The latest from Volunteers of Legal Service ... Citi Bikes ... DOHMH

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By Zach Williams

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Governance Matters and charitySTRONG are merging – the latest in a string of high-profile mergers among New York nonprofits. The two organizations will continue under the name Governance Matters – an affiliate of the New York Council of Nonprofits.  

“The newly merged organization is positioned to provide region-specific, outcome-driven programming and reporting to communities across the state, measuring board engagement, training outcomes and more,” reads a July 12 press release. “Active advisory committees have already convened in Buffalo and New York City. In the coming months, additional councils are expected to launch in the Greater Rochester and Greater Syracuse regions.”

 

Volunteers of Legal Service has a new executive director. Marcia Levy has most recently served as the director of externships and field-based learning at Columbia Law School. Before that she was the executive director of Pro Bono Partnership, which provides free legal services to nonprofits in the tristate area. She will assume her new role in August, according to a press release.

 

Breakthrough New York has something to say about the ongoing separations of migrant children from their families. A July 16 press release from the nonprofit, which helps low-income children prepare for college, added a personal touch to ongoing outrage over how President Trump’s border policies affect children and families.

“Our society has always benefited from the contributions of immigrants, and denying people basic human decency at the border undermines this American truth. What does this crisis say about who we are as a country?” reads the press release signed by Chief Program Officer Olivia Nunez. “We know first-hand that every child can contribute positively to our society, especially if given the right opportunities and resources.”

 

New York City Administration for Children’s Services Commissioner David Hansell got some love from former commissioner Ron Richter on July 18. “A new amendment to a bill before the House Appropriations Committee would allow nonprofit agencies to discriminate against same-sex couples in child adoptions. The federal government would withhold approximately 15 percent of its funding to state adoption programs in instances of noncompliance,” NYN Media reported on July 18. Hansell had released a statement opposing the bill and received supportive responses via social media.

 

ACS Deputy Commissioner Julie Farber also chimed in on the issue:

 

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has released a bunch of contracts on July 18 related to mental health services for adults and children. These include:

Samaritan Daytop Village finally got its $1.39 million contract with the city Department of Social Services/Human Resources Administration, a 6-month contract renewal to provide housing for single adults from July 1 until Dec. 31, 2017, according to the City Record. The department is also getting $123,716 in improvements for conference rooms at the Department of Homeless Services.

Legal Service NYC got a $425,000 contract from the department to provide “information and resources to strengthen immigrant adults participation in the democratic process,” while Barrier Free Living has a three-year contract through 2021 to provide non-residential domestic violence services. Catholic Charities Community Services also received a $50,000 contract for “the creation of an immigrant resource center,” according to the City Record.

 

A new Prompt Payment Interest Rate has been set for New York City contractors. The new rate of 3.5 percent – set by the city comptroller and the Office of Management and Budget will apply from July 1, 2018 until the end of the year, according to the City Record. Section 4-06 of the city Procurement Policy Rules require city agencies to pay interest to suppliers if payments are not made by the Required Payment Date.

 

SNAP residents are going to receive discounts on Citi Bikes, according to a July 17 New York City press release. The $5 per month membership had previously only been available to NYCHA residents. About 1.6 million New Yorkers receive SNAP benefits, according to the statement. To apply for this discount, SNAP recipients can visit the Citi Bike website and enter their EBT card number or NYCHA tenant ID.

 

Send your press releases, photos, and word of your latest happenings to reporter Zach Williams at zwilliams@nynmedia.com.

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