By MARCIA MOXAM COMRIE

Every summer thousands of local young people give up their school break to break into long, hot days of learning responsibility and working hard. They flock to local businesses and agencies in search of a first job, for spending money or as a way to build for their future.

In Southeast Queens, hundreds of young people are already reaching out for help from the government-funded summer jobs program, and Assemblyman William Scarborough says it’s time for the federal government to do more.

At Community Board 13’s office in Queens Village summer has already begun for hundreds of youngsters who are lining up to fill out applications for their first (or second) job.

Fifteen year-old Manuel Aldin arrived with a friend and had high expectations of his initiation into the world of work. "Aside from the money," he said, "I’m looking forward to learning time management and more experience for later in life. I won’t run into any surprises."

Asked where he’d like to work for the summer Aldin immediately answered, "With little kids."

For Kemiesha Francis, 14, the job represents potential money for college. "My parents are not rich," she explained. "I need to save for college. I’d like to get a job with a law firm now because I want to be a lawyer," she said.

Francis’ friend, Jacquelyn Creft, who is 16, wants to work with children for the summer. "I do a lot of drama and stuff like that," she said. "So I just want to build up their dreams. If they want to be actors when they grow up, it will help them. I want to study astronomy in college and getting a job now will help me get jobs when I get to college because I’ll have this on my resume."

According to Elizabeth Laylock, the coordinator of the program at the community Board, nearly 600 youngsters were placed in jobs through her office last summer and she expects similar numbers this year.

"They’re out to get a good job," she said. "They really want to work and some of them will work hard."

Application forms for summer youth employment are available at community boards, local libraries, school district offices and from high school guidance counselors.

According to Scarborough the funds are allocated to agencies and organizations across the city to hire teens for the summer. The employer then uses the funds to pay them.

According to May Chin, director of intergovernmental affairs at the Department of Employment, which administers the Youth Employment Program (YEP), "summer youth employment caters to the 14 to 21 year-old age range." It is a seven-week program running from the first week of July to the third week of August. They are given a four-day work week and work six hours per day at minimum wage regardless of the type of job.

Placement is in non-profit organizations, day camp, libraries, hospitals, parks, and museums. Positions range from tour guide to receptionist to general office work.

"They get work experience and learn about work ethics," said Chin. "It also gives them a sense of accomplishment. One year we had some kids in a museum and they got to do a mural. The supervisor said they were so excited and proud of their work."

Chin also cites the importance of helping kids build up work experience that will benefit them later.

"It helps them have something to put on a [first] resume," she explained. Last year we placed almost 40,000 youth.

According to Scarborough, family income factors into the hiring process.

In a bid to increase youth summer job employment in New York City, Scarborough has announced the allocation of $25 million in state funds toward job development for youth.

According to Scarborough, the fight by the Assembly was for $40 million to compensate for a shift in the mandates of the federal government, which usually funds summer jobs nationwide.

"The funding traditionally comes from the Federal Government," said Scarborough. "But there has been a tremendous change in the way it is allocated. All that [$40 million] used to be for summer jobs only but because of the Workforce Investment Act of ‘2000, that same amount now has to stretch to provide year round jobs for older youths who are out of school. But not only does the money now have to be stretched out all year, they’ve also cut the money!" he said.

According to the St. Albans lawmaker the new mandate has infringed on the number of jobs provided for the summer and must now be augmented by funds from the state. He also emphasized that the funds now available fall short of providing the 40 to 60,000 jobs in New York City each summer.

In 1999 there were $72 million allocated for summer youth employment; however, in 2000 it was cut to $68 million and came with the stipulation that it stretches for four times the length of time.

"Last year the state legislature from New York City began pushing the state government and got them to put up $35 million," said Scarborough. "That helped to salvage the program last year. But the difference is state money last year was not available till late summer so a lot of kids got turned away, then when the money became available, the kids were gone, so this year they will have this $25 million in hand to plan with," he said.

But according to Scarborough, they are still working toward getting the additional $15 million just to get back to where they were two years ago in addition to $10 million allocated by the city. He said there is also a need for a stand-alone program on the state level to avoid the mad scramble every year. With that in mind, he explained, the state legislature was inspired to create bill A372 designed to support the summer youth program.

"I’m getting very good support for it so far" said Scarborough. "So far a lot of members are co sponsoring it and what we’re trying to do is get it funded at the $40 million level. But instead of just older teens, we’re also trying to get the 14 and 15 year-olds hired too. We are looking to get the money from the State General Fund through T.A.N.F. (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families). That’s the surplus that the state builds up by reducing welfare rolls."

Applications for the 2001 Youth Employment Program (YEP) are now available at public high schools, public libraries and select sites around the city, according to the New York City Department of Employment web link on summer jobs (www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/doe/html/2001yepintakesites.html).

Completed applications are accepted only at the sites list on the web page. Forms used last year will not be accepted.

Young people must have an appointment to be enrolled and appointments are scheduled through a lottery system.  Application forms will be accepted until May 25, according to the DOE. Documents are not needed at this time.  When you receive your appointment, you must bring your documents at that time.

For more information, call 212-442-2595.