Last month, House Republicans voted to enact a harsh SNAP bill that, according to USA Today, will result in 3 million people losing their benefits entirely and 850,000 people experiencing a reduction in benefits. Then in early October, we were all witness to the first government shutdown since 1995-1996, because Congress could not agree on a set budget for federal funding.

There are roughly 48 million people, 1.8 million in New York, who rely on SNAP (previously known as food stamps), which is scheduled to be reduced — regardless of the government shutdown — on Nov. 1. Republicans are proposing an additional $39 billion to be cut from the program.

Republicans say they don’t want the program eliminated, they simply want loopholes removed so the benefits go to qualifying families. Democrats and hunger advocates say the cuts will hurt working parents, children, seniors and those with disabilities who need help in trying times.

To bring attention to the potential cuts, the New York City Hunger Coalition set up a countdown clock on the side of Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in Manhattan.

“Congress and the President must work together to stop the clock and restore this life-saving food,” said New York City Coalition Against Hunger Executive Director Joel Berg. “Any further reduction in these already meager benefits would result in a drastic and unthinkable rise in the number of hungry Americans. As shocking as it is that things could get even worse, the government shutdown could start shutting WIC clinics nationwide that provide nutrition assistance to low-income pregnant women and infants.”

Berg, along with several other Democrats, says they are appalled by these current events.

“This is a dereliction of duty. No child should go to bed hungry because of an extreme political agenda in Washington,” said Bill de Blasio, the city’s Public Advocate and the Democratic nominee for mayor.

Gustavo Rivera, a state senator from the Bronx, said, “With no steps or precautions to counter the devastating consequences of such cuts, we cannot stand by and allow Congress to continue to make decisions that will drastically increase the number of Americans, and Bronxites, who are food insecure. ”

And Philip Schmidt, a spokesman of Congressman Jose E. Serrano who represents the 15th District in the Bronx, said, “Serrano is very upset. He has voted against every bill they’ve put out,” but Republicans are just not budging.

admin

Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.