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[15] "Without work authorization and without a place to leave their child, they don't have another option but to do things like sell candy on the subway or sell fruit at a park."
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[16] A few years in, and city funding for the program continues to grow. - "That first full year was a $16 million investment also served anywhere between 620 and 680 children. We were really thrilled this year to get an additional $9 million investment."
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[17] That now, $25 million investment will get a thousand children into daycare. Lorena says it's a program she had no idea existed.
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[18] After our interview, an Algún Dia social worker connected with Lorena, and within hours, they'd found a place for her daughter.
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[19] "When I made the phone call to her again, she started crying. I was like, 'Why didn't? why couldn't this be done sooner? How come I didn't know about this? Five blocks away from her.' This is why we exist, right?"
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[20] "It's to let folks know about the supports that are around them, to get them directly connected, and then also to just have them be able to breathe and believe again, and fulfill that American Dream."
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[21] While Lorena continues to earn what she can, about $50 a day, she's hopeful there is a future here for her family.
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[22] Valerie Castro joins us in studio. So, Valerie, some New Yorkers may be listening to this report and say, "These migrant families are getting $25 million worth of help." They clearly need it, right?
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[23] But there have been a lot of protests and pushback to money going to migrants in New York City. What's the latest?
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[24] "Yeah, New York City in general, and specifically Mayor Eric Adams and his administration, has faced a lot of criticism for providing support and funding to migrants that come to the city."
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[25] "This year, according to city data, the city is projected to spend nearly $4 billion on various programs that help migrants. Next year, that number is projected to be closer to $5 billion."
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[26] "As you mentioned, we've seen protests around the city, around migrant shelters, with some New Yorkers not happy with the way that money is being spent."
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[27] "The $25 million on this particular child care program is part of a $100 million package, Mayor Eric Adams passed to provide child care funding across the city, including the city's 3K program."