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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 096-05
March 10, 2005

STATEMENT BY MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG ON THE PROPOSED CUTS TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS

“I am deeply troubled by the proposed ‘Strengthening America’s Communities Block Grant Program’ and the impact it will have on New York City’s neighborhoods. The administrations’ budget proposal reduces block grant expenditure by 30% to $3.7 billion from $5.6 billion.

“Community Development Block Grants keep seniors in their homes and our children in after school programs. It pays for heat and hot water for tenants when landlords won’t. It pays for daycare for working mothers and adult literacy programs.  A 30% reduction will devastate these vital programs and cause irreparable harm to our City. 

“New York City currently receives approximately $240 million in block grant funds. Any proposal that reduces funding will not meet the needs of the hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers that rely on these vital services.  Eliminating this program jeopardizes vital programs aimed at assisting our most vulnerable to participate and contribute to society. I urge Congress to protect these vital programs and the New Yorkers who depend on them.”







MEDIA CONTACT:


Edward Skyler / Jordan Barowitz   (212) 788-2958




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