YWCA, YRDC, and BOCES

"I believe that the services are vital and that it is an injustice to rob citizens of Poughkeepsie of them."

"Let's get our priorities straight."

"Having worked with battered women and their families in high school, I know how much the services these perpetually underfunded organizations provide matter to the people who need them. This is not an issue of wasteful spending. It makes absolutely no sen"

"The YMCA and YWCA are important resources that we have a civic responsibility to maintain. We need to retain the availability of the facilities as they provide a healthy and viable alternative to the streets, drugs, and other illicit activities."

"Please restore funding for these vital services!"

"Let's rescue our youth not remove them."

"It is of vital importance that we provide the youth of Poughkeepsie with a safe space, a place for development and community. Without these establishments, the youth may fall prey to the myriad of pitfalls associated with disconnection from the community."

"Please continue to ensure the vitality of all parts of the community."

"I don't believe that the public should be without a place for their children to go after school. The YMCA provides an alternative to joining gangs, drugs, and engaging in other frowned upon activities."

"Please save these programs"

"What a travesty for Dutchess County"

"I agree"

"Please reconsider your priorities! Jail expansion or positive community programs?"

"These organizations offer important services to this community. Please do not overlook them."

"If $600,000 is available to expand Dutchess county prisons, how can one justify a lack of funding for institutions which PREVENT counties from needing prisons?"

"Please do the right thing."

"The YWCA is a program that delivers benefits many times greater than its cost. Do not assume that such programs are frivolous as they are of great importance to the people in the community that they serve."

"Poughkeepsie needs these organizations! When I first heard about the possibility of these programs being cut several months ago, I was very hopeful that, understanding how essential the work of these programs really is, a way would be found to ensure that"

"Much needed programming"

"We will not stop fighting until equal rights are truly equal!!"

"We need the programs, not the damn jails!"

"If we close all the organizations that serve the community, it will deteriorate. We in Poughkeepsie need to keep on working on community building!"

"These organizations hold great importance to the community and should remain open"

"I currently volunteer at the Grace Smith House, which is a battered women's shelter in Poughkeepsie. The YMCA is used as a means of childcare for residents of the shelter when their presence is required in court. Without this service, many women who have "