Annual Lobby Day to be held Tues. February 9th; Hunger Action Network willing to help subsidize transportation
It's time once again for the Annual Hunger Action Network Albany Legislative Action Day. This year’s event will be held on Tues. Feb. 9th, starting at the Wilborn Temple, 121 Jay Street, Albany at 9:30 A.M.
Assemblymember Dick Gottfied the chair of the Assembly Health Committee which controls the budget appropriation for HPNAP has agreed to speak to those in attendance for Lobby Day. Other legislators have also been asked to speak.
It is important that advocates and low-income people come together from around the state to educate legislators about the realities of hunger and poverty. We need to make them understand why 1.5 million New Yorkers have to frequent emergency food programs (EFPs) each month. We need to make them understand about the need for more jobs that pay a living wage, the need for an opportunity to better oneself through real education and job training, not the punitive make-work jobs of workfare.
Hunger Action Network’s main legislative priorities for 1999 are Job Creation and increased funding for EFPs. The Empire State Jobs Program would create 4,000 transitional jobs for people on welfare. Hunger Action is seeking a raise in the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP), the state’s contribution to the running of Soup Kitchens and Food Pantries, to $25 million. HPNAP funding has remained stagnant at $10.8 Million since 1990, despite an increase in demand in excess of 130 percent. Other key issues include an increase in Welfare and SSI benefits, an increase in the minimum wage to $6.50 an hour, and support of a bill which would make college internships and work study a countable work activity for welfare participants.
Hunger Action Network is willing to subsidize ½ of the transportation costs for groups which are willing to organize a van or bus for Lobby Day. Please contact Bill O’Connell in our Albany office or BichHa Pham in our New York City office if you need help arranging such transportation. We realize that Albany is a long way to travel for many of you. While we always encourage you to meet with your legislators in your home district, nothing lets the legislature know that you mean business more than when you meet with them where they do business.
Show Legislators you mean business where they do business:
To register yourself or your group -please fill out the form found in the latest issue of Grassroots, or in the brochure sent to you under previous cover, or call either Bill O’Connell in our Albany office or BichHa Pham in our New York City office.