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Contact: Robin Willig
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Community Service Society Applauds Mayor’s Focus on Poverty

January 26, 2006, New York, New York — David R. Jones, president and CEO of the Community Service Society, New York City’s foremost advocate on poverty, responded to Mayor Bloomberg’s State of the City address by praising its focus on plans to reduce poverty.

“The Mayor's announcement today of a public/private task force to reduce poverty and address chronic unemployment in distressed communities in New York is a great first step, and signals much-needed attention to a problem that has long plagued our city,” Mr. Jones said. “We are pleased that Mayor Bloomberg has made this effort a centerpiece of his policy agenda for his second term. The Community Service Society's own research and direct service programs have revealed the magnitude of the challenge. As the city’s oldest not-for-profit organization focused on eradicating poverty, we stand ready to work with the city and business leaders to make the promise of prosperity and a better life that New York City represents, a reality for all its residents.”

Nearly 1.8 million New Yorkers are “officially poor” by federal standards, and another 1.6 million hover near the poverty line, with incomes below twice the federal poverty threshold of a little over $30,000 for a family of three. Mr. Jones pointed out that if these New Yorkers resided in their own municipality, it would constitute the fifth largest city in the United States.

CSS is an independent, nonprofit organization that for more than 150 years has provided innovative solutions to help New Yorkers in need defeat the problems of poverty and strengthen community life for all. Through a combination of service initiatives, policy analysis, and advocacy we bring about systemic change that empowers those in need to advocate for themselves.

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