Deadline today for USCM’s summer job survey
The Washington-based U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) sent a letter to Congress asking for funding for a new summer youth employment initiative. The USCM letter is available on its Web site,www.usmayors.org.
According to the letter, USCM is concerned about the 50 percent high school drop out rate for black and Latino males, and the increasing youth joblessness rate. The letter cites statistics from the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University in Boston that indicate that the teen employment rate for the past three years has been the lowest in six decades. At the same time, Congress and President Bush have eliminated the Youth Opportunity Grants program and have proposed further cuts.
USCM wants Congress to appropriate $1 billion for a summer jobs program. Also, USCM members were asked to participate in a survey about their cities’ summer job programs.