Ulster County OKs $100,000 state aid agreement to expand DA's youth anti-violence programs

The Ulster County Legislature approved an agreement authorizing the county to accept $100,000 in state aid from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services to fund anti-violence initiatives connected to the district attorney's One Life Only program. The resolution (106) was moved by Legislator Levine and seconded by Legislator McCullough; the committee voted in favor.

Saja, a representative of the District Attorney's office, told the committee that the office had faced uncertainty around federal grant funding but received $50,000 in additional state aid on the same day they learned of a federal freeze. Saja said the $100,000 will fund community outreach, the student intern program and two rounds of state aid secured with help from Assemblywoman Shrestha. "These are funds that were set aside by the New York State Assembly," Saja said, and the DA's office plans to use them for youth programming, including a youth summit and expanded Unity Hoops events run in partnership with the YMCA.

Saja introduced Sarah Del Rocco (fiscal officer) and Sarah Kramer Harrison (director of projects) as staff who will help implement the programs and manage budgets and community outreach. The DA's office said the funds will support existing partnerships with the Ulster County Youth Bureau and YMCA and expand events in Southern Ulster and Ellenville. The DA's office emphasized there are no county dollars associated with this grant and that the funds will support programming beyond core prosecutorial services.

Committee members responded positively; the resolution passed on a voice vote recorded in the committee transcript.