Today: Mayor Bloomberg Must Change Course on Food Stamps

Betsy Gotbaum, Bill Thompson and other elected officials and advocates gathered on city hall steps today to call on Mayor Bloomberg to change course on his decision to refuse a provision of the federal stimulus bill that would bring millions of dollars into the city.

President Obama’s stimulus package includes a provision that suspends the limit on how long able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) can receive Food Stamps—now known as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits—while they look for work. The Public Advocate’s office estimates, based on available information, that the city could lose roughly $155 million because of their refusal to accept this provision of the stimulus bill.

Gotbaum said, "The mayor’s message to Washington is clear: When Wall Street executives get billions from the federal government, it should come without restrictions or rules, but poor New Yorkers should have to jump through unnecessary hoops to get the hundred-plus dollars a month in aid that they’re entitled to." Read More.

Comments

[Harlem Resident]

I agreed with Pa Gotbaum position 100% percent. Mayor Bloomberg continues to align himself with the interest of the rich and wealthy. Gov.Paterson's middle of the raod appraoch is appalling. Stand up and spoke your mind. Your running and hiding behind Bloomberg is coawrdly, and does nothimg to your character. You are above the Mayor please assume and know your rank and file.
For the record. MAYOR Bloomberg, your comment featured in the March 8, edition of the NY Daily News where you are quoted re the food stamp prgorma and the stimulus money offered to residents of the city classist.To suggest that you "we want to make sure they (food recipients) get training and get the diginity of job..., and if you want help, you have to help yourself, reminds me of the same mind set conveyed by the writers of the 1960 Moyhann Report. It suggests that those in need of food stamps have no sense of dignity of job and are lazy and without self-worth, cause and value.

Let me put things in prespective for you, I, along with hundreds if not thousands of individuals, am a highly educated individual holding three degrees, one of which is a Juris Doctorate degree, and I have not had steady employed since 2006. I have been looking diligently and feverish for employment. I'm not sitting home tapping my fingers. I find your comments and preception of those in need of assistance to be judgemental, far-sighted, and typical of someone who has never been reduced to the status of unemployed and without.

As Mayor of NYC, I urge you to keep an open mind to the impact that the recession is having on a host of of various classes of people. Your preceived and continuousa effort and goal to push working class people out of NYC for the benefit of the rich and wealthy is not unnoticed. Unfortunately, even though that strive to help themselves need help!