Obama Budget A Boon For New York

The new federal budget represents a broad increase in funding for urban programs. New York in particular is to benefit greatly from the new spending plan.

1 minute read

March 1, 2009, 9:00 AM PST

By Nate Berg


"The increases are virtually across-the-board and, in some cases, represent a quantum leap forward, based on an analysis by Weiner's office of the new budget and New York's historical share of the budget pie:

* Under Obama's new spending plan, grant money to help low-income, working families afford child care will effectively double, to $168 million.

* Funds for early childhood education are expected to jump by 14%.

* Families that depend on food stamps will see a 51% increase in their monthly checks.

* Community development block grants will grow by 25%, while the feds' main program for lending to small businesses in inner city neighborhoods is expected to double.

The increases represent not just a shift from Republican to Democratic priorities, experts say, but the ascension of the first urban-minded President since Democrat Jimmy Carter strode into the Oval Office in 1977."

Friday, February 27, 2009 in New York Daily News

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