New York City Council

“Congratulations to the United Federation of Teachers and its 120,000 members on reaching a tentative contract agreement with the City. Through crises and unprecedented challenges of the pandemic, public school teachers and support staff have been steadfastly committed to our students’ academic and personal success. This agreement is another step towards ensuring that our public education workforce is supported in helping our students recover and receive the well-rounded education they need to succeed.

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“I want to thank NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell for her service to New York City. Commissioner Sewell broke barriers as the first woman, and first Black woman, to lead the largest police force in the country. I empathize with the unique challenges she faced that are so familiar to many of us in positions that have not traditionally been held by those who look like us.

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“I applaud the State Legislature’s passage of the Clean Slate Act that can help improve communities, public safety, and our economy. This bill can open pathways to success for the more than 2 million New Yorkers with an old conviction record who have been blocked from access to employment, housing, education, and other economic opportunities. With the increased participation in our workforce and society created by this legislation, New York is estimated to take in an additional $7 billion annually in state earnings, boosting our economy and recovery from the pandemic.

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Council also votes to increase healthcare cost transparency, require programs for incarcerated transgender, gender non-conforming, non-binary and intersex (TGNCNBI) New Yorkers, expand resources for LGBTQ+ and runaway homeless youth, improve access to automated external defibrillators, provide vision testing and eyeglasses to low-income individuals, and provide information about pediatric emergency care   

City Hall, NY – Today, the New York City Council passed the “Zero Waste Act,” a legislative package of zero waste legislation that will advance our city’s efforts to divert organic waste from landfills, fight climate change, and create a greener, more sustainable future for all New Yorkers.

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“We are grateful to our partners in the federal government, including Senate Majority Leader Schumer and House Democratic Leader Jeffries, for helping secure $104.6 million for New York City in this latest round of FEMA funding. As our city continues to experience high levels of homelessness and provides aid to significant numbers of people seeking asylum in our country, this and continued funding is vital to our efforts.

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“The Clean Slate Act can help provide an equitable boost to our communities, economy, and public safety by removing the barriers to employment, housing, education, and other economic opportunities for more than 2 million New Yorkers with an old conviction record. At a time when our city and state are recovering from the economic effects of the pandemic, this bill is estimated to generate over $7 billion more in state earnings and help address our workforce shortage.

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“The Federal Monitor’s latest report detailing recent incidents of violence and deaths within city jails was jarring and illustrated repeated failure by the Department of Correction (DOC) to notify the Monitor of serious incidents in a timely manner. Rather than pursuing accountability and reform, the Department’s response has outrageously and unacceptably been to declare it will no longer provide public information about when someone dies in its custody.

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“I feel it is important to remind Director Jiha that the Council’s charter-mandated responsibility is to hold the Administration accountable, and that means examining and questioning their assertions and numbers. It’s not personal, it’s our job. The Council is not a rubber stamp, nor is this a monarchy. Rather, we are a co-equal branch of city government, and we will not respond to arrogance and tolerate disrespect.

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City Hall, NY – Today, Speaker Adrienne Adams and the New York City Council announced the winning proposals of the 2022-2023 Participatory Budgeting cycle. During the voting period, which took place from March 25th until April 2nd, more than 60,000 New Yorkers voted to allocate nearly $32 million in capital funding for local improvements to schools, parks, libraries and other public spaces across 29 Council Districts in New York City.

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The elimination of the 90-day shelter rule, among other bills, will make it easier for individuals and families to enroll in the CityFHEPS program

Council also votes on bills providing transportation safety protections for students with disabilities; establishing technology access and training programs; requiring coordination of summer youth employment program opportunities; making the Open Culture Program permanent;

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