SCF: The Voice of Our Community

September 13th is primary day, and for a portion of our community this includes the special election to fill a vacant seat in the US House of Representatives. Voting is critical and has already been benefiting our community in some direct ways.

According to SCF President Sam Sutton, “Against the backdrop of massive cuts at every level—federal, state, and city—we are also making it clear that budgets must not be balanced at the expense of our community, because we participate in the democratic process.”

In a few short years, the Sephardic Community Federation (SCF) has made our community’s voice heard. SCF has changed the nature of the conversation in Albany and at City Hall, so government better appreciates the values of our community when budget decisions are being made.

Saving Childcare
“Without the work of SCF and the City Council, we would have lost the ability to provide affordable childcare for our working families. How do you put a price on that?” asked Joe J. Gindi, Executive Director of Magen David Yeshivah.

At the end of June, New York City adopted its budget for the new fiscal year. Despite across-the-board cuts, Councilman David Greenfield’s six-month effort to restore funding for childcare vouchers was also, thank G-d, successful. Greenfield created a coalition that convinced the Council and Mayor Bloomberg to restore $25 million to “Priority 5” vouchers and childcare slots for thousands of children who would have lost them. SCF was also a proud partner in the Emergency Coalition to Save Child Care.

Saving Special Ed
“When it looked like Albany might tilt the balance on reimbursing our special education programs, it was SCF that organized the campaign to protect our most vulnerable kids. They gave us hope, and they held the line,” said Robert Matalon, MD, founder of Reach for the Stars.

Last spring, Mayor Bloomberg proposed in Albany that the state budget include a change in the processing of claims for special education reimbursement. SCF led the effort to sensitize legislators to the critical stakes involved, visiting nearly 50 members of the State Senate and Assembly in Albany, and following up with the Democratic and Republican leadership. Out of the total $100 million in reimbursements for 4,000 students citywide, some 250 Sephardic children will continue to benefit from nearly $6 million in annual reimbursement.

Unlocking Title I
Until recently, the entire Jewish community was receiving only a few million dollars each year in federal Title I money for remedial services. SCF and the Teach NYS coalition helped New York City yeshivahs—including the Sephardic schools—to receive nearly $9 million last year, along with $6.5 million in onetime federal stimulus dollars. Next year, the total is projected to be over $12 million. Thanks to SCF, the community is closer to ensuring that no child is left behind.

Saving Pre-Schools
A few years ago, when city officials wanted to end the religious exemption from pre-school standards for space per child and certification of teachers, SCF reached out through political and media channels to continue the exemption for existing classrooms. This change would have cost community institutions millions to meet the new obligations, and several would probably have had to close.

SCF works closely with the Sephardic Community Center, Sephardic Bikur Holim and other important institutions in the community, helping them build relationships with public officials and access government services. Most recently, SCF President Sam Sutton joined Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz, Chairman of the Assembly’s Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, and Arlene González-Sánchez, Commissioner of the NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, on a visit to SAFE. The Commissioner came away deeply impressed with the remarkable programs SAFE provides to the community, including counseling and support in dealing with addictions.

SCF is already taking on new challenges for the New Year. You can help just by voting.

Shana Tova!