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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Joe Rosenberg, Director of Catholic Community Relations for the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens
3:52:49
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117 sec
Joe Rosenberg, representing Catholic charities, expresses support for nonprofit human service providers and the need for contract reform. He highlights the critical role of nonprofits in serving New Yorkers' basic needs and the challenges they face due to delayed contract payments from the city.
- Emphasizes the importance of the nonprofit sector as first responders to various crises
- Supports all three bills on the agenda, particularly Intro 1247, which would require immediate payment of 80% of awarded contracts upon registration
- Stresses that prompt payment is crucial for nonprofits to continue providing services, especially in light of federal budget cuts
Joe Rosenberg
3:52:49
Good afternoon, chair one.
3:52:50
I'm Joe Rosenberg, director of the Catholic Community Relations Council representing the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens.
3:52:56
Thank you for your long term support of nonprofit human service providers and our need for contract reform.
3:53:02
For over a century, Catholic charities of both dioceses have served the basic needs of New Yorkers every day of every year.
3:53:08
There are food pantries for those who are hungry, housing for the homeless and the elderly.
3:53:12
Support services and legal representation are provided for refugees, immigrants, and unaccompanied minors who have fled the violence of their home countries.
3:53:20
Youth programs deliver early childhood support, school dropout prevention, and vocational training.
3:53:26
At times we must be reminded that there is not just a public sector and a private sector that serve our city.
3:53:32
There's also a non profit sector, one that is often the first responder to natural economic and even political crises.
3:53:40
Right now, all non profit human service providers are in a critical situation.
3:53:44
As federal programs serving vulnerable Americans are being eliminated or severely cut, the need for our services have never been greater.
3:53:52
The challenges we face have rarely been more threatening or extreme.
3:53:56
A continuing and long standing obstacle that all nonprofit providers confront in our city is the lack of prompt payment when awarded service contracts.
3:54:04
With unprecedented federal budget cuts targeted at the nonprofit sector, it is crucial that the city expedite all contract payments.
3:54:11
Without such reform, New Yorkers will encounter difficulties obtaining the services they need while providers will continue to face precarious financial situations.
3:54:19
No justification exists for awarded monies to be delayed for months and even years from being delivered to nonprofits.
3:54:26
We support all three bills that are on today's agenda, especially intro 12:47 which will require immediate payment to a nonprofit provider of 80% of an awarded contract following the contract's registration by the controller.
3:54:38
This reform would provide nonprofits with a greater percentage of funds earlier in the procurement process and would be invaluable in assisting our clients.
3:54:46
Thank you.