194 New York City Organizations Sign Letter to NYC Mayor Demanding Funding to Social Services Agencies be Restored

SCAN-HARBOR and 193 other Community Based Organizations in New York City signed a letter to the Mayor outlining how the COVID-19 Pandemic has amplified inequilities that exist within the institutions that all New Yorkers rely upon.

The organizations joined with the City Council's letter to the Mayor stating that proposed budget cuts were not equitable.

The letter states:

When we are facing a budget deficit where the city is emphasizing that difficult decisions must be made across the board, the decision to decrease funding for social services while maintaining funding for the NYPD is the opposite of what our values should be. Particularly in light of the actions of the NYPD over the last few days, it is clear that our city requires diametrically opposite approaches to repair what has been broken.

The letter concludes with sound guidance:

It’s time to invest in supporting our communities instead of policing them. It’s time to be bold by making targeted cuts to the NYPD. We need to protect investments in human services, the social safety net, racial and economic justice, and the vision that all New Yorkers deserve to thrive.

Check out the article in CITYLIMITS for more information.

Jamel Oeser-Sweat, Esq. is the President of the Board at SCAN-HARBOR.