PRESS RELEASES
Friday, March 13, 2009
Assemblymembers Paulin and Latimer Announce Agreement to Restore Funding for New Rochelle Youth Bureau
Assemblymembers Amy Paulin and George Latimer are pleased to report that the Assembly has reached an agreement with the Senate and Governor to restore funding to youth bureaus. As part of this agreement, the funding allocated for the New Rochelle Youth Bureau will be fully restored.
The agreement ensures that youth bureaus will receive the funds they need to continue providing important services to at risk youth, such as mentoring, counseling, recreation, the arts, summer camps, after school activities and college and career counseling, which keep these children occupied and off the streets. “I am absolutely thrilled about this investment in supporting the services youth bureaus provide to all of our youth. I look forward to seeing our young people grow and develop their potential with the support of Youth Bureau Programs,” commented Joel Fridovich, the Co-Chair of the New Rochelle Youth Bureau.
Under the Governor’s original budget proposal, the funding for youth bureaus would have been included as part of a $90 million block grant designated for both prevention programs, such as the youth bureaus, and detention programs. This proposal would have meant not only a 25% reduction in funding from the $118 million allocated to these programs last year, but also the end of dedicated funding for youth bureaus. The agreement reached by the Senate, Assembly and Governor rejects this proposal.
“I am very grateful that the Assembly, Senate and Governor were able to reach an agreement to protect these important youth bureaus,” said Assemblywoman Paulin. “The services provided by the White Plains youth bureau and similar institutions throughout the State are essential for enriching our children and helping them learn the skills they need to be productive adults,” she added.
Assemblyman Latimer echoed Paulin’s sentiment, stating: "New Rochelle residents - especially young people - lobbied hard to oppose the Governor’s proposal. They know how essential it is to provide for programs that reach young people during these critical years of their lives.”