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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 196-03
July 16, 2003

MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG SIGNS LEGISLATION STREAMLINING SOCIAL SERVICES

Remarks by Mayor Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Law

“The first bill before me today is Introductory Number 500-A, sponsored at my request by Council Members DeBlasio, Comrie, Davis, Fidler, Nelson, Provenzano and Stewart.  This bill eliminates the Department of Employment and transfers its functions to the Department of Small Business Services and the Department of Youth and Community Development.  Furthermore, this bill transfers child support and childcare eligibility functions from the Administration for Children's Services to the Human Resources Administration.

“In a time of diminished resources, programs and services provided by agencies in the City of New York have experienced serious reductions in funding.  These cutbacks make it increasingly difficult for agencies to conduct programs that meet their intended mission and serve the needs of clients and customers.  Social service programs, which serve the most needy New Yorkers, in particular, find their funding constrained just as the needs are expected to increase.

“Intro. 500-A is a resourceful and creative way to maintain service delivery during these tough fiscal times.  Because our social service agencies often may provide overlapping services and interact with many of the same clients, consolidating their functions can eliminate duplication, createefficiencies, improve program operations and conserve funds.

“Aligning workforce development activities with economic development programs at DSBS is a smart way to meet business needs while providing opportunities for job seekers.  Situating youth programs all in a single agency will give DYCD the opportunity to coordinate a broader range of youth development initiatives.  Placing child support enforcement at HRA will improve database matching to maximize support collections and paternity establishment.  Transferring childcare eligibility determinations to HRA will streamline the process to improve client services.  The consolidations produced by Intro. 500-A offer a common-sense approach to the delivery of human services, which will ultimately improve client access.

“I thank my Special Advisor, Ester Fuchs, and Commissioners Eggleston, Bell, Mullgrav and Walsh for their efforts in ensuring a seamless transition.  I also thank Commissioner Wu for her leadership at DOE, and for all of her hard work as a part of this Administration for the last year-and-a-half.”





CONTACT:

Edward Skyler / Jordan Barowitz   (212) 788-2958


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