By Debbie Yuan, Staff Reporter
On a muggy spring afternoon in Hunts Point, just when sunshine broke out from under hazy clouds, 17-year-old Antonio Centeno Jr. rolled up his sleeves and prepared for his battle cry: "Be Smart -- Beat Pataki!"
He waited to make his move, not without some trepidation, before he rounded up mostly senior citizens and a handful of teen-agers who gathered at the foot of Father Gigante Plaza across from St. Athanasius Roman Catholic Church to protest Gov. George Pataki's proposed state budget cuts. Putting aside his nervousness, Centeno began speaking in Spanish, at first rapidly, his voice ringing with earnestness and conviction.
Last Wednesday's demonstration, organized by the 11th-grader from Cardinal Hayes High School, drew about three dozen participants. The young joined the old, some carrying umbrellas to shield themselves from the unusually intense 70-degree heat, others toting handmade signs.
Centeno first proposed his idea to the community board a month ago. He then got 10 of his friends to help out, making posters and distributing flyers.
John Robert, district manager of Community Board 2, said he was disappointed with the turnout but was pleased with the initiative taken by Centeno and his friends. "This is completely grassroots. Generally young people don't vote and aren't empowered," he said. "It's good to see them trying to do something."
"We shouldn't leave it to a few congressmen," Centeno said. "What gets me mad is that people don't do anything until something bad happens."
He added, "I'm going on 18 and soon I'll be voting. I'd rather vote for someone for the better, not for the worse."
The demonstrators marched down Fox Street, stopping by various sites along the way -- community service centers, a school and a senior citizens home -- symbolic of all the troubled spots destined to be crippled by cuts to youth services, health care and education.
Pataki's proposed budget includes a $1.4 billion reduction in Medicaid spending as well as cuts to transportation and health care. Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has asked for cuts of nearly $800 million to the Board of Education and has recommended slashing $30 million from the Department of Youth Services, a 55 percent cut.
In fact, some of the community organizations have already felt the pinch. Last month, the state temporarily froze funding for Casita Maria's social service program, which offers services to new immigrant families, translation and legal referrals.
Aureo Jimenez, 47, who has lived here for 35 years, said he resented politicians who are uprooting community grassroots by making cuts to vital programs that benefit the young and the old. "Politicians think these people are living off the system." he said. "It's the reverse. The system is living off them."
The cuts will create obstacles for high schoolers who want to continue their education. Theresa Stone, 14, a freshman at St. Raymond Girls Academy, said she would really like to go to college. "If they raise the tuition, I won't be able to."
Centeno's mother, Angela, 56, a resident of Hunts Point for 34 years, said she has seen the neighborhood improve over the last few years. "Now I pray to God," she said. "If they take off my Medicaid, my monthly budget won't be enough for food, rent and my son's school tuition."
She added, "I'm glad to see my son so involved in the community."
Centeno said that legislators may very well make the cuts anyway. "I just want to get the message across."