we were left off of multiple citywide initiatives and major funding portfolios.
2:13:56
This despite deep need in a rapid changing population, we are bracing for another hit.
2:14:03
We are hearing warnings about federal cuts and we are already seeing them at play.
2:14:08
Programs are scaling back.
2:14:10
Services are shrinking.
2:14:11
Frontline providers are stretched to the brick.
2:14:15
We're operating with less, serving more, and holding the line for the city's most vulnerable.
2:14:20
We are not only serving Staten Island residents, but also many Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Queens residents as well who come to Staten Island and pay the toll in other ways for our services.
2:14:34
This moment is not theoretical for us.
2:14:38
It's real.
2:14:38
And if city dollars are distributed inequitably now, we are terrified of what federal reductions will mean for our borough that is already left behind.
2:14:50
We know that there is need citywide and we stand with our colleagues citywide, but we want to remind you that we are here and that we are doing incredible work on Staten Island and that there is a gap between the need and investment that is growing.
2:15:06
We cannot afford to fall further.
2:15:09
We are here to be seen, heard, and invested on.
2:15:12
As Staten Island's Nonprofit Ambassador, I'm asking the council to work with us to fix what's broken to ensure that Staten Island is not forgotten.
2:15:21
Thank you.