Local leaders, residents fight for federal funding

MIAMI (WSVN) -- Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado rallied with city commissioners, county officials and hundreds of Miami residents at the Manuel Artime Theater in Little Havana Monday.

The group called for the continuation of community development block grants from the federal government. "Yeah, we understand that they have to cut," said Regalado, "but do not cut the poorest of the poor."

More than 12,000 communities nationwide receive federal dollars in the form of block grants.

Miami takes in about $8.9 million a year from the program.

Supporters said the money helps fund a number of local services, including meals for the elderly and daily after school care for low income children.

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