Towns Lauds Bloomberg Initiative to Assist Disconnected Young Minority Males

Press Release

Rep. Edolphus "Ed" Towns (D-NY10) has thrown his overwhelming support behind New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's initiative to provide $130 million--including $30 million of his own money--for programs to address the needs of young black and Latino men who are largely disconnected from New York City's civic and economic life. In a letter to Mayor Bloomberg, Towns stated: "As the Representative of the 10th New York Congressional District, this has been an issue of critical concern to me for many years. That you are willing to invest $30 million dollars to help put disconnected young males on paths to more positive futures speaks volumes of your commitment to the future of our City."

Congressman Towns has made investing in children and youth a top priority. "As an ordained minister and professional social worker, I am deeply concerned about how today's economic woes will impact children," he stated. "We, as leaders in government, cannot allow debts incurred by our generation to cause us to shortchange our children's futures."

In mid-September, in conjunction with the National Association of Social Workers and the Congressional Social Work Caucus, the congressman will be convening a half-day symposium assessing the future of children and youth in New York City. Details of the event will be announced shortly.

Congressman Towns wants to place interns from the program in his district office and will encourage his colleagues in the New York City Congressional delegation and other local elected officials to follow suit. "Working in a government office is an excellent way for young people to connect with society," Towns stated. "It gives them an opportunity to work on real world issues and to experience the satisfaction of helping other people cope with problems."

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