City Council members, advocates press DYCD to revise RFP and reinstate Manhattan Youth

Elected officials, community leaders and parents gathered at New York City Hall to demand that the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) revise a contracting request for proposals and reinstate Manhattan Youth and other long-standing after‑school providers, speakers said.

Bob Townley, director and founder of Manhattan Youth, told the crowd the organization has run after‑school programming since the late 1980s and warned that the recent contracting decisions threaten sports, arts and mentoring programs the group operates. "This RFP process is ill‑conceived. It never should have happened," Townley said, adding that the paperwork contained "mistakes" and "miscalculations" and that the organization often serves many more children than the official contract counts.

The issue drew public and elected‑official attention. "Our office has been flooded, flooded with calls" about the awards, said City Council Speaker Julie Menin, who urged DYCD to "re‑evaluate their decision" and called for greater transparency. Menin and other council members framed the dispute as a citywide problem, arguing that schools and families deserve clear explanations when six‑year contracts are awarded to new providers.

Several council members described the consequences for continuity in schools. "When the principal says, 'I want Manhattan Youth number one,' you keep them," Council Member Gale Brewer said, arguing that continuity of counselors and coaches is essential to students' well‑being. Council Member Chris Marte said his office had received no complaints about Manhattan Youth and questioned why the provider was removed from some schools but retained in others.

Deputy Leader Chris Banks told the crowd that contracting resources appear concentrated among a small number of large organizations and said that awarding "more than 80 contracts" to a few entities undermines smaller local providers with deep community ties. Council Member Virginia Maloney urged DYCD to release the scoring data, evaluation criteria, principal feedback and attendance records that informed the awards.

Assemblymember Grace Lee said the non‑renewal affects roughly 13 sites served by Manhattan Youth and listed schools she said would lose programs, including the NYC Lab School, Quest to Learn, School of the Future and JHS 104. "Losing activities at 13 of those schools is devastating for our community," Lee said, urging DYCD to reinstate the contracts.

In a brief exchange with reporters, elected officials said that when they met with DYCD staff they were given "no real answers." Townley told reporters Manhattan Youth is typically contracted for roughly 125 students per site but routinely serves "250, 275" students daily, saying the organization stretches resources to avoid turning children away. Officials also said some schools received no provider awards at all.

Speakers said their offices have formally requested the scoring data and evaluation materials from DYCD and will continue to press the agency for answers. DYCD representatives did not provide a substantive response at the event. Organizers closed with applause and plans to continue advocacy and oversight, and officials said they will pursue additional follow‑up to seek transparency in the contracting process.