Aid Programs Face Cuts

An intense campaign is being waged this week by supporters of the venerable, 25-year-old Forest Hills Community House to head-off onerous budget cuts that could disable critical feeding and education programs.
"Lets not throw out the baby with the bath water," pleaded Lewis Harris, executive director of the social welfare agency that receives the bulk of its funding from city government sources.
He told a recent meeting of Community Board 6 at the Kew Gardens Community Center that "we could even be forced to close this Community Center which we administer," Harris said.
Under Mayor Michael Bloombergs projected budget cuts, the FHCH could sustain a cut of $500,000. An estimated $300,000 would deprive seniors of meals and other services provided by the agency. An additional $125,000 would be cut from youth services and $65,000 from early childhood and housing programs.
Harris also expressed concern that federal funds based on matching dollars could cripple programs further.
The Community House supplies 300 meals a day to needy seniors who depend upon them.
Other cuts would affect the "Hot Spots" for youths and the Beacon School program.
"These projected budget cuts take us back to the 1970s when there was a wholesale reduction in services throughout the city," said Harris
Harris, a member of CB 6, won agreement from the group to draft a resolution calling upon Bloomberg to rescind the cuts. It passed the board unanimously.
Meanwhile, Harris and his aides at the Forest Hills Community House were reaching out to the boroughs City Council members to support their position in deliberations with the Mayor.
Harris noted that the meal programs for seniors offer an opportunity for them to get out of the house and socialize with their neighbors, an important part of the overall program.
CB 6 also addressed a number of issues including a proposal to change Union Turnpike along the service road between Metropolitan Avenue and 71st Road into a one-way street, but local residents remain undecided at press time.