Brooklyn Council Member Dr. Mathieu Eugene continues his long fight for summer youth funding.
On Monday, Eugene, chairman of the City Council’s Youth Services Committee, was joined by his colleagues, as well as youth advocates from throughout New York City, in rallying on the steps of City Hall to save summer programs for 34,000 children.
For months, Eugene said he has been rallying to save summer programs for middle school students, urging Mayor Bill de Blasio to “restore this crucial funding and make youth programs a priority.
“Nothing should be more important than investing in our youth,” Eugene said. “We must continue to fight for this crucial funding, but, as we get closer to summer, we get farther away from making these summer programs a reality.
“Providers need ample time to prepare for camp, and so the funding must be immediately restored before it’s too late,” he added.
Eugene said he was very pleased with his colleagues’ support for these programs.
“This is such an important issue to the New York City Council, and I’m pleased to have the tremendous support of so many of my colleagues, including those who attended my press conferences and those who have signed on to the numerous letters I have sent to Mayor de Blasio calling for more funding for youth programs,” he said.
In addition to advocating for summer programs for middle school students, Eugene said he is also pushing for more funding for the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) for teenagers and young adults.
