A.G. Gancarski
On Thursday, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry teased an “important announcement” Friday regarding after-school program funding.
Curry Tweeted a picture of himself with Finance Committee member Reggie Brown and members of the Boys and Girls Club, suggesting a compromise solution that would, perhaps, preempt Finance Chair Garrett Dennis‘ latest bid for more after-school funding by essentially providing the funding.
Word going into Friday was that a wide swath of programs would be funded.
And sure enough, that will be the case, reads a release from Curry Friday afternoon.
“With his proposed recommendation to City Council of $2.69 million in additional funds, 21 sites throughout Jacksonville could now open, serving approximately 1,720 additional children. City Council (District 10) and Finance Committee member Reggie Brown plans to introduce an amendment at the proper time during the budget process to appropriate the funds,” reads a release from the Mayor.
“We are making every effort possible to maximize resources to meet the needs of at-hope children in our community,” said Mayor Curry. “When kids leave school campuses, they should be able to go to a community center or site to participate in recreational and enrichment activities. Gangs can’t have our kids!”
“As I’ve stated many times before, government has a role to play in making sure at-hope kids do not fall through the cracks. If there are ways for us to improve the lives of children, we’re going to do that responsibly and orderly with proper vetting and appropriate budgeting.”
Councilman Dennis is on board also, “very pleased that the Mayor has agreed to fund and expand the after-school programs throughout Jacksonville.”
“On Wednesday, once again, I filed emergency legislation to secure funding to reinstate and expand this very important program. I was not in the meeting with the Mayor, Mr. Martinez, Councilmember Brown and Mr. Tritt, but apparently something positive came of it, and for that, I’m grateful,” Dennis added.
“Over the past several weeks, I have received calls to my office pleading for me to do something to help the children of Jacksonville. I heard those pleas loud and clear! Now that funding has been reinstated and the after-school programs will be expanded, I am excited to withdraw my emergency legislation. Today, our kids won!”
This follows on a proposal floated Thursday in City Council budget hearings, to allocate $288,000 to open six currently unprogrammed community centers and program them for similar programs — though there are still logistics to be worked out there, the Curry Administration supports the play.
