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Q&A
Council Member Stevens questions DYCD on Cure Violence program and legal services funding
3:05:28
·
178 sec
Council Member Althea Stevens engages in a Q&A session with DYCD officials, focusing on the status of the Cure Violence program in specific precincts and the funding for legal services in the Office of Neighborhood Safety (ONS). The discussion reveals that there hasn't been an expansion of the Cure Violence program in the mentioned area and that funding for legal services was affected by budget cuts.
- DYCD officials acknowledge the critical nature of legal services provided by Legal Aid for CMS (Crisis Management System) providers.
- The department commits to further discussions with OMB (Office of Management and Budget) regarding potential restoration of funding for legal services.
- Council Member Stevens expresses interest in being involved in future conversations about funding restoration.
Althea Stevens
3:05:28
What is the status of the expanded cure violence program in the 40 Seventh Precinct Eden Wall Houses and how much funding has been budgeted to this site?
Darryl Rattray
3:05:44
Good afternoon, Chair Stephens.
3:05:46
Can you elaborate a little on the expanded program?
3:05:50
I'm not we have a catchment in the 40 Seventh Precinct.
3:05:55
They do work within which is Bragg, Good Shepherd Bragg.
3:05:58
They do work in Edenwell Houses as well, but I'm not familiar with an expansion.
Althea Stevens
3:06:04
So it wasn't expanded.
3:06:05
It's just the same catchment area.
3:06:07
They didn't they weren't expanded?
Darryl Rattray
3:06:10
That's correct.
3:06:11
Okay.
Althea Stevens
3:06:13
Has there been conversations with OMB to restore funding for the legal services in ONS?
Jeremy Halbridge
3:06:21
Thank you for the question.
3:06:23
That was a peg.
3:06:24
As you know, we, as part of the administration, all had to participate and ensure that we could meet the moment, of the needs of the administration.
3:06:33
What we did do though is try and ensure that with anything, we did not reduce critical services that we tried to keep it the same.
3:06:41
We are constantly talking with OMB.
Althea Stevens
3:06:43
So was the legal service not considered critical?
Keith Howard
3:06:46
So the legal service is considered critical and I and and preliminary budget I I had committed to having those conversations with OMB and seeing exactly what that looks like.
3:06:58
We've been working with legal services.
3:07:01
They've been doing a phenomenal job in making sure that our young people get legal representation.
3:07:06
So those are conversations that will be happening as I committed to the at the preliminary budget with ONB.
Althea Stevens
3:07:16
CMS organizations rely on CJU legal services to meet community needs and support their mission to evade eradicate gun violence.
3:07:24
So is DYCD I know you said during conversations, but do you guys see that as a critical part of this work and have you guys seen any, I guess, like any negative effects of this this pack because you know that was a critical part of the work that they were doing before.
Darryl Rattray
3:07:45
And chair Stephens, we we testified at the preliminary hearing that the services provided by legal aid are critical to some of the work that our CMS providers are doing.
3:07:56
Everything from the representation that they provide to young adults, referrals, hotlines, workshops.
3:08:04
They had close to at this point over 4,000 young adults in workshops.
3:08:08
Those are critical services that support the work that our CMS providers are doing on the ground.
3:08:13
To the commissioner's point earlier, we are going to have further discussions with ONB on restoration potential restorations or what supports we can provide.
Althea Stevens
3:08:23
Thank you.
3:08:23
And tap me into those conversations.
3:08:24
I would love to be of support.