The disclosure could violate the First Amendment and restrict their ability to communicate with their members. via ny1.com
Michael Stoller spoke at the Austerity Breakfast at Tiffany's. For video of the event, click here. Additional footage can be found here.
Allison Sesso speaks on Capital Tonight in a conference on Millionaire's Tax to voice support for progressive revenue generation. Click here to watch this video.
Michael Stoller speaks about the budget cuts to the Human Services sector and the On May 12th rally at a press conference. Click here to watch this video of the press conference from the OnMay12th Coalition's youtube page.
Allison Sesso is in this story on NY1 talking about lobby law commission and impact of lobby laws on nonprofits.
Michael Stoller and Allison Sesso spoke at the Joint Budget Hearing. You can view their testimony here.
Hundreds of advocates, providers and clients turned out to protest Governor Paterson s vetoes of legislative discretionary funding appropriations at rallies in New York City and Albany. To watch a video of the NYC rally, click here.
HSC held a press conference in response to the governor s vetoes. A video of this event is available. Watch here.
Chris Winward of HSC is interviewed in this piece about the impact of the recent state budget vetoes on organizations in Queens. Watch the interview.
The legislatures failure to pass a complete budget and the governors vetoes of what did pass have taken a big toll on many Not-for-profit organizations. Allison Sesso of the Human Services Council of New York City joined Liz Benjamin to discuss the challenges that her group is facing after the break. Watch the interview.
HSC deputy director, Allison Sesso, is interviewed about the impact of the state s budget crisis on not-for-profit organizations. Watch the ABC video.
This video emphasizes the importance of HSC and other Human Services Agencies, featuring member agency, Little Sisters of the Assumption Family Health Service. To watch click here.
Michael is featured with Gary Carter and Sarah Muller of member agency LSA Family Health Service. The HSC story is the fourth one, so you will need to click on the right-hand arrow to bring up the fourth video on the MyFoxNY page. Click here to view.
Michael Stoller and the Human Services Council are featured on CUNY-TVs Eldridge & Co. show, airing in early April. Ronnie Eldridge is a former New York City Council member and currently hosts a series on CUNY TV that covers issues and institutions concerning the people and politics of New York. You can click here to view the show.
Click Here to view.
HSC Deputy Executive Director Allison Sesso joined WBAI Radio 99.5FM Evening News to discuss the recent impact of budget cuts on NY human services, the Governor's FY13 Executive Budget, and HSC's report: "A Lose-Lose Proposition: The Economic Impact of Lost Human Services in New York State". You can listen to the show and Allison's interview at 15:30 here.
Michael Stoller and Allison Sesso joined City Watch to discuss Who Cares? I Do., HSC's grassroots effort to make the government accountable to the needs of all New Yorkers. Who Cares? I Do. raises awareness of the impact funding cuts will have on New York's individuals, families, communities, and economy.
Nicole speaks with the president of Florida Atheists and Secular Humanists about their Rapture Party on May 21 and the intrusion of religion in politics; Allison Sesso of the Human Services Council of NYC about OnMay12.com; and Huffington Post's Ryan Grim about the insanity of Alan Simpson and his catfood commission findings.
Click here to listen to Allison Sesso's interview
Click here to download the full April 11 program, or listen online at radioornot.com.
HSC Executive Director Michael Stoller was interviewed on WBAI's Wake Up Call. You can listen to it here.
Allison Sesso gave an interview on WBAI about how the budget cuts will affect women particularly hard, which you can listen to here. The interview starts at minute 32:26. This was in response to an article by Allison Sesso and Michael Stoller published in the Gotham Gazette (listed under the PRINT section below) which you can read here.
ALBANY, NY (WAMC) - The Human Services Council of New York (HSC), its upstate partners, and people who rely on human services programs visited the state capitol today to deliver the initial results of an online petition drive and state-wide campaign to protect human services programs from the steep $400 million in funding cuts proposed by Governor Cuomo. Capital District Bureau Chief Dave Lucas was there and filed this report.
With nearly a $10 billion state budget deficit and Governor Cuomo proposing to close nearly all of the budget gap with severe cuts rather than raising revenues, WBAI speaks with advocates for labor, low-income people, human services and children’s services about the exact cuts proposed and their impacts, and what are the actions plans for combating these cuts. Hosts: Bich Ha Pham, Brooke Richie, and Mark Dunlea. Guests: Jarrett Murphy, Editor in Chief of City Limits; Ron Deutsch, New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness, who helped organize a large rally at the Capitol on Tuesday to support the extension of the millionaire’s tax; Members from Community Voices Heard who were arrested doing a civil disobedience action on Wednesday to protest the Governor’s budget; Allison Sesso, Deputy Executive Director, Human Services Council of NYC that has launched the “Who Cares? I Do.” campaign to save social services programs; Gigi Li, Co-Director, Neighborhood Family Services Coalition, that is organizing a rally in NYC for next week to protest the over 50% cut in youth services funding. Listen to the interviews here.
HSC Executive Director, Michael Stoller, is interviewed by Jose Santiago in the 6 PM Evening News show. He comments on Governor Cuomo's just-released Executive Budget proposal and how it may affect the human services community. The story starts at about minute 10:45 and ends at about 17:48. Following Michael's interview are other comments about the budget from other not-for-profit leaders. Click here to listen.
A discussion on the adopted New York City budget begins at approximately 10:20 into the audio clip. An interview with Michael Stoller on the effects of the City budget on the nonprofit sector begins at about 19:20. Click here to listen.
HSC Executive Director, Michael Stoller, is interviewed by Esther Armah at the 6 AM Wakeup Call show. He discusses the need to exempt nonprofits from the MTA payroll tax increase. The story starts at about minute 49:18 and ends at about 54:22. Click here to listen.
Jack Krauskopf of Baruch College is interviewed about the results of HSCs survey, The Helpers Need Help: New York City s Nonprofit Human Service Organizations Persevering in Uncertain Times. Click here to listen.
Michael Stoller and Jack Krauskopf of Baruch College are interviewed regarding HSCs survey, The Helpers Need Help: New York City s Nonprofit Human Service Organizations Persevering in Uncertain Times. The story starts at about minute 1:12. Click here to listen.
This podcast features interviews with HSC and Childrens Aid Society about HSCs survey, The Helpers Need Help: New York City s Nonprofit Human Service Organizations Persevering in Uncertain Times. Click here to listen.
HSC s Deputy Director, Allison Sesso, was featured on the City Watch show. WBAI radio, which calls itself "Your Peace and Justice Community Radio Station," invites guests to help listeners participate in social, economic, political, and cultural issues in New York City. Click here to listen to Allison s interview; she is on for about 15 minutes, starting at minute 39.
"A report released last Tuesday by the Human Services Council of New York shows that social programs relied upon by millions of state residents, have been drastically curtailed due to the $800 million in state funding cuts in the last two years. We are talking about such basic services as child care and child welfare, youth and after-school programs, senior services, health programs, employment training and assistance, supportive housing, services for the homeless, and programs for people with disabilities. The list goes on and on..." To read the full article, click here.
"While there are some concerns, HSC appreciates the Governor’s overall recognition of the importance of human services such as child care, a key work support, by increasing state funding by $93 million to offset a reduction in federal funding and the maintenance of other cost-effective human service investments like alternatives to state juvenile justice facility placement and funding for supportive housing..." To read the full article, click here.
"According to "A Lose-Lose Proposition: The Economic Impact of Lost Human Services in New York State", New York State cut a total of $800 million in funding during FY 2009-10 and FY 2010-11 for such vital programs as child care and child welfare, youth and after-school programs, senior services, health programs, employment training and assistance, supportive housing, services for the homeless, and programs for people with disabilities. The impact of these cuts, says HSC, has fallen not only on the people who relied on these services but on the state's overall economy and its citizens as a whole." To read the full article, click here.
"A large coalition of community, labor, student, faith and Occupy organizations gathered on Monday to announce their campaign to bring fairness and transparency to New York's corporate tax system. The organizations, who last year worked together on the "Millionaires Tax" and personal income tax reform, are calling on Governor Cuomo and the Legislature to close corporate tax loopholes, raising over $1 billion dollars for this year's state budget." To read the full article, click here.
HSC's Executive Director Michael Stoller and Deputy Executive Director Allison Sesso were quoted regarding their response to the Governor's State of the State Address. "We embrace the Governor's sentiments regarding the importance of getting New Yorkers back to work and hope there is a real recognition during the budget negotiation process of the role human services play in removing barriers to work," said Michael Stoller, Executive Director of the Human Services Council. To read the full article, click here.
"Currently, there are 418 Out-of-school Time (OST) (after-school) programs throughout New York City serving roughly 53,000 children and youth. In September of this year, the number of programs will be dramatically reduced to 220- serving roughly 27,000 children and youth." "Out of School Time programs act as job supports for families while also promoting work readiness among young people. We should be investing in these programs during these economically challenging times, not dismantling the system," said Michael Stoller, Executive Director of the Human Services Council. To read the full article, click here.
"The Human Services Council (HSC) has taken the cost estimates of the 12 Days of Christmas gifts published recently by PNC Wealth Management and calculated how many human services could be purchased for the price of items your "true love" gives to you." To read the full article, click here.
"The Human Services Council (HSC) hosted its annual Leadership Awards Reception on December 14th. Almost 250 people attended this eventand helped HSC meet its goal of raising $110,000 to support HSC’s advocacy efforts to improve human services for New York City." To read the full article, click here.
El Diario la Prensa, New York City's largest and oldest Spanish-language daily newspaper, published an Op-Ed piece by HSC Executive Director Michael Stoller. “Will You Have A Home For The Holidays?” addresses the importance of nonprofit human services to all New Yorkers, including Hispanic families, who currently face both rising poverty and declining funding for health services, housing, child care, elder care, food pantries, and after-school programs.
Stoller reminds us that now is the time, before work on next year's state budget begins, to call or write our State Senators and Assemblymembers and let them know how much we care about human services and that we can't afford any more cuts.
An English-language version of the article is also available.
"Nonprofits are warning New York City Campaign Finance Board (CFB) that their proposed new independent expenditure regulations could have potentially destructive “unintended consequences” for legitimate education and advocacy regarding public policy." To read the full article, click here.
"Over the last year, protesters of all sorts rallying for a variety of causes have touted this supplemental tax on wealthy New Yorkers as a sort of panacea..." To read the full article, click here.
Allison Sesso was quoted in Huffingtonpost regarding the potests at Zuccotti Park. To read the full article, click here.
Senior lunches, emergency meals for the homeless, and supplies for food pantries were all on the menu at this morning's “ Austerity Breakfast at Tiffany 's ” organized by the Human Services Council. The event was part of a week-long effort to build public awareness of the choices being made by Governor Cuomo and legislative leaders to reduce taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers while simultaneously slashing services for those most in need. To read full article click here.
The Manhattanites joined members of HSC to protest Gov. Cuomo's plans to end the so-called “millionaires tax ” on Dec. 31. To read full article click here.
HSC Executive Director, Michael Stoller, is quoted in NYNP regarding executive compensation. “The Governor's call to verify the appropriate use of public funds is correct,” said HSC's Michael Stoller. “The many for-profit companies that derive most of their income from public sources, such as home care agencies and nursing homes, as well as our cultural institutions, public hospitals and universities, for-profit companies that receive tax breaks or government bond money, and government agencies themselves, all need to be examined in this regard to restore public confidence.” To read full article click here.
“The budget results are mixed for human services,” said Allison Sesso, Deputy Executive Director of the Human Services Council of New York. “It could have been worse but it also could have been much better.” To read full article click here.
A diverse coalition of more than 60 human service,community,senior,labor,economic policy and peace organizations has sent a joint letter to the NYC congressional delegation urging them to provide a strong and clear national voice to protect the country's social contract in the debate over the debt ceiling and the federal budget.
To read the complete article, click here.
The New York Nonprofit Press writes:
“There are approximately $113 million worth of cuts to human service programs in New York City's budget for FY 2011-12 which begins tomorrow, according to the Human Services Council of New York (HSC). The final Adopted Budget was approved by the City Council in a vote yesterday. Originally, Mayor Bloomberg's Executive Budget submission had included an estimated $340 million in proposed cuts to key human services.
“‘We are very pleased to see $227 million (or 67% of proposed cuts) restored to services such as senior services, child are, mental hygiene, domestic violence and other areas,’ says Chris Winward, Senior Policy Analyst at HSC. ‘However, there are still many cuts that will significantly impact providers and clients such as homeless, family and adult literacy, summer youth employment, Beacons and Out of School Time afterschool services. ...’”
To read the complete article, click here.
Nick Reisman Writes:
“Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced today he is forming a panel that will consider a host of reforms for monitoring non-profit organization, saying the current regulations are often burdensome and redundant.
‘For too long, New York's regulatory framework has placed unnecessary burdens on nonprofits, which are simply untenable during these challenging financial times,’ Schneiderman said in a statment. ‘We must modernize the rules of the road so the nonprofit sector can thrive. We can be tougher on policing fraud without imposing needless burdens and costs on this vital sector of New York’s economy.’
The committee is formed after former NARAL Pro-Choice New York Executive Director Kell Conlin pleaded guilty to filing false documents. Conlin, a supporter of Schneiderman's during his successful 2010 campaign, was accused of using her position to use the non-profit’s money to pay for meals, child care costs, car service expenses, and clothing purchases.
Schneiderman's 29-member leadership committee will look at auditing and reporting requirements and how the regulations can be streamlined.
At the same time, Schneiderman plans to have the committee propose measure that would strengthen reporting and training for non-profit employees.”
For the rest of the article and a full list of committee members, including HSC Executive Director Michael Stoller, click here.
The New York Nonprofit Press writes:
“After months of public protests and private negotiations, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Council Speaker Christine Quinn announced a deal on New York City's budget for FY2011-12 which begins on Friday. The agreement, which was announced late on Friday, avoids teacher layoffs and firehouse closings. It also avoids many, but certainly not all, cuts to human service programs.
‘The budget results are mixed for human services,’ said Allison Sesso, Deputy Executive Director of the Human Services Council of New York. ‘It could have been worse but it also could have been much better.’”
To read the rest of the article, click here.
The New York Nonprofit Press writes:
“A growing coalition of nearly 20 City Council Members and leaders from the City’s largest unions and social service advocacy groups joined together at City Hall yesterday to announce the “People’s Budget” plan —a third-way plan to balance the budget and reduce proposed cuts by ending what they described as "failed subsidies to the largest banks", reducing non-human services related city contracts, adopting recommendations by the City’s Independent Budget Office, and enacting a fairer tax code. (...)
‘There is a choice to cutting $285 million in critical human services that help the poor and middle class in NYC to work, care for their families, and become self-sufficient,’ said Michael Stoller, Executive Director of the Human Services Council of NYC. ‘Revenue and alternative savings proposals have to be part of the budget debate, nonprofits and the clients they serve have paid much more than their fair share for long enough.’”
To read more, click here.
The New York Nonprofit Press writes:
“Where are the budget cuts? They are everywhere, based on an interactive map of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposed $400 million in budget cuts to human service programs which has been prepared by the Human Services Council of New York.
To illustrate the extent and impact of the proposed budget reductions, HSC has created an easy-to-use online map that details cuts in each district of the city’s five boroughs. The map can be found at the “Who Cares? I Do” campaign website(...)”
To read more, click here
Allison Sesso, Deputy Executive Director of HSC, writes:
“This time each year, our mayor and city council go through a process insiders call the ‘budget dance.’ Many of us have never learned the dips and spins New York City's budget takes before an after-school program or a senior center are closed for good.
“First step? Baselining. When a program in our city's budget is ‘baselined,’ it becomes part of the core budget, even in hard times.
“Think of your household budget. Bills you must pay each month — like your rent or mortgage — are your baseline. A medical expense, while essential, may not be.
“Next step? Any programs our city council restores to our city's annual budget get funds for one year only and are not baselined. That means they're automatically off the table at the start of next year's ‘budget dance.’ That's no random misstep. It's a deliberate strategy to keep spending in check. If the same programs must be repeatedly restored, there's almost no room to consider new needs, especially in tough times.
“That means the budget dance sidelines many human services. In fact, about $200 million in human services funding falls victim to this process every year — from $4.5 million for food at senior centers to $3 million to reduce infant mortality, from $1.2 million for healthcare in adult shelters to $1.25 million for autism awareness and $6 million for runaway and homeless youth. This puts all these programs and many more that save and transform New Yorkers' lives on shaky ground. Anyone who wants to make sure they survive must spend every May and June making the case for why the funds for these vital services should, once again, be put back into our city budget. (...)”
To read the complete article, click here.
Crain's New York Business writes:
“Gov. Andrew Cuomo was hailed for shaving 2.3% off the state budget. But what was good for Albany may be bad for the city—especially social service organizations, which say the ripple effect could mean the loss of more than 11,000 nonprofit jobs here.
“That estimate comes from the Human Services Council of New York City, an umbrella organization of nonprofits, which calculates that a job is lost for every $35,000 in cuts. The group says Mayor Mike Bloomberg proposes $400 million in social services cuts largely because Albany requires the city to provide certain services but does not always fund them.”
To read the rest of the article, published on crainsnewyork.com, click here. (Note: you must have a subscription to Crain's to view this page)
The New York Nonprofit Press writes:
“They were back yesterday! It might not have been the full 20,000 who turned out for last month's March on Wall Street, but several hundred members of the May 12th Coalition gathered at City Hall yesterday afternoon calling on Mayor Bloomberg and the City Council to restore proposed cuts to education, health and human services. The group, which included students, labor unions, community groups and human service providers, stretched a giant safety net across Broadway and cut it in a symbolic protest against the Mayor&39;s policies.
“The group urged a variety of revenue-raising options that could be used to offset service cuts, including continuation of the ‘Millionaires Tax’ on high income households, closure of tax loopholes for hedge funds, cuts to bank contracts and an end to tax subsidies for major banks. In total, the May12th Coalition estimates that their proposals would generate $1 billion in additional revenues.
“Once again, the Human Services Council of New York (HSC) played an active role in the rally. ‘The Mayor says he has no choice but to cut $400 million in critical human services for the poor and middle class in New York City,’ said Michael Stoller, HSC’s Executive Director. ‘Well, there is a choice to cutting services that help people to work, care for their families and become self-sufficient. Nonprofits and the clients they serve have paid much more than their share for long enough. That&39;s why HSC began the Who Cares? I Do. Campaign and why we support the recommendations of the May 12th Coalition.’”
To read the complete article, click here.
Albor Ruiz writes in the NY Daily News:
“Penny wise, pound foolish. That's what Mayor Bloomberg's decision to cut $44 million from after-school programs really adds up to.
“‘The mayor's budget cuts nearly $50 million in funding to critical youth programs that keep kids safe from crime, engaged in their communities, and improving educational outcomes,’ said Michael Stoller, executive director, Human Services Council and coordinator of the Who Cares? I Do. Campaign.”
To read the complete article, click here.
The New York Nonprofit Press writes:
“It has been a busy week for New Yorkers expressing opposition to Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposed cuts to youth services in the FY2012 budget which begins July 1st. Yesterday, advocates, providers and participants gathered at City Hall to urge restoration of a variety of cuts to after school programs and youth development programs. A day earlier, the Save After School Campaign mounted its its first ever Twitter Advocacy Day to mobilize supporters on Twitter and to bring the issue to the attention of Mayor Bloomberg (...)
“The event was organized by the Members of New York City Youth Alliance: The After-School Corporation • Citizens' Committee for Children of New York • Coalition for Asian American Children & Families • The Dryfoos Group • Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies • Human Services Council of New York City • Neighborhood Family Services Coalition • The New York Immigration Coalition • Partnership for After School Education • UJA-Federation of New York • United Neighborhood Houses of New York • YMCA of Greater New York.”
To read the complete article, click here.
The New York Nonprofit Press writes:
“On Wednesday, May 18th, the Save After School campaign, advocating for OST (Out-of-School Time) after school programs, held its first ever Twitter Advocacy Day and mobilized an extraordinary range of supporters -- including numerous celebrities who tweeted their views -- to highlight their concerns and bring them to the attention of Mayor Bloomberg (...)
“Some notable organizations that tweeted over the course of the day included:
The Educational Alliance
The 14th Street Y
The After School Corporation (TASC)
After School Alliance
Boys and Girls Clubs of America
Boys and Girls Club of Newark
UJA Federation of New York
Henry Street Settlement
University Settlement and The Door
Big Brothers Big Sisters NYC
CAMBA
Children’s Aid Society
Food Bank for NYC
JCCA and JCCA New York
Partnership for After School Education (PASE)
Learning thru Expanded Arts Program (LEAP)
New Jersey After 3
The Samuel Field Y
Queens Community House
National Afterschool Association
JCC West Hempstead
America’s Promise Alliance
Massachusetts Alliances of Boys & Girls Clubs
Boys and Girls Club of Baton Rouge, LA
New Haven Citywide Youth Coalition
Human Services Council of NY
Who Cares? I Do Campaign
Citizen Action of NY
Boys & Girls Club of Sonoma Valley
Staff members from Millennium Development
Staff members from Sunnyside Community Services”
To read the complete article, click here.
The New York Nonprofit Press writes:
“After weeks of planning and days of smaller, preliminary activity, the human services community will join with a broad coalition of community, labor and progressive groups in a ‘March to Wall Street’ today at 4:00 p.m. Organizers are expecting that over 10,000 individuals will gather at eight different assembly points representing their particular area of concern. From there, they will march to Wall Street for a ‘Teach In’ and Rally. The overriding message of the event is ‘Make the Big Banks and Millionaires Pay Their Fair Share’. The rally comes in response to budget policies at the City, State and Federal level which have rejected progressive tax increases on corporations and high-income households in favor of major cuts to services for low- and middle-income New Yorkers.
“The Human Services Council of New York, one of the participating groups for today's rally, is urging providers, advocates and anyone else who supports the continued provision of essential human services to gather at 20 Fulton Street at South Street Seaport at 4:00.”
To read the complete article, click here.
The New York Nonprofit Press writes:
“Human service providers and advocates are preparing to join with a broad coalition of community, labor and progressive groups in a ‘March to Wall Street’ tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. Organizers of the ‘May 12th Coalition’ are calling on New Yorkers from all walks of life to gather at one of eight different assembly points representing their particular area of concern. From there, they will march to Wall Street for a ‘Teach In’ and Rally. They anticipate that over 10,000 individuals will gather to send a basic message to their elected officials: ‘Make the Big Banks and Millionaires Pay Their Fair Share’. The rally comes in response to budget policies which have rejected progressive tax increases on corporations and high-income households in favor of major cuts to services for low- and middle-income New Yorkers.
“‘The Mayor says he has no choice but to make over $400 million in cuts to critical human services funding to those in need in NYC,’ said Michael Stoller, Executive Director of the Human Services Council of New York. ‘Well there is a choice to cutting the services that help people to work, care for their families, and become self-sufficient - the banking industry and wealthy can pay their fair share too. Nonprofits and the clients they serve have paid much more than their share for long enough. That's why the human services sector will be there On May 12th.’”
To read the complete article, click here.
Erik Ortiz wrote in AM New York:
“(...) Participants of the ‘On May 12’ rally will meet at 4 p.m. at eight assembly spots, including City Hall and Bowling Green Park. From there, they'll march to Wall and Water streets, before ending in Battery Park after 5:30 p.m.
“The nonprofit Human Services Council said the city budget proposal already cuts $400 million in human services for immigrants, youth, child care and other groups.
“‘The mayor has said he has no choice but to cut services for the poor and middle class,’ said Chris Winward, senior policy analyst at the Human Services Council.”
To read the full article, click here.
The Human Services Council of NYC is referred to in this article in the Huffington Post discussing the effectiveness of the “train-the-trainer” model of scaling impact.
The New York Nonprofit Press writes:
“Despite Mayor Michael Bloomberg's upbeat presentation highlighting his plans to restore funding for 15,000 child care slots, human service advocates have identified many serious concerns with the Executive Budget proposal for FY2011-12. In fact, advocates are already raising questions over the extent to which the Mayor is restoring child care service capacity, or simply shuffling declining resources from one group of needy New Yorkers to another. And, providers are highlighting what they see as an extensive series of budget cuts in a wide range of other human service programs.
“‘While there were only a few additional cuts proposed to human services in the Mayor&39;s FY12 Executive Budget today, the total budget still proposes to cut about $500 million in essential human services,’ said the Human Services Council of New York (HSC) in an email to members. ‘The cuts initiated in the Preliminary Budget and the loss of FY11 City Council funding, which is not baselined, still stand.’”
To read the complete article click here.
The New York Nonprofit Press writes:
“With Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Governor Andrew Cuomo polishing their ‘No New Taxes’ campaign buttons via imposition of billions in budget cuts to vital government programs, human service providers are joining a growing coalition of community, labor, and progressive groups in a call for ‘big banks and millionaires to pay their fair share.’
“The coalition is hoping to draw thousands of New Yorkers from all walks of life for a May 12th ‘March to Wall Street’. The May12 Coalition hopes to highlight the contradictions between what it sees as ‘corporate welfare, property tax giveaways, and seemingly endless local and national tax cuts enjoyed by the financial sector’ and the Mayor’s ‘proposed cuts to childcare, classrooms, public safety, and dozens of other services working New Yorkers rely on.’
“‘Mayor Bloomberg has already proposed to cut $500 million in human services funding for next year and has given every indication that he has no choice but further cuts to services for the poor and middle class in NYC,’ said Michael Stoller, Executive Director of the Human Services Council of New York. ‘Well there is a choice, the banking industry and the wealthy can pay their fair share too by giving back $1.5 billion in subsidies, sweetheart deals and tax loopholes. Nonprofits and the clients they serve have paid more than their share for long enough.’”
To read the complete article, click here.
Shelby Knox writes:
“The good news: domestic violence arrests were up by 7% in New York City between 2009 and 2010, while indictments were up by 36% over the same period.
“Unfortunately, while more batterers being held accountable is undoubtedly a good thing, advocates say the higher rate of arrest corresponds with an increase in the overall occurrence of domestic violence. That's bad news. According to Ruth Villonga, spokeswoman for the Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence, the New York Family Justice Center currently sees a hundred more people a week seeking domestic violence services compared to last year.
“Even worse news is that the domestic violence resources New York women rely on to escape abusive relationships and rebuild their lives are on the chopping block. According to Allison Sesso, Deputy Director of the Human Services Council, Governor Andrew Cuomo's budget included a $1 million cut to non-residential domestic violence services that will impact thirteen programs in New York, including the one program that serves domestic violence survivors with disabilities.
“The Human Services Council has started a campaign called ‘Who Cares? I Do’ to protest the sweeping cuts to vital human services in the state budget. The campaign has launched a petition on change.org asking state and city officials to protect New York's women and families from bearing the brunt of cost-cutting measures.”
To read the complete article, click here.
Jessica Guberman of examiner.com wrote:
“Never before has the sector needed a grassroots campaign more than it does now to advocate for re-allocations of funding to human services to help the most vulnerable populations of people in New York City. ‘To counter this cold climate, HSC is launching a new, proactive campaign that will be targeted in a way HSC has never done before. HSC is seeking to raise public awareness about the need for human services and to work with elected officials to protect and restore critical funding,’ says Michael Stoller, executive director of the Human Services Council.”
To read the full article, click here.
Less than a week after HSC's Executive Committee met with Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, he publicly came out in support of reforms that have been on our agenda for quite some time. We are pleased to share the below article from Reuter's (in which HSC is quoted) highlighting the speech he gave yesterday morning to the Association for a Better New York. HSC is working cooperatively with hiss office on next steps.
To read the full article, click here.
New York Nonprofit Press helped HSC circulate this poll asking the question: In balancing the budget should NYC consider revenue options, such as fees & taxes, before enacting cuts to human service programs like child care, senior services, food pantries & HIV/AIDS programs? Click here to read the article.
Daniel Collins of the Huffington Post wrote:
“Without the subsidized child care program, some families will struggle along, their lives more chaotic but otherwise unchanged. A great many others, especially the single moms, will leave their children with neighbors or relatives and spend their working days worrying about what's happening back home. Others will give up the fight.
‘Most of these parents are low-income working women,’ said Allison Sesso of the Human Services Council: ‘At some point, economically, it doesn't make sense for them to go to work. And even if they can scrape together the money for child care, it's going to mean serious cuts in other parts of their limited budgets.’”
To read the full article, click here.
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle wrote:
“More than 500 New Yorkers, including advocates, providers, elected officials and individuals who rely on human services, turned out in a pouring rain last week to answer the question "Who Cares?"
The rally was the latest in a series of “Who Cares? I Do!” events organized by Human Services Council of New York (HSC) to highlight the importance of human services in the lives of all New Yorkers and raise awareness of the substantial threats that budget decisions at the city and state level are posing to those vital programs.”
To read the rest of the article, click here. To read more about the Who Cares? I Do. campaign, visit our website at www.whocares-ido.org.
The following letter by Michael Stoller was published in Crain's New York Business on April 18. (You can click here to view the article online, but you must have a subscription to Crain's to view the article, which is also available in print).
"Supporting the decision to let the income tax surcharge on high earners expire at year-end, Alair Townsend in her March 28 column neglects an essential point: Eliminating the surcharge is bad for New York's economy.
"An extension would have brought in $1 billion in revenue this year and $5 billion next year. Instead, to help close the $10 billion budget deficit, the state is cutting hundreds of millions from human services.
"Nonprofits employ about 1.2 million people, or 17% of the state's work force. Cuts to human services providers mean fewer jobs and less spending in struggling communities. Our ability to assist seniors, run day-care and after-school programs, and help people find employment will be severely compromised."
-Michael Stoller
Executive director
Human Services Council of New York
New York Nonprofit Press wrote:
“A coalition of aging service advocates lead by the Council of Senior Centers and Services (CSCS), Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA), United Neighborhood Houses (UNH), City Meals on Wheels, the Human Services Council, and UJA-Federation assembled on the Steps of City-Hall to inform the public and to speak out against the proposed cuts 6.6 million dollar cut to case management. The protest was the latest in a series of City Hall events highlighting a range of cuts to human services proposed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg.”
To read the full article, click here.
Tuesday's Who Cares? I Do. rally was a huge success! Five hundred people came out in the rain to show their support for the human services sector. The Comptroller of the City of New York and six members of the City Council spoke as well as clients of HSC's member agencies. To read the article, click here. For more information, and to show your support of the human services sector, visit the campaign website at www.whocares-ido.org.
Allison Sesso, deputy executive director of HSC was quoted in this article in The BrooklynInk, the second in an ongoing series about jobs in Brooklyn. Click here to read the article.
Allison Sesso is quoted in this article about the State Budget Cuts. Click here to read.
examiner.com™ published an article about HSC and the Who Cares? I Do. campaign. Click here to read. You can also go to the campaign website, www.whocares-ido.org, to learn more.
The Brooklyn Eagle ran an article about an HSC organized rally against human service cuts. Click here to read. You can also get involved by visiting HSC's campaign website www.whocares-ido.org.
Michael Stoller, Executive Director of the Human Services Council is quoted in this NYNP article about the budget cuts.
Michael Stoller is quoted in this NYNP article about increasing the personal income tax instead of cutting the budgets for necessary programs.
Michael Stoller and Allison Sesso wrote this article published in the Gotham Gazette about how the budget cuts will affect women particularly hard. Allison also gave an interview on the subject on WBAI, (listed under the Radio section above), which you can listen to here. The interview starts at minute 32:26 and ends at minute 60:28.
Michael Stoller's Editorial Viewpoint was published in the Brooklyn Eagle. You can read it here.
HSC's Who Cares? I Do. campaign was the subject of this article in the NYNP.
HSC's Who Cares? I Do. campaign was mentioned in this blog post.
Allison Sesso is quoted in this Chronicle of Philanthropy article.
HSC's Who Cares? I Do. campaign is mentioned in this NYNP article about the budget cuts.
Allison Sesso is quoted in this Chronicle of Philanthropy article about the Who Cares? I Do. campaign.
Michael Stoller is quoted in this NYNP article about HSC's new Who Cares? I Do. campaign. Read more about the campaign at www.WhoCares-IDo.org.
The Human Services Council's Who Cares? I Do. campaign is mentioned in this Metro NY article.
Allison Sesso is quoted in this NYNP article along with other Advocates and Providers commenting on the state budget cuts.
HSC Executive Director, Michael Stoller, is quoted in this Gotham Gazette article about the City's mid-year budget plan.
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