Bob Hennelly
WNYC's Bob Hennelly is an award-winning investigative journalist. While at WNYC he has reported on a wide gamut of major public policy questions ranging from immigration and homeland security to power outages and utility mergers.
Community Groups Vie for Shares in Council Budget
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
New York, NY –
Even though Mayor Bloomberg and the city council have a handshake deal on a budget, lawmakers are working behind closed doors on budget details that affect millions of New Yorkers. WNYC's Bob Hennelly has more.
REPORTER: We know the headlines: fire houses saved, libraries that will be left open. But the small print being drafted now contains critical details for thousands of New Yorkers, like parents worried about what to do with their kids this summer. Michele Yanche is with the Neighborhood Family Services Coalition.
YANCHE: There are parents right now who are waiting to find out if their young person, their child will have a place in a summer camp.
REPORTER: Behind the scenes, community non-profits are fighting hard to get a share of millions of dollars in so-called council discretionary funding. Anthony Ng with United Neighborhood Houses says the council has always come to the financial rescue of programs geared to help the city's newest arrivals.
NG: Legal services for immigrants, immigration legal services, English class for immigrants.
REPOTER: And hundreds of neighborhood groups are vying for as little as a few thousand dollars from the discretionary funds each council member gets to distribute. For WNYC I'm Bob Hennelly.
HOST: The council is expected to formally approve the budget in a vote on Friday.
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