en English
ar Arabiczh-CN Chinese (Simplified)nl Dutchen Englishfr Frenchde Germaniw Hebrewit Italianpt Portugueseru Russianes Spanish
  • The Agenda
    • Early Childhood
      • Child Care
      • Developmental Services
    • Education (K-12)
    • Health
    • Poverty
    • Racial Equity
  • Our Reports
    • By Area
      • Rochester City School District
      • City of Rochester
      • Monroe County
      • Western & Central New York
      • New York State
      • Federal
    • By Agenda Item
      • Early Childhood
      • Health
      • Education (K-12)
      • Poverty
      • Racial Equity
    • By Initiative
      • Budget Analysis
  • News NEW 
    • E-News NEW 
    • TCA In The News
    • Events
  • Partnerships
    • Interfaith Collaborative
    • All Kids Thrive
    • Local
    • New York State
      • Official Appointments
      • State Coalitions
      • State Partner Organizations
    • National
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Board of Directors
    • Our Funding
    • Join Our Team
    • Volunteer or Intern
    • Link to TCA
    • Board Portal
    • Staff Portal
  • Blogs/Podcast
    • Raising Rochester
    • Our Blog
  • Take Action!
Menu
  • The Agenda
    • Early Childhood
      • Child Care
      • Developmental Services
    • Education (K-12)
    • Health
    • Poverty
    • Racial Equity
  • Our Reports
    • By Area
      • Rochester City School District
      • City of Rochester
      • Monroe County
      • Western & Central New York
      • New York State
      • Federal
    • By Agenda Item
      • Early Childhood
      • Health
      • Education (K-12)
      • Poverty
      • Racial Equity
    • By Initiative
      • Budget Analysis
  • News NEW 
    • E-News NEW 
    • TCA In The News
    • Events
  • Partnerships
    • Interfaith Collaborative
    • All Kids Thrive
    • Local
    • New York State
      • Official Appointments
      • State Coalitions
      • State Partner Organizations
    • National
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Board of Directors
    • Our Funding
    • Join Our Team
    • Volunteer or Intern
    • Link to TCA
    • Board Portal
    • Staff Portal
  • Blogs/Podcast
    • Raising Rochester
    • Our Blog
  • Take Action!
Find My
Representatives
Donate

Bronson, New York State Legislature pass measure with goal of halving child poverty

  • June 18, 2021
Democrat & Chronicle Logo
Click for Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

Bronson, New York State Legislature pass measure with goal of halving child poverty

Justin Murphy, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

A bill setting the goal of halving child poverty in New York within a decade has passed the Legislature and now goes to Gov. Andrew Cuomo for his signature.

The Child Poverty Reduction Act would create a statewide Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council that would issue recommendations and evaluations on the state’s progress toward the ambitious goal. It also would share data around child poverty.

“We can end child poverty (if) we put a strategy together, put goals in place and have benchmarks toward those goals,” Assemblyman Harry Bronson, the lead sponsor in the Assembly, said at a press conference Thursday.

Harry Bronson, at podium, speaks at Foodlink June 17, 2021 regarding the New York Child Poverty Reduction Act.

Part of the strategy is a push for a higher minimum wage, expanding child tax credits and increasing access to child care, subsidized housing and job training.

The bill zipped through Albany in a single session — it was introduced in October — thanks to advocacy from a large coalition of non-profit organizations, including The Children’s Agenda in Rochester.

Larry Marx, CEO of The Children’s Agenda, said the already distressing level of child poverty in Rochester and across New York has only worsened since the pandemic began.

“2020 was already well past time to address childhood poverty,” he said. “As usual, it’s our children who have paid the biggest price, especially the most vulnerable.”

More than half of the children in Rochester live below the poverty line, which is $26,200 for a family of four. There are about 1 million children in poverty across New York.

Cuomo still needs to sign the legislation for it to become law; Bronson said he believes there is a “good likelihood” of that happening.

The law would make New York the first state in the U.S. to set a firm figure for its child poverty reduction goal, Bronson said.

The federal government already has provided a major boost to the 50% target. The Child Tax Credit included in President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan would provide up to $3,600 per child. Analysts have estimated that program, and the plan in general, could cut child poverty by more than half on its own.

By Media Outlet

  • City Newspaper
  • Democrat & Chronicle
  • Messenger Post
  • Rochester Beacon
  • Rochester Business Journal
  • Spectrum
  • WHAM
  • WHEC
  • WROC
  • WUHF
  • WXXI
  • Other Media

By Agenda Item

  • Early Childhood
  • Health and Safety
  • Education (K-12)
  • Poverty
  • Racial Equity

Contact Us

The Children’s Agenda
1 South Washington St.
Suite 120
Rochester, NY 14614

Find Us With Google Maps

(585) 256-2620
Facebook Twitter Envelope

Our Mission

The Children’s Agenda advocates for effective policies and drives evidenced-based solutions for the health, education and success of children. We are especially committed to children who are vulnerable because of poverty, racism, health inequities and trauma.

The Agenda

  • Early Childhood
  • Education (K-12)
  • Health and Safety
  • Poverty
  • Racial Equity
  • Early Childhood
  • Education (K-12)
  • Health and Safety
  • Poverty
  • Racial Equity

Proud Member Of...

Partnership for America's Children Logo
RMAPI Logo
GRASA Logo
TRACC Logo
Healthikids logo
Community Task Force on School Climate Logo
Raise the Age NY Logo
winningbeginnings logo

We are a Level Up Champion

© All rights reserved

Scroll Up