Natasha's blog entry will be posted later...

One day after City Council lawmakers debated proposed budget cuts to after-school and child care programs, children delivered petitions to City Hall protesting the plan. Advocates say more than 47,000 children are at risk of losing access to these taxpayer-subsidized programs, unless $170 million is restored to Mayor Bloomberg's proposed budget.

A final decision must be made before the budget is due at the end of June. Many parents are concerned about how they will be able to continue to go to work if affordable child care isn't an option. Do you support their fight to restore funding?

Should the Council restore $170 million to prevent child care and after-school program cuts? Will rallies and petition drives make a difference in influencing the current crop of elected officials? If the cuts go through, how would your family be affected?

Send your thoughts using the link above.

All these cuts are cutting off our nose to spite our face. Children need nurturing early in life. These programs are long term investments. We can pay for kids now or pay later in the form of prison, unwed births, welfare, etc. I wish politicians would see the big picture for once!

Teri
Jackson Heights

Better the children learn now: Life is hard.

There is no free lunch, especially at taxpayer expense.

David
Brooklyn

Cuts are always painful...

What does the future hold?

Damond
NY

These cuts need to be restored, the city cannot punish the working poor and their children, who are struggling to survive during these difficult economic times.

Felix
Bay Ridge

After school programs are essential for many families, and I sure hope the petitions and rallies make a difference. To cut funding to these programs at a time when families are struggling to make ends meet is thoughtless and irresponsible.

Barri
Jackson Heights

Well, if this is not a pathetic situation.

Seems there is million upon millions upon millions for park benches and pedestrian walkways (as if they were necessary during an endless depression/recession) - but no money for the very people whose money is taken and being wasted on those same benches.

Totally, completely pathetic.

Complete mismanagement.

I should run for Mayor !

Esmerelda
East Village

I repeat myself. Schools will remain poor as long as they are ruled by the government and the unions. No appreciable progress will be made until schools function on a free market.

Joe
Port Richmond

All of these city council members voted the very way this dictator wanted them to. So because of greed on all their parts they are paying the price for the 3rd term. This Bloomberg has a vision of what's to come in this city and so he could not see that there would be problems down the road with day care centers and after school programs. He wants to control everything and all of you still don’t get it that rich people are very sadistic towards the little people they give with one hand and take with the other. Schools are closing, planting ridiculous trees all over the place, bike lanes all over the place.

I could go on and on forever and ever and now I see that the fire house in City Island is threatening to be closed again. What the hell is going on? They only have one road out of the island.

We are not interested in their speeches and whatever rederick they spew on us and this Miss. Q. goes right along with the game that they play with our lives. Everybody falls all over her. Well, now you all pay the price.

Maxxiee
Morris Park

As with all cuts that affect education, early childhood intervention, and even healthy school food, I say...what are they thinking!!?? If we want a healthy, educated population, why don't we fully invest in those things as early as possible? Why do we build jails and stadiums instead?

We need the millionaire's tax.

Anni
Manhattan

FIRST, THEY WILL BALANCE THE BUDGET AND CAUSE ALL THIS HISTRIONICS FOR NOTHING. BECAUSE, AFTER THEY BALANCE THE BUDGET, THE MUCH NEEDED MONIES WILL REAPPEAR. HOORAY! IT'S THE BIGGEST MAGIC SHOW EVERY YEAR.

Joe
Bay Terrace

Why doesn't Bloomberg do just one thing for the people before he is forced out of his third term & help keep kids off the streets. He must have $170m stuck under his couch cushions.

Jeremy
Forest Hills