Action for Boston Community Development, Inc.

(ABCD)
July 21, 2011 Memo to: The ABCD Community From: John J. Drew, President/CEO Re: ABCD, the federal debt ceiling and implications for those struggling against poverty

____________________________________________________________________________ THE FEDERAL DEBT CEILING CRISIS: What does it mean for ABCD, our programs and the most vulnerable in society?
Im writing to clarify the confusing and potentially destabilizing fiscal situation in Washington, D.C. and discuss its implications for ABCD, our employees and the people in need whom we serve. On August 2, 2011, the U.S. Government will reach its debt ceiling the limit set by Congress on the amount of money it can borrow. U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has informed Congress that if they do not raise the current debt ceiling by that date, the United States will no longer be able to pay its bills. Economists have warned that failure to increase the debt ceiling could be disastrous to our recovering economy and to the worlds financial viability. Our elected officials in Congress are battling in budget negotiations tied to an agreement to raise the debt ceiling. President Obama has convened ongoing meetings to reach a budget compromise. On the table are severe cuts in federally funded domestic programs, including CSBG. The two sides find themselves at an impasse over the Presidents insistence that tax increases as well as spending cuts be included in the legislation. Thus ABCD programs and many others including Medicare, Social Security, Food Stamps, public housing and other safety net programs could be sacrificed in the budget compromise. If Congress does not reach an agreement and the debt ceiling is not raised, then the government will be unable to pay its bills and ABCD programs along with Social Security, government pensions and salaries, and other programs will not receive the federal payments due them. At a time when the economy is in desperate straits, when unemployment remains high and people struggle to pay their mortgages and rent and put food on their tables, our national leaders in Congress and the White House should not be putting Americans especially our most vulnerable citizens at this terrible risk. I call for our elected officials to get together and act responsibly so that increased misery is not inflicted on the most vulnerable in society. At a time when increasing numbers of Americans are at economic risk we should be investing in job creation, boosting programs that help the most vulnerable in society, and doing what is necessary to keep the country going. We should not be gambling with peoples lives. Thus we are in a position similar to that of last spring when the new conservative majority in the House of Representatives proposed huge domestic cuts including elimination of our critically needed Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) monies in the budget that would continue funding America. At that time we let Congress and the world know that Community Action is too important to cut and that the work of ABCD and the 1,000-plus CAPs across America is essential to the survival and upward mobility of the huge numbers of Americans struggling in poverty and to the nations economic recovery. The www.CAPWORKS.org Website was established. Thousands of signatures on Save CSBG petitions were obtained and a massive media campaign including presence on Twitter and Facebook sites. Thanks to all of you, ABCD was recognized nationally as a lead player in the battle to save community action. On April 8, when Congress reached an agreement on a Continuing Resolution to keep the government funded through September 30, 2011, community action was saved. We received a small cut, not the elimination of our programs that had been proposed.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

As we did last spring, all of us need to let our elected officials know that Community Action is critically important to the nations well-being. We must urge them to ensure that the budget compromise does not harm the most disadvantaged. $680 million for CSBG is a small percentage of the overall $11 trillion Federal Budget and yet has helped 20.7 million low-income individuals, created and retained over 18,400 jobs, and assisted in accessing $14.9 billion in total funding. You can call or email the President and your representatives in Congress. Tell them how Community Action has made a difference in your life. And encourage others to do the same! Go to www.CAPWORKS.org NOW to see exactly how to make this happen!

A NEW FEDERAL BUDGET ON OCTOBER 1, 2011

If community action survives the debt ceiling crisis, we then face a Congressional battle over the budget to fund the government starting October 1 when the current Continuing Resolution runs out. We have no assurance that it will provide federal funding for the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) that funds our neighborhood operations, Head Start, Fuel Assistance or other programs. Thus we must step up the same battle we fought last spring and wage now over the debt ceiling crisis with the goal of saving community action and preserving our programs.

ABCD FIGHTS ON

We continue to oppose these federal cuts with every means available. CAPWORKS.org website is running strong. We are stepping up our awareness campaign of letters, petitions, phone calls and press coverage across the nation. We hope that our efforts will raise the consciousness of President Obama and his administration and of Congress to the critical importance and cost-effectiveness of community action programs in the economic recovery and the nations ability to provide assistance and opportunity to the millions struggling in poverty. We are continuing our major fundraising campaign The Neighborhood Fund focused on raising money to fund our neighborhood programs that will be the first hit by any cuts in CSBG. We have many major fundraising initiatives in process Field of Dreams at Fenway Park last week raised $172,400 for ABCD! We will hold a benefit at the J. Geils Concert at Bank of America Pavilion on August 7. We have a Hoop Dreams benefit at the Boston Garden on September 15 with 10 corporate teams paying $10,000 each to play on the legendary parquet. Our stellar Community Awards Dinner on October 27 will also raise funds for ABCD. You can help! We can all reach out to our constituencies and engage them in these campaigns. We can ask our friends and colleagues to sign petitions, write letters, telephone and twitter Congress and the President, and donate to the fundraising campaign! Log onto the ABCD website at www.bostonabcd.org to donate and for campaign updates and to www.CAPWORKS.org to see how to participate and for ongoing political updates. If you have any questions at all on how to take part in these efforts you can call Josh Young at 617-3486553 (joshyoung@bostonabcd.org) regarding the outreach campaign and Pam Nedbalek at 617-3486238 (nedbalek@bostonabcd.org) regarding making a donation to the ABCD Neighborhood Fund.

And THANK YOU!

Again from the bottom of my heart thank you for the critically important work that you do every day and for hanging in there with us through these difficult times! We are committed to keeping your services and ABCD in place to provide desperately needed care and opportunities for our children, our elderly and the many families struggling to survive who turn to ABCD for help. Again, I ask you to continue to believe in our important mission and to work together as we strive to overcome these painful budget crises.

Thank you again for all that you do every day!