SYRACUSE -- Literacy advocates gathered in Syracuse Friday. State budget cuts have hurt more than 50 programs statewide.
Supporters held up signs and gave personal testimonials about how literacy instruction has helped them. Literacy advocates say 22 percent of New Yorkers, over the age of 16, have below basic reading skills.
80 percent of the funding for local literacy programs comes from the community. Only 20 percent comes from the State but, right now, a 32 percent cut in State funding is being proposed.
Those cuts will hurt fundraising efforts for all of the literacy organizations.
