Chair Salaam questions OPHC on budget priorities for scaling up
Chair Salaam asks which OPHC programs would be prioritized for scaling with the proposed FY2027 budget increase. Ramjatin identifies PATH as the top priority for expanding trusted partners beyond the current 60 organizations, plus youth initiatives and restorative justice programming for justice-involved individuals.
I just have a few more questions.
Before we open it up to public testimony?
So we know that the FY 2027 budget has not yet been finalized.
The administration proposed that historic increase, as you mentioned.
My question is, what OPHC programming up until now has been the most successful that might be prioritized for scaling up if more resources, in fact, do become available?
So I would say all four programs have been successful because they all reach different New Yorkers at different points in their lives and across the city.
However, I would say the PATH initiative, we have trusted partners.
Again, these six anchor organizations and most of the sub-vendors who have been doing this work is definitely a place where we have to continue to support these trusted partners
on the ground to make sure we increase their funding and give them the resources to serve New Yorkers in the most appropriate way, but to expand this outreach.
I don't think the PATH program should only have 60 organizations that serve.
8.5 million New Yorkers.
We need to have an expanded part where we reach Canarsie, we embed for Syverson and have more than one organization to meet the needs of New Yorkers across New York City.
So that's one program.
We also want to expand our youth initiatives by making sure we have the appropriate staff to mobilize and to
include more programming for the youths in schools, but also to include programming that has justice-involved individuals who have committed hate crimes to have a part where they can be rehabilitated and understand the hurt they have caused through restorative justice.
justices before they reenter the community.