Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Restores Library And Childcare Funds

In a recent Stoop Stories, librarian Rita Meade pleaded for the restoration of funds for New York’s public libraries. We’re happy to report that the new 2013 budget keeps library funds intact. Further, money in the budget has also been put aside for after-school childcare.

The final budget restores $25 million in city funding for the Library, which would have been 33 percent of the their operating budget and would have signified staff layoffs and reduced library services, according to Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn.

“We are very grateful the budget agreed to by the Mayor and Speaker restores funding for libraries and I want to thank Chairman Dominic Recchia and the entire Brooklyn delegation for their continued support of Brooklyn Public Library. The adopted budget will allow the Library to maintain our existing service levels and avoid layoffs,” said Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO of Brooklyn Public Library.

As for after-school childcare, Councilman Vincent Gentile said the $68.5 billion for various services allotted by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the City Council a “grand slam” for working families.

The deal, Gentile said, saved firehouses and senior centers and left many after-school programs in operation for next year.

After-school programs at P.S. 186, the Dr. Irving A Gladstone School at 7601 19th Avenue; P.S. 229, the Dyker School at 1400 Benson Avenue; and P.S. 200, the Benson School at 1940 Benson Avenue and others are all safe, according to the Bay Ridge Journal.