Hampton Bays Kids Speak Out Against Budget Cuts

Hampton Bays High School students came out in force to Thursday's town budget hearing in protest of the proposed cuts to the town's youth services program.  As part of the preliminary 2011 budget, the town proposed to cut the youth services program by $7,750 from $101,950 to $94,200.  Some residents also decried the transfer of Assistant Youth Bureau Director Tracy Kolsin to the Department of Parks and Recreation to fill vacancies in that department. 

One student after another spoke of the fear that cuts to the youth bureau budget would eliminate many of the programs the bureau offers to teens, such as Youth Court and Act II, programs that foster growth and development in teens.

"I feel that this program is so important.  It changed me," 17-year-old, Hampton Bays High School student Pirscila Quiroz said of the youth court program.  "I met other people that I would never talk to.  We share a passion.  If you really think about it, we are the citizens of tomorrow.  We're not voting now, but one day we will vote, so before you cut it, just hear us out."

Another student, Charlie Magerat, agreed.  "I think that cutting youth services should be the last service cut," he said.  "It's easy to cut services to children because we can't vote, but we can speak at meetings."

Hampton Bays High School student Seth Donnan, 15, spoke about what youth services does for kids who are confused and need to find a positive outlet.  "We feel that it helps us get involved in the community," he said.  "The groups also help kids get alternatives to drugs and alcohol."

Fred Nudegger, 15, a sophomore at Hampton Bays High School, said youth services has helped him deal with depression and the confusion that comes with being a teenager.  "I was very depressed for a long time and I didn't know where to go," he said.  "It helped me get back on my feet."

Kolsin said the job he will assume at the Department of Parks and Recreation does match his expertise and his experience in working with youth.  "With the position cut, we would not be able to provide the services we do now," he said.  "The youth bureau is responsible for youth development.  It helps them identify who they are and how they can become better members of our society."  He said that although he is glad he is keeping his job, he thinks his skills would be better suited for youth services than for parks and recreation.  "In the parks and recreation job, I would not be doing the same things I'm doing now," he said.

The town will hold another public hearing on the 2011 preliminary budget on Tuesday, November 9 at 1:00 p.m. at Southampton Town Hall.