ALBANY (VINnews) — On Thursday evening, Governor Kathy Hochul announced a New York State budget agreement which could have significant repercussions for yeshiva parents.
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For the first time ever, the state will provide funding toward free school meals in the upcoming year, allocating $134 million to the program. This big achievement is due largely to massive lobbying efforts by the Agudah, Orthodox Union, and other Jewish advocacy groups.
While this appears to be a victory for school advocates, the funding falls short of what they were pushing for – free meals for all students.
Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, director of government relations for Agudath Israel, told Hamodia that Hochul’s announcement is “wonderful news for parents and children throughout New York State.”
Maury Litwack, managing director of the Orthodox Union, called this “a major victory for New York families.”
For years, the federal government, not the state, has provided free or reduced-cost meals based on income, based on a sliding scale, which benefits many yeshiva parents.
During the COVID pandemic, the federal government provided free meals for all students, regardless of income. First there were “grab and go” packages, and later, regular school meals. Many yeshiva families happily partook in that program, however it ended last June, impacting over 700,000 NYS students who do not qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
School advocates have been lobbying heavily for the state to fund all students not eligible for federal meal programs.
In the budgets released earlier this year, the Senate and Assembly included this funding in their proposals, but the governor’s proposal did not. As negotiations continued, advocacy groups, including Agudath Israel and the Orthodox Union’s Teach Coalition, lobbied heavily for the funding.
And the campaign seems to have mostly worked. On Thursday evening, Hochul announced an agreement on a massive state budget of $229 billion for 2024, including the funding for the lunch program.
What is not clear is what criteria will be used to determine which students qualify, how many students the $134 million will cover, and whether public and private schools will be equally eligible.
Yeshiva parents are hoping to at least be treated equally, as tuition costs are already quite high, even without the added meal expenses.
“Celebrate” another form of welfare and govt subsidies? Vus? Oh, but it goes to yeshivas, so its OK.
The US federal fov as well as many states are nuts. They are dispensing billions and trillions of dollars on programs with money they don’t have. What is there to celebrate? This is just another way of bleeding the state of money it doesn’t have.
Have you ever heard of an institution that says, “We have enough.” It will be miracle if this money goes where it is supposed to go. There will still be a shortfall. “We need more. Please open your heart and your wallet.
well dont get excited, your schar limud will not be lower
agudas board members collectively raised $1 million dollars to hochul.
“There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch” is a popular adage communicating the idea that it is impossible to get something for nothing.
Kathy – meanwhile criminals are roaming free, fare beaters bankrupting the MTA , scared to ride subways and hordes are exiting your state . Do you care ?
The criteria for what the government lunches must include is extremely specific (milk, protein, wholemeal, fruits, veg, low suger etc) So when it comes to making it kosher it will probably be more expensive. Then there is “only” $134 million for entire state, so will probably only go to lower income families etc. and probably only for public schools. I dont think it will provide much help to most, just an increase in taxes.
To quote the great (Jewish) economist, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.”
It is good to feed the hungry.
despite the best efforts of yaffed to demonize our heilger yeshivos, we have devoted askanim who are still respected by govt. thank you