NEW YORK—New York Rep. Anthony Weiner was joined by New York council members at City Hall on Wednesday to announce the passage of the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act in the House of Representatives, which would provide 15,400 summer jobs for New York City youth if it is also successfully passed in the Senate.
Rep. Weiner, New York City Council Assistant Majority Leader Lew Fidler, Brooklyn councilmen Albert Vann and Jumaane D. Williams, Manhattan Councilwoman Margaret Chin, and co-chairpersons of the Campaign for Summer Jobs Anthony Ng and Gigi Li gathered together to commend the House’s successful passage of the act, which will allocate $23.5 million for the creation of new summer jobs. The jobs will be provided through the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) “But the job is only half done,” said Fidler, as the act needs to be approved by a majority of the Senate.
In April, youths gathered at City Hall to protest the 35,000 plus summer jobs that would be lost due to the state and city budget cuts, reported the New York Nonprofit Press. Gov. David Paterson proposed cutting the state’s $35 million allocation to SYEP, while Mayor Mike Bloomberg anticipated a $1 million cut by the city’s 2011 preliminary budget. If passed by the Senate, the act would provide additional opportunities for city youth in the face of harsh budget cuts. Fidler, who is also the chairman of the Youth Services Committee, commented that last year, 100,000 youths who applied to SYEP were not offered a job. “The act will fill a critical gap” in the disparities, Fidler said.
Rep. Weiner expressed that increased funding for summer jobs is a direct indicator of a thriving economy, as companies feel the need to employ more workers for their prospering business. Fidler added that in turn, youth are able to spend the money they earn at local businesses, stimulating the city economy. Summer employment will also help youth gain valuable job experience, while providing service to their local communities through jobs such as day camp counselors.
Councilwoman Margaret Chin pressed for the president to sign the act before the summer begins so that city youth can be employed as soon as possible. She emphasized that the jobs are especially crucial to low-income families.
Councilmen Jumaane D. Williams noted that as the weather turns warmer, gang activity will be on the rise. The youth need to be occupied with work so that they are not enticed to commit crime in their free time.
Rep. Weiner urged New York Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand to pass the act because the extra jobs will have “a residual impact on the youth and the economy.”
Rep. Weiner, New York City Council Assistant Majority Leader Lew Fidler, Brooklyn councilmen Albert Vann and Jumaane D. Williams, Manhattan Councilwoman Margaret Chin, and co-chairpersons of the Campaign for Summer Jobs Anthony Ng and Gigi Li gathered together to commend the House’s successful passage of the act, which will allocate $23.5 million for the creation of new summer jobs. The jobs will be provided through the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) “But the job is only half done,” said Fidler, as the act needs to be approved by a majority of the Senate.
In April, youths gathered at City Hall to protest the 35,000 plus summer jobs that would be lost due to the state and city budget cuts, reported the New York Nonprofit Press. Gov. David Paterson proposed cutting the state’s $35 million allocation to SYEP, while Mayor Mike Bloomberg anticipated a $1 million cut by the city’s 2011 preliminary budget. If passed by the Senate, the act would provide additional opportunities for city youth in the face of harsh budget cuts. Fidler, who is also the chairman of the Youth Services Committee, commented that last year, 100,000 youths who applied to SYEP were not offered a job. “The act will fill a critical gap” in the disparities, Fidler said.
Rep. Weiner expressed that increased funding for summer jobs is a direct indicator of a thriving economy, as companies feel the need to employ more workers for their prospering business. Fidler added that in turn, youth are able to spend the money they earn at local businesses, stimulating the city economy. Summer employment will also help youth gain valuable job experience, while providing service to their local communities through jobs such as day camp counselors.
Councilwoman Margaret Chin pressed for the president to sign the act before the summer begins so that city youth can be employed as soon as possible. She emphasized that the jobs are especially crucial to low-income families.
Councilmen Jumaane D. Williams noted that as the weather turns warmer, gang activity will be on the rise. The youth need to be occupied with work so that they are not enticed to commit crime in their free time.
Rep. Weiner urged New York Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand to pass the act because the extra jobs will have “a residual impact on the youth and the economy.”
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