Today, the City Council voted on the Fiscal Year 2025 budget after a tense and difficult negotiation with Mayor Adams. I voted yes on the budget and here’s why: 

Simply put, New York City’s biggest issue is affordability. Unfortunately, we have a mayor blind to the struggles of all of us. And negotiating this budget further exposed the mayor’s tendencies to scapegoat, create crises, and politicize New Yorkers’ lives.

Despite the mayor’s posturing and politicization of this process, I am proud of what we fought for and won, thanks to the efforts of the Progressive Caucus, Speaker Adrienne Adams, and Finance Chair Justin Brannan, New York won’t be taking a big step backward. Thanks to thousands of parents, nonprofit and faith leaders, and major unions, making their voices heard we landed on a budget I can support. Childcare and education were preserved. Schools won’t lose essential programs, and childcare access will improve. We are planting the seeds of a better, stronger, and safer city in this budget. 

In addition, the City Council pushed back on the Mayor’s austerity budget and secured: 

  • Full restoration of $58.3 million for library services, with $42.6 million baselined to prevent future budget cuts. We deserve seven day service in perpetuity.
  • Over $300 million was invested in early childhood education, addressing expiring federal stimulus and operational reforms.
  • Increased investments to Promise NYC to $25M to provide childcare services to over 1000 undocumented children. 
  • More than $600 million to support schools, preserving social workers, restorative justice, arts programs, and other vital services that the Mayor was going to cut. 
  • $4.75M for Home-Delivered Meals and $12.2M for Older Adult Centers to meet the needs of older adults.
  • $15M for second shift positions in city parks and $8.7M for Urban Park Rangers, Tree Stump Removal, and Green Thumb Restoration.
  • $6.2M is allocated to restore funding for Community Composting, alongside $25M to restore and enhance Litter Basket Service for cleaner communities, particularly along commercial corridors and neighborhoods.

I personally also allocated millions of dollars to District 34 schools, secured meaningful investment for affordable housing development in Bushwick, and with Speaker Adrienne Adams, funded a mobile unit for substance abuse, and funding to get Leonard Library open again for the community finally. In the coming weeks, I will highlight more investments I’ve made that will go directly into our communities.

This is just the beginning. As our struggle intensifies, our resolve strengthens. We are organized, determined, and committed to investing in what truly matters for all New Yorkers.

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