- Click here for previous Sidewalks reports
County eliminates funding for Slater's "Invest in Kids" program.
Common Council votes $14,000 to continue program through June.
Special to WPCNR
By John F. Bailey
CityLine: January 5, 2001 - City Hall
The Common Council voted unanimously in its work session Thursday evening to spend $14,000 to sustain the Youth Bureau's Invest in Kids program, currently conducted at the Slater Center, through to the end of the present school term.
Mayor Delfino, in a statement, described the need for the emergency funding on the part of the city:
"Several weeks ago, the Slater Center was notified by the County that their after school program was defunded by the County.
As you all know, the Slater Center after-school program is a vital part of the entire city effort to provide our kids with a safe and productive environment during the after school hours. These programs protect and nurture our children and give them the opportunity to develop and thrive in a changing world. All of us have seen first-hand the positive impact that our after school programs have had in White Plains.
In fact, our Youth Bureau has received national recognition for their programs and over the past three years, our after school program has grown in leaps and bounds.By creating several new after school centers, we were able to increase participation by almost 50%.
The city has always been willing to step up to the plate to ensure that our children receive the services that they need and I am very proud of what we have been able to accomplish.
And the cut in funding by the County should not stand in our way. The Slater Center program is too important for us to simply throw up our hands and blame the County. Our kids deserve more.
I have asked Frank Williams to find a way to incorporate the Slater Center program into the Youth Bureau's program, and Frank, in a very short period of time, (two days), has come up with a plan that I am very happy with."
The plan, at a cost of $14,000 to the city, will continue the program through June, at which time, Williams hopes to find alternative funding for the program for the 2001-02 year.
.
Top