Local Agencies Fret Over Federal Cuts
A number of Portland social services agencies appeared before a special meeting of the Portland City Council on March 13th to plead their cases in the wake of federal funding cuts. Portland City Manager Joseph Gray and his Policy Advisory Committee are recommending funding cuts to a number of local groups, including the Y.M.C.A., the PROP Child Development Centers, the Somali Peer Support Group, Ingraham, Ripple Effect, Portland West Community Outreach and Youth Building Alternatives, and WMPG Blunt Youth Radio, among others. Some of the funding requests are new and the City is not funding them at all.
The City Manager's Policy Advisory Committee issued a letter explaining the reasoning for its individual funding decisions. The letter was made available to those in attendance at the meeting and will soon be available on the City' website www.portlandmaine.gov
Several City Councilors were not at the meeting because they were attending a National League of Cities meeting in Washington, DC. Part of their mission there was to lobby for restoration of Federal Community Block Grant funds. Another public hearing will be held on March 27th, before the City Council votes on final appropriations.