A strong New York City means a stronger New York State and today’s announcement of $1.5 billion in additional state operating support over two years reflects the kind of partnership New Yorkers deserve. We commend Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani for stepping forward with a renewed commitment to collaboration between Albany and City Hall.

Today’s agreement reflects a long-overdue victory for Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas and State Senator Gustavo Rivera whose legislation addresses inequity in Article 6 public health funding. For years, New York City has shouldered a disproportionate share of local public health costs due to outdated state reimbursement formulas and past cost shifts.

Correcting this inequity ensures that the state meets its obligation to fairly reimburse the City for core public health services — strengthening our public health infrastructure and advancing equity for immigrant and working-class communities that have borne the brunt of disinvestment. The inclusion of $510 million in recurring funding is especially significant. Restoring approximately $150 million in sales tax revenue, reinvesting roughly $300 million in youth programming, and committing $60 million, of the $90 million cut by the previous administration, of Article 6 public health program funding, to strengthen our city’s future.

This progress would not have been possible without strong partnership with New York City and the leadership of Council Member and Health Committee Chair Lynn Schulman, who has been a steadfast advocate for a fair and sustainable public health funding structure. We are also deeply grateful to the organizational partners who stood with us and helped drive this effort forward, including the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF), Housing Works, the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), Community Service Society (CSS), the Commission on the Public’s Health System (CPHS), Planned Parenthood, Callen-Lorde, Latino Commission on AIDS, and GMHC. Their advocacy ensured that public health equity remained at the center of this fight.

But our work does not stop here. The remaining $500 million in shared priorities must be deployed with
transparency, equity, and accountability. We will continue advocating to ensure that these investments directly benefit working families, strengthen our public health infrastructure, and support the youth and community-based organizations that are essential to our city’s well-being.

New Yorkers did not create the fiscal challenges we face and they should not bear the burden of fixing them alone. When state and city leaders work together in good faith, we can protect services, restore trust, and build a more stable, more just future for all. Together, we remain committed to partnership, fiscal responsibility, and delivering results for the people we serve.

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