Quoted Text

SCHENECTADY
Budget cuts take rising toll on Boys and Girls Clubs
BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter

    It has been a hard year for one of the city’s largest providers of after-school programs and mentoring services — and it may get worse.
    The Boys and Girls Clubs of Schenectady already lost a state grant to run after-school programs at the city’s three middle schools and the high school. Their fi veyear grant was not renewed this year.
    They had to close the clubs and lay off 15 people. Nearly 200 students were left without a free after-school program at their schools.
    Now the clubs’ three-year federal grant for mentoring is coming to an end. If financial pressures force the Department of Education to cut back on its funds for grant renewals, the program that serves more than 70 city adolescents will come to an end.
    The clubs are also waiting to find out whether the city’s financial crisis will force the mayor to close Quackenbush Pool this summer. The clubs run Quackenbush as more than just a pool — activities are also offered throughout the park. But without the large grant from the city for that program, the clubs would not be able to continue it, Schenectady Clubs Executive Director Thomas Ciancetta said.
    Mayor Brian U. Stratton says he doesn’t want to close the pools — but he has warned that the cut must be considered if other measures aren’t enough to avoid a large tax increase.
    Similar problems at other Boys and Girls Clubs led state Sen. Roy McDonald, R-Saratoga, to announce a “Save the Boys and Girls Clubs Summit.”
    The summit was to be held Friday but was postponed because of the weather. When it is rescheduled, McDonald plans to announce new initiatives to raise money for all of the clubs in the Capital Region. ..................>>>>.............................>>>>..................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00903&AppName=1

Maybe...just maybe...this will finally lead to some people realizing that free money isn't really free.  Can't someone from D.C. just start up the printing presses again to help?

Ask residents for the money.  Advise them your not getting the tax money and tell them they can make the tax payment directly to the B&G club.  Maybe it's time to cut the cost of Kosiur.

Many of these organizations will have to go back to raising money the way they did when I was a kid, dinners put on by volunteers, we used to sell tulips at Easter and wreaths at Christmas. Kevin is absolutely right there's no free money and everyone will have to learn to tighten their belts until this economic crisis is over and it may take a number of years to get there.

Looks like they are going to have to function within their means. Is it really the role of government to supply entertainment and a babysitting service to kids? Don't get me wrong here....I support the boys and girls clubs, but not through taxpayer's funding. If the people want it bad enough....let them DONATE or volunteer. Isn't it about time the parents do something and stop relying on the taxpayer?Perhaps then we will raise a generation who have learned 'self reliance'.