Afterschool before City Council this Monday: Exorbitant price increase for Youth Centers
If you do now (or will one day) rely on youth centers (aka afterschool activities for grades 4-8) please write in before or make public comment this Monday, June 3.
Background:
Youth center prices are going up by up to x34 from this school year to next. Amanda and Laura Owen wrote a letter to City Council and the City Manager asking them to urge DHSP to reconsider.
While Youth Centers may have been underpriced, and prices increases may be warranted, a 34X increase for some income groups (specifically, this hits middle-income the hardest) is too much. The top payers’ rate is also going up 14x, from $54/month to $770/month. Those prices are equal to afterschool prices, where the costs of watching younger children are far higher. In addition, Youth Center prices for grades 6-8 remain free (yes, really).
This policy order simply asks for an explanation as to why this kind of increase makes sense.
About the policy order: it is #75 on pg. 54 of the agenda packet and screenshotted below.
It simply asks that the City Manager … provide … a detailed justification for the increased fees for Youth Centers.
To make a public comment on Monday June 3 sign up here. (Reference POR 2024 #75.)
To write a letter to City Council, email the City Manager, City Council & City Clerk citymanager@cambridgema.gov, CityCouncil@cambridgema.gov, clerk@cambridgema.gov.
Write to Amanda with questions - amanda.beatty@gmail.com
Thank you!
Screenshot from very long agenda packet (see pg. 54).
