THE AGENDA

In 2021, we must protect children from the deeply negative and lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.  We hope that this will be a year of rebuilding lost supports and reducing inequities that were exacerbated by the health, economic and racial justice crises of 2020.  To that end, in each of our priority issue areas we recommend that the Governor and Legislators:

• Restore any reductions made in 2020 to programs serving vulnerable children and maintain at least level funding for those services in SFY22;
• Reject across-the-board cuts that would perpetuate existing inequities; and
• Address budget shortfalls through revenue strategies that are: targeted to those who can best afford to contribute more, are sufficient to meet the needs of children and families, and prioritized for expenditures that address New Yorkers who have been harmed the most during the pandemic and are most in need of assistance.