“As our city continues to recover from the pandemic, we must prioritize smart investments that maintain essential services to keep all New Yorkers healthy and safe. We also must prioritize solutions to the staffing challenges that have hindered city agencies in delivering key services to New Yorkers, such as housing and food assistance. To that end, many of our concerns with the Mayor’s November Plan remain with the Fiscal Year 2024 Preliminary Budget. The Council will be more closely examining the details of this Preliminary Budget and holding oversight hearings on agency budgets and the efficiencies in current city spending as it relates to the overall priorities of New Yorkers. We intend to be a partner in efforts to secure additional funding support at the federal and state levels for the City’s response to asylum seekers and other critical services. Our vision for an equitable New York includes commitments to funding CUNY, libraries, early childhood and K-12 education, and critical health and social safety net services that make New York City a cleaner, healthier, and safer place for all New Yorkers. This Council is deeply committed to protecting the essential services that help us achieve that important goal.”

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