New York, NY – Mayor Bloomberg Rejects Appeal to Restore Priority-7 Vouchers

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    New York, NY – Earlier today, a group of Council Members leading the fight to restore Priority 7 vouchers had a rare meeting with Mayor Michael Bloomberg and several of his top aides to discuss the fate of the Priority 7 program.

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    Priority 7 is a lifeline for thousands of this city’s neediest families, ensuring that children are provided safe, professional childcare. And, since April of this year, Council Members David Greenfield, Lew Fidler, Letitia James, Brad Lander and Stephen Levin have advocated vociferously, both publicly and privately, to save this vital program. Those Councilmembers were joined today by Council Finance Chairman Domenic M. Recchia, Jr. in their meeting with the Mayor today.

    “We made an incredibly compelling case today as to why Priority 7 vouchers should be saved and how these cuts disproportionately impact the Orthodox Jewish community,” explained Councilman David Greenfield.

    “Unfortunately, the Mayor did not agree with us.”

    In recent years, Priority 7, which primarily benefits Orthodox Jewish families, has become the default option for reducing the Administration for Children’s Services’ budget shortfall. But, while other programs are recommended for funding reductions, Priority 7 is consistently, completely eliminated at the expense of a single, exceptionally needy community.  In fact, by ACS’s own admission, over 70% of children in Orthodox neighborhoods like Boro Park and Williamsburg are eligible for free childcare; however, only a fraction of those needy children actually receive it.

    For years, the waiting list for the Priority 7 program, which is slated to end on December 31, 2010, remained lengthy.

    “We are very disappointed that the Mayor did not agree to restore Priority 7 vouchers — so essential for thousands of families — even though we presented him with an extremely reasonable proposal that would reduce funding dramatically each year going forward,” said Councilman Lander.

    “On the last day of Hanukkah, we were hoping for better.”

    “Over the past year, Council Members Greenfield, James, Fidler, Lander, Recchia and I have worked tirelessly to advocate for the preservation of Priority 7 vouchers,” noted Councilman Levin.

    “The loss of Priority 7 vouchers would have a devastating effect on the communities we represent.  Today, we made a highly persuasive case to the Mayor, detailing exactly how devastating the loss of the program would be.  All of us — the elected officials and the community — need to continue to collectively press the Administration to continue Priority 7 vouchers.”

    At today’s meeting, the Council Members hand-delivered over 15,500 letters from their constituents, in addition to the over 12,000 letters that were delivered in June, pleading with the Mayor to save Priority 7.

    The Council Members even offered a compromise that was pre-approved by the majority of yeshiva leaders, to phase out the program by cutting it 20% each year for the next five years. The mayor said he would consider the compromise.

    However, in light of the $1.6 billion in current mid-year budget cuts and several billion dollars in planned cuts for next year, he didn’t think that Priority 7 would be restored.

    “It is simply unacceptable that the City is ending the Priority 7 program,” said Councilman Greenfield. “My colleagues and I have done everything in our power to restore these vouchers, including securing this rare personal meeting with Mayor Bloomberg. To be clear, the battle is not over.  We will continue to fight for Priority 7, and for the families and mosdos that will be gravely hurt by the loss of this program.”


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    20 Comments
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    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    Kok hakovod to Bloomberg for cutting off these funds and other subsidies we can no longer afford. Everyone wants lower taxes and spending but screams “gevalt” when it is their mosdos that are cut. Families need to start taking responsibility for their own needs, including yiddeshe families who have more children than they can afford to take care of. If you have a rich schver and don’t have a job that pays a lot of money, than have all the babies you want. If not, consider cutting back to what you can afford and only have the kids once you know you can given them the proper care, including day care. Any responsible rav will tell you that.

    nono2
    nono2
    13 years ago

    is the same vouchers as the ones all the yeshivas get instead of SCHAR LIMID or is this a after school program?

    13 years ago

    Anybody here surprised at Bloomberg’s decision? Anybody? He doesn’t need the orthodox contingent anymore, we don’t have enough pull to make an impact on his run for president.

    moshegabai
    moshegabai
    13 years ago

    Moral of the story? Politicians never keep election promises!

    NJ Shmuel
    NJ Shmuel
    13 years ago

    Let’s try a different moral to this story… That is, why should Orthodox Jews be “addicted” to government funding? Perhaps it’s time for the junkies to go cold turkey and begin a new life clean and free of this awful addiction.
    Live within your means.
    Don’t ask for handouts.
    Teach your children an honest trade.

    YOELYG
    YOELYG
    13 years ago

    #4 Shame on you,,, its a mitzva doireisa from pre irve. #1 no, the schar limud one called priority 9 vouchers (where bhohgt parents working, priority 7 is only if 1 working). #5 the gouim don’t pay no titution at all in there public schools, so shut up

    shmoigar
    shmoigar
    13 years ago

    Let’s make a total of what we got from our mayor since he got elected…. Bike lanes, proirity 7, more murders and robberys e.t.c and the list goas on and on… We r a bunch of tipshim for electing him for a third term.

    DavidCohen
    DavidCohen
    13 years ago

    “It is simply unacceptable that the City is ending the Priority 7 program”

    It is not just acceptable, it’s actually fiscally responsible. Cities, like households, can’t spend more than they make. And when you are spending too much, you cut spending.

    Now if only we could get the federal government to do the same!

    thecommissioner
    thecommissioner
    13 years ago

    Just to start off, I don’t know if Priority 7 has any educational value, but if it does, I’m all for it. Most of the previous commentators, have done atrocities with the english language.

    Perhaps if Priority 7 went towards a real after school program that actually taught the students something, it would have been saved. Instead Priority 7 was used as a tuition supplement. Bloomberg isn’t stupid, he may be an out-of-touch egotistic mayor, but he isn’t stupid.

    To all those that voted for Greenfield, because he was going to save Priority 7, be ashamed. You were fooled, and now we have a councilman who is a puppet of Vito Lopez, Good Job!

    Aron1
    Active Member
    Aron1
    13 years ago

    How ironic that we fell for Mayor Bloomberg’s “switch & bait” during elections. First he cuts the program, then with great fanfare he reinstates the program. Finally, months later, when the elections over, he cuts the program without compunction.

    yeedle
    yeedle
    13 years ago

    I am sick and tired to pay high blumberg taxes to support the public school system that goes up and up
    No I can’t get vouchers but if some of my community would get back part of the high taxes we pay I would be happy
    But only paying and get noting back is crazy

    I didn’t vote for david greenfield for the reason that the mayor and vito lopez endorsed him
    You voted for him now you have noting but a puppet of the mayor and lopez

    yeedle
    yeedle
    13 years ago

    The problem is that he plans to run for president and our choice will be obama or blumberg
    I will rather sit home then vote for any of them

    yeedle
    yeedle
    13 years ago

    All those people here are freshman councilman still missing the experience people like simcha felder and dov hikind have

    I try to vote to whom the yeshivas tell me but this time I listened to people who told me to vote for greenfield big mistake I made there I wanted an asken and got a public relation master

    yankel
    yankel
    13 years ago

    As a mother with two kids in daycare, I am petrified about what is about to happen.

    Community leaders, please do all you can to make sure the vouchers are restored.

    yeedle
    yeedle
    13 years ago

    So sad we have to put up with a mayor that is so ignorant
    I have no chance to get those vouchers because of my income but its very sad that people who need it don’t get it when our community pays very high taxes and saves the city billions by not using public schools

    Basicly we went to. Sleep with blimberg and woke up with r duved geeenfield

    cowfy
    cowfy
    13 years ago

    in any case we”ll just have to wait for the next mayor.once bloomy moves on with his pipe dream of president or vise pres.and finaly retires to his scrooge mcduck swimming pool.