“People seeking asylum in our country, who are now in our city, have made abundantly clear that they want to work to achieve stability and economic independence. The federal government should remove barriers to facilitate these opportunities that can also help crucial businesses close gaps in their workforce that have been undermining. The Council has repeatedly reiterated the need for expedited federal work authorization for asylum seekers to our federal partners since last fall, and once again urge immediate action to echo the Governor and Mayor’s calls.”

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“Our city’s public transit system is key to helping New Yorkers meet their basic obligations and succeed, but far too many people are struggling to consistently afford the fare. That’s why we called for expanding Fair Fares’ eligibility criteria to include New Yorkers at 200% of the federal poverty level, which will help up to 1.7 million riders access our subways and buses.

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“I am saddened by the loss of my former colleague, Council Member and State Senator Bill Perkins. A native son of Harlem, Bill served his community for decades as a dedicated and hard-working public servant. He fought tirelessly to improve the health of our communities by tackling lead poisoning, advocated for more equitable education funding, and championed equal rights for all New Yorkers.

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“It is critical that there be accountability for the killing of Jordan Neely. He should be alive, and the violence that killed him is never an appropriate response. Disparities in how people are treated by the criminal justice system, especially Black people and other people of color, are a reality that our city and this nation must acknowledge and confront.

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Council also passed legislation to ban discrimination based on a person’s height and weight, and packages of housing and education bills 

City Hall, NY – Today, the New York City Council approved legislation to establish population review programs that determine whether people detained in city jails can have their cases resolved or be released into community programs to reduce unnecessary incarceration that inflate the city’s jail population.

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City Hall, NY – Today, New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams unveiled her Fair Housing Framework legislation alongside Council Members, housing advocates, and labor unions. The Speaker’s bill would require the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and Department of City Planning (DCP) to establish targeted housing production goals for each Community District to ensure each New York City neighborhood plays an equitable role in addressing the city’s housing crisis while accounting for unique community needs.

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City Hall, NY – Today, Speaker Adrienne Adams, alongside Council Members Rita Joseph, Shekar Krishnan, Kevin Riley, Althea Stevens, and Jennifer Gutiérrez, education advocates, providers, and parents and children, outlined a framework of solutions to improve the Department of Education’s administration of New York City’s early childhood education system. The changes are designed to better meet the needs of families, ensure provider stability, and bolster the community-based provider workforce.

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Renewal of 2015 initiative by coalition supports multi-issue platform to achieve gender and health equity

City Hall, NY – Today, Speaker Adrienne Adams, joined by former Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Girls for Gender Equity (GGE), the New York Women’s Foundation and health and equity advocates, announced the launch of the Council’s Young Women’s Initiative (YWI) 2.0.

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“New York City will always be a welcoming and safe harbor for people seeking asylum, who deserve to be treated with care, dignity, and compassion. Unfortunately, our City continues to shoulder the significant bulk and cost of this humanitarian response, which is unfair and unsustainable without the necessary funding from all levels of government. Despite the City’s $350 million request, FEMA’s initial grant provides a paltry $30.5 million, which is not anywhere close to enough to cover the cost of assistance for asylum seekers.

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“While it is relieving that the Rent Guidelines Board did not vote for a range anywhere near the 16% increase under discussion, the approved preliminary ranges still represent potential rent increases that most New Yorkers cannot afford to absorb. At a time when the City faces a housing crisis and affordability remains out of reach for too many, the board must recognize the immense economic strains that these rent increases would have on tenants.

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