Children’s Advocates and Services Providers Call on NY State Leaders to Grant Borrowing Authority to NYC

Published June, 2020

Dear Governor Andrew Cuomo, Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Speaker Carl Heastie,

We are writing to ask that you approve legislation permitting NYC to borrow in order to fund and maintain critical services when our City needs it the most – while continuing to fight and beginning to heal from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As providers of vital services in neighborhoods across the City, we serve some of New York’s most vulnerable residents, many of whom are living in communities disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. If you neglect to pass and sign this legislation into law, nonprofits who have been at the forefront of providing services during COVID, will experience devastating cuts to the crucial programs that our clients rely upon.

In 2001, the City was facing a similar dire financial situation, and in response, there was bipartisan support as the Legislature unanimously passed and the Governor granted the City this same ability. We need the State to provide the borrowing authority once again. With the City budget deadline approaching next week, the lack of Federal aid to localities, and the City’s $9B deficit, granting borrowing authority will ensure the City’s financial health.

Borrowing authority is a vital tool in the process of economic recovery which is why the State has granted this authority to the Governor. We are asking that you to do the same for the City to ensure there is no disruption of services for our residents and clients which have been most impacted by the pandemic.

Sincerely,

Bill Baccaglini, President and CEO, New York Foundling

Frankie Miranda, President, Hispanic Federation

Fred Shack, CEO, Urban Pathways

Jo Ann Yoo, Executive Director, Asian American Federation (AAF)

Jennifer March, Executive Director, Citizens’ Committee for Children(CCC)

Keith Little, President and CEO, SCO Family of Services

Michelle Yanche, Executive Director, Good Shepherd Services

Dr. Rosa Gil, President and CEO, Comunilife