Manhattan community boards pass resolutions to shore up after‑school programs, back federal connectivity fund

Community Board 1’s Youth and Education Committee, meeting jointly with Community Board 2 on Zoom, voted unanimously to approve a resolution urging city agencies to support city‑funded elementary and middle‑school after‑school programs and to press for emergency funding for connectivity and remote‑learning infrastructure.

The board also approved a separate measure supporting federal legislation — the Emergency Educational Connections Act of 2020 as described in the House briefing — and a related $2 billion connectivity fund championed by U.S. Rep. Grace Meng.

Why it matters: Speakers warned the pandemic could put longstanding after‑school providers at risk, and principals and Department of Education officials described continuing gaps in devices, internet access and counseling that they say will influence planning for summer programs and the fall.

Bob Townley, identified in the meeting as director of Manhattan Youth, framed the first resolution. Townley asked the Department of Education and the Department of Health to coordinate before issuing reopening guidance, and urged special city funding for nonprofit after‑school providers that rely on earned income. “We have no coordination between after‑school programs… we take care of 2,000 children at 3:00 in only elementary school programs,” Townley said, adding that many nonprofit providers…