With the economy in a recession, the staff of the One Stop Richmond Hill Community Center expected their budget to be tight.
But, what they did not expect was that some sources of funding would dry up completely.
When disgraced Assemblymember Anthony Seminerio tendered his letter of resignation effective Tuesday, June 23 and pleaded guilty to one count of honest services mail fraud the following day, The Center realized that he could no longer allocate any monies.
But Simcha Waisman, President of the One Stop Richmond Hill Community Center, further explained that, “We used to get money from Governor George Pataki every year, about $150,000, for our programs.” He went on to say that Governor Eliot Spitzer and David Paterson did not provide any funding. “We fell onto bad times,” he said.
And for the past three years, said Waisman, they had been getting money from Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. But, beginning in 2008, and continuing this year, the Center has received no funding from Silver, they say.
“Nobody on the eastern corridor of the U.S. has these programs,” said Waisman. “We’ve built relationships with NASA and different agencies throughout the world. The kids are exposed to interesting learning and maturing fast.”
Joan Bachert, Program Director for the Center, said that their operational budget of $150,000 – which has not been met – includes salaries for three employees and any and all bills – telephone, gas, electric, insurance, equipment, supplies, etc.
This amount, she said, had come from Seminerio.
The funding the Center has received includes $50,000 from Assemblymember Nettie Mayersohn and $12,000 from City Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley.
This dollar amount, said Bachert, should cover their computer, technology and videoconferencing program, as well as the summer camp and the fall session of the Mommy and Me program.
“We talk about technology in the schools and preparing kids for the future,” said Michael Simanowitz, Chief of Staff for Mayersohn. “I don’t think anywhere else in New York do kids have the opportunity to talk to – live – an astronaut on the space station.”
“We know what good work they do,” echoed Lydon Sleeper, Chief of Staff for Crowley, who noted that she has allocated more monies than her predecessors have to the Center.
Still, says Bachert, some programs have fallen by the wayside due to a lack of funding, such as after-school tutoring and the ESOL program.
Additionally, the Center helps people with paying their utility bills.
“Last year we saw double the amount of people who needed help,” said Wendy Bowne. “This is a local convenient place, and with the economy, we may see more people who need help this year.”
She worries that if the One Stop Richmond Hill Community Center does not receive its funds, help for the community may not be available.
“I understand about the economy, but this is the children, the future,” said Waisman.
