Press Coverage

Press articles and opinions on this page covers many of the initiatives guiding SCAA's efforts. Press specific to early care and education press can be found here.

That Helps, N.Y.?

Times Union (May 24, 2009) Opinion - In the thick of a recession, with family budgets getting leaner and credit still tight, New York has hatched a plan to help students and parents pay for college that leaves us scratching our heads.
-see opinion

College loan setup spurs concerns

Democrat and Chronicle.com (May 16, 2009) By Jay Gallagher, Albany bureau chief- ALBANY — The state's newly created loan program for college students could create risks that parents and students should avoid, critics said Friday. -see story

NYHELPS needs work

Times Union (May 7, 2009) Letter to the Editor By Karen Schimke - State Sen. Toby Stavisky, D-Queens, is right: For all the bad press about the 2009 state budget, she and other legislators did a great job standing up for New York's college students. -see letter

Paterson wants to keep Timothy's Law on the books

Governor says he will ask lawmakers to remove expiration provision from mental health care law

Times Union (May 5, 2009) By RICK KARLIN, Capitol bureau - ALBANY Gov. David Paterson wants to make Timothy's Law, a piece of legislation born out of a local family's tragic loss, a permanent feature of New York's health care system. -see story

Protect a child at every turn

Times Union (May 3, 2009) Perspective by Mary McCarthy - Thankfully, most of us never come into contact with the child welfare system, a system designed to protect and keep our children safe. And most of us are unaware of the system unless a child has died or has been seriously injured and his or her story is headlined in our local media. -download opinion

Advocates: Layoffs will hurt services

Legislative Gazette (April 20, 2009) By MATTHEW ARCO, Legislative Gazette staff writer- The possibility of hospitals closing, prisons becoming more dangerous and the state’s water supply being compromised are concerns lobbyists have if Gov. David A. Paterson follows through with his plan to cut 8,700 positions from the state workforce. -see story

NYers deserve a better college loan program

Newsday.com (April 15, 2009) Opinion By Karen Schimke - Here's the dilemma: College education has become essential for success in today's economy, yet college tuition continues to rise faster than family income and available grant aid. -see opinion

States Slashing Social Programs for Vulnerable

New York Times (April 11, 2009) By Erik Eckholm - PHOENIX — Battered by the recession and the deepest and most widespread budget deficits in several decades, a large majority of states are slicing into their social safety nets — often crippling preventive efforts that officials say would save money over time.  -see story

Thousands of students to benefit from new state loans

dailygazette.com (April 5, 2009) By Sara Foss, Gazette Reporter - CAPITAL REGION — The state budget that lawmakers are expected to pass includes $50 million for a new college loan program that officials estimate will serve between 40,000 and 45,000 students who would otherwise turn to private lenders. -see story

2 schools of thought on new student loan program

LoHud.com (April 5, 2009) By Cara Matthews, Albany bureau - The state budget is considered a mixed bag for higher education: Cuts were averted to the Tuition Assistance Program and community colleges, but most of a State University of New York tuition increase is going to other government programs - not the schools. -see story

Higher education chalks up wins, losses

Times Union (April 4, 2009) By Cara Matthews, Gannett News Service - The State budget is considered a mixed bag for higher education: Cuts were averted to the Tuition Assistance Program and community colleges, but most of a State University of New York tuition hike is going to other government programs, not the schools. -download story

NY Student Lending Plan Gets F for “Flawed”

Public News Service (April 2, 2009) By Mark Scheerer - Albany, NY - Critics of a New York student loan program on the verge of passage say the program is wasteful, poorly structured and offers few safeguards for student borrowers. The New York Higher Education Loan Program (NYHELPs) is expected to be passed by the legislature, and will cost $50 million to launch and $10 million a year to run -see story

Groups protest NYHELPs — a new loan program

LoHud.com (March 31, 2009) By Cara Matthews - The New York Public Interest Research Group and the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy are criticizing a new program that the 2009-10 state budget— which lawmakers are in the process of voting on—would set up. The New York Higher Education Loan program (HELPs), which would cost $50 million to set up and $10 million annually after that, is a “poorly structured program with few safeguards for student borrowers,” the Schuyler Center said in a statement. -see story

SUNY wants tuition money used on schools

pressconnects.com (March 10, 2009) By Heather Senison and Cara Matthews, Gannett Albany Bureau- ALBANY -- State University of New York students gathered outside the Capitol today to protest tuition hikes and Gov David Paterson's proposal to use 80 percent of the new money the increases bring in to help balance the state budget.  -see story

Push for Stimulus Package: Including Help for NY Kids

Public News Service- NY (February 09, 2009) - New York, NY — With the Obama administration pushing for Congress to pass federal economic stimulus legislation as soon as possible, some experts say it should include spending for children's programs. -download story

Family advocates push to get health funding restored

Schenectady Gazette (December 22, 2008) By Sara Foss - CAPITOL — Children’s advocates are asking Gov. David Paterson to restore funding for a program that gives families with newborns and young children regular visits from trained family support workers, as well as community health nurses. -download story

SCAA Scores Gov’s Budget Proposal

Good Plan, Could be Better

SCAA Press Release (December 17, 2008) The Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy (SCAA) today praised Governor David Paterson for making serious efforts to close the enormous state budget deficit with a strategic and balanced approach. At the same time, SCAA urged Governor Paterson to go further by adopting several budget cuts and revenue-raisers that would reduce the need to slash spending on vital priority areas in health care, education, higher education and human services. -download press release

Children’s Advocates React to Proposed Budget Cuts to Home Visiting

SCAA Press Release (December 16, 2008) - Albany—Children’s advocates strongly objected today to Governor Paterson’s proposal to cut the Healthy Families New York home visiting program by 25% and eliminate funding for home visiting through child welfare preventive spending. -download press release

Advocacy groups push for millionaires’ tax, end of middle class STAR

Legislative Gazette (December 15, 2008) By Caitlin Purcell, Gazette staff writer - Today in Albany members of the Better Choice Budget Campaign and the One New York: Fighting for Fairness Campaign offered their own solutions for solving the state’s budget gap, including raising income taxes on wealthy New Yorkers and eliminating both the Empire Zone program and the middle class STAR rebate program. -download story

SCAA Proposes $9.1 Billion in New Budget Cuts and Revenues

Human Services Advocate Identifies Priorities for Deficit Reduction

(December 10, 2008) - ALBANY – The Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy (SCAA) today proposed a diverse package of budget cuts, tax surcharges, and tax break closures to help close the New York State budget deficit. The SCAA proposal would contribute more than $9 billion to deficit reduction while protecting disadvantaged New Yorkers and “seed corn” investments essential to the state’s future prosperity. -download press release

-download Solving the Budget Puzzle: Set Priorites, Follow Through an excerpted SCAA Reports Winter 2008 budget article

Now charities must give, says Gov. Paterson

Daily News (October 30, 2008) By Kenneth Lovett, Daily News Albany Bureau Chief - ALBANY - Gov. Paterson warned Thursday that charities will have to pick up much of the burden while the state deals with its fiscal crisis.
-see story

Group calls on candidates to focus on state's children
OMH report on early intervention expected soon

Legislative Gazette (September 22, 2008) By Chris Mueller, Gazette staff writer - The New York Children's Action Network last Tuesday called on candidates to run on a platform that will put an emphasis on children. -download story
Campaign hopes candidates think of kids

Capital News 9 (September 17, 2008) CAPITAL REGION, N.Y. -- A new campaign in the Capital Region is aimed at keeping kids in the forefront of this year's election with events taking place in every state in the nation, as well as Washington, D.C. -see story

Young Voices
This year, candidates should address children's needs

Times Union (September 14, 2008) OpEd by Karen Schimke - Candidates are doing a lot of talking this fall, hoping to find the magic message to win your vote on Election Day. Interest groups are also weighing in, championing one candidate or attacking another. -see OpEd