Teens from The Campaign For Summer Jobs visit Albany to thank Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver for successfully leading last year's state budget fight to restore Governor George Pataki's cut of $25 million to the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP).

They also expressed their gratitude for his support in this year's budget deliberations to reverse the $10 million cut to SYEP that is included in Pataki's 2004-2005 budget. In addition, they thanked Silver for pressuring a defiant governor late last spring to end his hold on the $25 million in program funds, which were approved in a bipartisan vote of the Legislature. Eventually, the money was released but barely with enough time to meet summer employment schedules.

The Campaign For Summer Jobs is a coalition of nearly 100 community-based organizations in New York City.