Press Releases

During Transgender Awareness Week, the Council announces historic funding of two brand-new Council Initiatives: LGBT Community Services and Trans Equity Programs

 The Trans Equity Program is the first Council initiative solely benefiting the transgender community.

 Queens, NY – New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson and the Council’s Finance Committee Chair Daniel Dromm on Thursday announced $3.8 million of Council allocations in Fiscal Year 2019, for LGBTQ initiatives across the city. READ MORE

City Hall – The New York City Council on Wednesday will vote on a package of bills to help the for-hire vehicle industry, including legislation that will require a task force to study taxicab medallion values, financial education for drivers, driver assistance centers and the creation of an Office of Inclusion to address issues of racism and discrimination. READ MORE

This call follows Council oversight and recommendations on the programs and the Independent Budget Office’s newly released report examining the necessity of the programs granting tax breaks to commercial properties

City Hall, NY – New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson and the Council’s Finance Committee Chair Daniel Dromm called for the phase-out of the City’s Commercial Revitalization Program (CRP) and Commercial Expansions Program (CEP). READ MORE

“I am saddened, but not surprised, at reports of illegal hotel activity operating in the Atelier condominiums in my district. The sheer size of this operation – with 27 notices of violations in this building alone – shows how endemic this problem is and how necessary the Council legislation passed in July is to protect our housing stock.

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“Amazon is one of the richest companies in the world, but you can’t put a price on community input, which has been missing throughout this entire process. I find that lack of engagement and the fact that the negotiations excluded the City Council – which is elected by New Yorkers to guide land use projects with communities in mind – extremely troubling. READ MORE

“The New York City Campaign Finance Board (CFB) sent 4.5 million voter guides to New Yorkers saying those who are on parole for a felony can’t vote. That is absolutely false, and it is disgraceful and unacceptable that a mistake of this magnitude occurred five days before Election Day. Parolees should check their status, and if eligible ‒ register and vote. READ MORE

City Hall – Today, the New York City Council will vote on a package of legislation aimed at improving the New York City Police Department’s interactions with sexual assault and harassment victims. The package includes sensitivity training for officers to help them deal with differences in culture, gender expression and sexual orientation and requiring reporting on staffing levels in the NYPD Special Victims Division. READ MORE

“Every day, it seems we are dealing with some new ruthless and ill-conceived measures proposed by the Trump administration that threaten our core values. Trump is now trying to deny birthright citizenship to the children of non-citizen parents, a right that has been enshrined in our constitution for 150 years. It is un-American and seems designed to further create an environment that is hostile to immigrants. READ MORE

“The Trump administration’s plan to exclude transgender individuals from civil rights is inhumane ‒ plain and simple. I have a message to all who identify as transgender and/or gender non-conforming: I know you are afraid and angry. Please know that we will fight for you and alongside you. We will have your backs and will continue to protect your human rights and civil liberties. READ MORE

The funding will support 47 programs to offer about 3,200 adult literacy classroom seats across the city      

City Hall, NY –City Council Speaker Corey Johnson announced a $4 million Council allocation in this year’s budget to fund Adult Literacy Education initiatives across the City. Council Speaker Johnson made the announcement this afternoon at the Chinese-American Planning Council, Inc. READ MORE