200 teens rally at City Hall against 35,000 job cut to Summer Youth Employment Program

With thousands of summer jobs in jeopardy, more than 200 city teens rallied in City Hall Park Thursday against funding cuts to the popular Summer Youth Employment Program.

Nachaell Gonzalez, 16, of the Bronx who has worked at a family center for the past three years, called the program critical for local youth.

"Without it kids would be on the street, standing on the corner, doing I don't know what instead of earning money," she said.

For the past 40 years, the summer job program has given city youth employment and educational opportunities, working entry-level jobs in various fields, from hospitals to summer camps.

Last year, the city enrolled 52,255 youth in the program, the most in a decade, according to the city's Department of Youth and Community Development...

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