Council Member Hanks Urges Proactive Communication on Discretionary Allocations
Council Member Kamillah Hanks urges DYCD to improve direct communication with small nonprofits regarding discretionary contract processing and missing documentation.
As the commissioner mentioned, we have 52 new providers as a result of this compass RFP.
Right.
Um, and in terms of small CBOs, 17, which are considered those that have less than 100,000 um in revenue.
We do have a whole host of capacity building services to help those providers along the way as they enter into the compass uh portfolio.
Um in terms of new procurements at this time, we don't have anything um for them to apply to, but they do have the opportunities also to serve as subcontractors that help them get into these compass programs and start building their ability to I have one there's one organization that's been in the school for close to 10 years or so long, long track record in that community, and they've been surviving off of cost of monies that we've given them, um, and then whatever other monies that they've raised, they competed for a compass uh or you know, they submitted for the RFP.
Um, and and they're actually they got approved that the principal supported them.
They the consideration was given, but they didn't get the contract.
Um and and and and that to me means something because having a relationship with the community, having a relationship with the students means a lot.
And I know uh the commissioner uh had mentioned uh earlier, I think it was a commissioner, uh, the need uh to support those new organizations that are coming in and figure out ways that you know they can uh the community can now instruct them or give them ideas of things that they want to see.
But a relationship is important, and and and when that is that chemistry is broken up, it can do damage to the community.
And I know you you're looking at uh you know uh numbers, you have your scorecards, but those relationships mean a lot.
And um, I don't want I don't want our community to be uh negatively impacted because of uh, you know, a score chart uh that really doesn't take into the the human side of the impact of those relationships.
Uh so uh I know this is ongoing.
I know a lot of these organizations have put in appeals, um, and we're hoping that strong consideration is taken, um uh given uh to those organizations.
Thank you, council member.
And can I just ask one more question, Madam Chair?
Very quickly.
This is and then I'll pass on those other questions.
You thank you for your indulgence.