CM Brewer questions OMB on DYCD after school RFP controversy and CUNY funding
Brewer raises that DYCD's RFP changes upset every council member and asks about CUNY ASAP/ACE/Reconnect funding. Solomon says it wasn't cost-saving but an RFP issue being reviewed with the commissioner, and highlights $15 million baselined for CUNY plus $50 million in capital for state of good repair.
The other thing is in the recent DYCD, a good commissioner, but she managed to upset everybody, not just one, but every single member with her new ideas about RFP and changing some of the after school programs.
Is that a cost saving issue or just like thinking that you're doing the right thing, but it's really not?
I don't think it was a cost-saving issue.
I think it was an issue.
I don't think it was either.
Yeah.
I think it was a release of an RFP and the responses to the RFP.
Okay.
Is that something that you could look at or that would just not be in your bailiwick?
We are looking at it with the DYCD commissioner.
Okay, really it's upset every single person imaginable.
So I just would start over.
Suggestion.
I could help you with that.
CUNY, ASAP, ACE, and Reconnect.
I know that you're focused on CUNY.
We all love CUNY.
Those programs need to be fully funded.
Is that something that you're focused on also?
We all love CUNY, for sure.
We love it, but we have to fund it.
Yes.
Well, we did put up the $15 million and baselined it.
Yes, you did.
That's great.
And we also put up $50 million in capital for state of good repair, the most that they've received for that in over a decade.
So that was an important investment, too.
In terms of the programs which we know work, ASAP, ACE, and CUNY Reconnect, we look forward to having that conversation with you and your colleagues.
Okay.