Recently,  Congresswoman Barbara Lee held an online press briefing with local mayors and local media to further discuss the proposed federal cuts and their impact on the East Bay.

Last week, she joined us at one of the city's Headstart Centers to oppose the proposed Republican cuts, which would eliminate about one-fifth of Headstart funds or almost 300 child placements. It also would totally eliminate the 0-3 year old programs.

Together, the school district and city serve about 3,000 preschool students, about half of the eligible low income children. However, the district closed several centers this year, this now the second major hit to one of the most proven strategies to give low income children an even start in their education.

Low income mothers losing their child care may also be forced out of the work force if they have to pay for child care.

Other proposed federal cuts:

Employment and Job Training Programs -- The Workforce Employment Act Programs will be slashed. 

• The proposed cuts will eliminate the training programs that train about 460 high school youth and 200 adults each year. 
• Close four job training centers, which serve about 10,000 to 15,000 people a month.
• Eliminates funding for the mayor's Summer Youth Jobs Program.

Homeless and Hunger Programs -- Oakland saw a 20 percent decline in homeless last year, partially due to the innovate collaborative programs funded by the programs below, which will be cut. We would lose almost all of our homeless and hunger programs funds.

• 100 vouchers for homeless Veterans
• Funds for all special needs populations including AIDS patients, disabled and elderly residents.
• Nearly $1 million in rent assistance (pays part of rent) to keep low income people from becoming homeless
• Funds to renovate buildings for transitional housing for the chronically homeless, disabled and special needs patients.

Senior Funds -- Would eliminate most our senior employment funds.  Our Assets Program provides employment counseling some employment ($150/week) to low income seniors and would be cut by more than 60 percent. 

• The Senior Companion and Foster Grandparent Program provide invaluable volunteer support to isolated seniors and youth in need of adult attention; both would be eliminated. They make home visits, work in schools and child care and other community agencies. They serve over 1000 people.

Community Services Block Grants could be cut in half after years of steady cuts -- Projects that are too small to get funding elsewhere receive grants from community boards. This is how last year's money was spent.

• Anti-Crime                                                  
• 1,700 individuals              $65,000/year
• Homeless                                                    
• 400 individuals                 $405,000/year
• Hunger Relief                                             
  
• 1,359 individuals               $177,000
• Microenterprise/Business Assistance                  
• 6,050 individuals               $247,300
• Misc. Public Services                                    
  
•  600 individuals                  $90,000
• Senior Services                                             
• 1,172 individuals               $312,009
• Youth Services                                                 
• 1,606 individuals            $619,662

• Public Facilities and Infrastructure Improvements nine facilities serving immigrants, childre and youth, adults and  recent paroles    $516,604

Reposted from Mayor Jean Quan's newsletter. See more here.