Councilmember Wilson questions Manhattan Youth non-renewal and CEC resolution
Wilson notes 400+ parents and students concerned about Manhattan Youth losing contracts, with positive audits and decades-long relationships. He asks if there's consideration to reinstate them. Officials explain the school-based process maintains slot continuity, not provider continuity.
Okay, Councilmember Wilson, followed by Banks.
Thank you, Chairs.
I would also like to add my voice with that of my colleagues Maloney and Epstein regarding Manhattan Youth.
I've received an overwhelming correspondence to my office, over 400 parents and students and teachers concerned about the change.
And, you know, they received positive audits and built decades-long relationships with the school communities and parent communities.
They've been told that the new programs are going to look to...
Incorporate the same staff or programs that existed.
So my question is, if we're looking to keep what was built by Manhattan Youth, why switch providers?
Because procurement processes allow for competition, which is necessary for the ecosystem of New York City.
And so while, again, I wanted to say that I appreciate the advocacy, and my heart goes out.
to the children, youth, and families of those communities.
I also want to say that I have confidence that the new provider will be able to meet the needs of the communities as well.
The CEC2 in my district also put out a resolution asking for them to be reinstated.
And, you know, given that response from the parents and the school board, would there be any consideration to reinstating Manhattan Youth?
So what I would say is that the school procurement process was different than the center-based process because the school procurement process allowed for continuity of the slots, the number of seats in a building.
And so what is being asked of us is essentially would we give the contract to another provider that won it through the competition?
Unless we found something egregious in the RFP process, and believe me, I am reading a lot of these close calls to make sure, but it's really the continuity of the slots and not the provider.