SCHENECTADY Extra block grant funds surface Hearing set on how to spend $105,000 BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter
Schenectady suddenly has another $105,000 to give out to agencies in the city — and it may go to whoever makes the best argument for it at the annual Community Development Block Grant public hearing. Development Director Richard Purga had written this year’s proposed CDBG budget with the assumption that the federal government would cut the grant by 20 percent. Congress did cut CDBG — but only 16.2 percent. That means the City Council has a little more money to spend. With the public hearing only a week away, at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 25, city offi cials are scrambling to make suggestions for the additional money. Purga said he may wait until after the hearing and offer a plan in response to what speakers say. City Councilwoman Barbara Blanchard already has an idea of what she’d fund. Schenectady Inner City Ministry asked for $25,000 to study Project Strive, a jobs program. The request was denied originally. With extra money, Blanchard said the study should be funded. “Eighty percent of their people get jobs and keep them. That’s amazing,” she said. “That’s worth studying.” This year’s good news will be short-lived. Congress also approved next year’s grant — with an additional 7.2 percent cut. That almost guarantees layoffs next year. “If we went beyond 20 percent [cut], there would be layoffs in our department,” Purga said. “We’re talking 23-24 percent over two years. That’s devastating.” CDBG is best known for the funds given to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Schenectady and other nonprofits. But much of the grant supports city employees, including code enforcers, police offi cers who walk beats on Hamilton Hill and most of the city’s Department of Development. Seven of the 10 employees in that department are partially or fully funded by the grant. They include Purga — CDBG pays 80 percent of his salary. The others are mainly administrators for other parts of the CDBG funding.....................>>>>...................>>>>....................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00903&AppName=1
But much of the grant supports city employees, including code enforcers, police officers who walk beats on Hamilton Hill and most of the city’s Department of Development.
What PO"s walking the beat? only time we see that is after a murder takes place and thats for a couple of days.
Since the CDBG grants will be slashed further next year-no additional money should be passed out. Now is the time to start making City Hall cuts to align with new Federal realities.
Instead the DEMS promote this starting a feeding frenzy among the too many City non-profits. RP is right instead of another useless study that BA-BA supports, put the money into a cop on the beat program for Hamilton Hill/Mt Pleasant.
SCHENECTADY Agencies line up for more money City’s block grant gets unexpected windfall BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter
With the news that the city has $105,000 more to divvy up among nonprofi ts this year, agency after agency begged the council for money Monday. The City Council will decide on May 9 how to disperse the $2.3 million it is receiving in federal Community Development Block Grant funds. Much of the money goes to the city government for code enforcers, police officers and the Department of Development. But a highly contested portion of the grant goes to public service agencies, including groups that plant trees along the streets, run city pools and provide summer programs in the parks. The city has supported the same groups for years and cut them all by 20 percent this year in expectation of a 20 percent cut by the federal government. Instead, the government cut CDBG by 16 percent. On Monday, all of those groups asked for more. One city councilman said he’d fund those who spend the money on “actual things” rather than the far more common use of CDBG funds: administrative salaries. ...................>>>>..................................>>>>......................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00900&AppName=1
Some "windfall"? The nonprofits were out in force last night including the ever present Lumpy Kosiur and 3 from SICM including Revs Grisby and Van Stewart. There is no windfall-further cuts are coming from Congress.
Now is the time to layoff excess City development staff, close the underused Stockade pool and drop top heavy nonprofits. Not a penny should go to Kosiur County summer camps. How about some consolidation?-lol. Some of these nonprofits need to start fund raising, have an awards dinner or a garage sale. Too many are too reliant on a shrinking number of taxpayers/businesses.
SICM needs money to study a job program? What PO"s walking the beat? only time we see that is after a murder takes place and thats for a couple of days.
What's there to study on why or why not someone gets a job. They don't know how to pick up a paper? More than likely they don't want to read the want ads. They are surviving somehow...probably selling drugs...Good grief.
SCHENECTADY Agencies line up for more money City’s block grant gets unexpected windfall BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter
With the news that the city has $105,000 more to divvy up among nonprofi ts this year, agency after agency begged the council for money Monday......
Quoted Text
"One city councilman said he’d"
Talk about spinning the news. Must be that city council person isn't on the right list or in the right circles to be identified. What a farce the Gazette is.
The unidentified Council person was Mr. Erickson. Let's see if he backs the talk with actual cuts. He also said the City must do things differently. Still waiting on that one.
There is no extra money to "divvy" up. More federal cuts are coming next year. The meeting last night was a total disgrace. 3 SICM advocates, an alleged mental health advocate who was silent on McCarthy and of course Lumpy Kosiur. Serious cuts in City Development staff, code enforcement, pools and nonprofits need to be made this year. Nothing should be spared and several nonprofits must be zeroed out.
The city is broke 'n'! Roads are a mess and crime is rampant. Taxes are sky high and the dss bldg is splitting at the seams. And they are looking to hand out $$$$ to non-profits while the metroplex businesses are tax exempt and proctors is living high off the taxpayers.
Someone should write a book!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
Just one? Let the DEMS divvy up the broken sidewalks and curbs. The cupboard is bare and these idiots think its a "windfall". How hard it is to cut every nonprofit 20% and accept no new nonprofit proposals? Guess you need a college degree or better yet run a college to get it. Let Lumpy swim at Steinmetz pond.
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Since the CDBG grants will be slashed further next year-no additional money should be passed out. Now is the time to start making City Hall cuts to align with new Federal realities. 
