Press Releases

City Hall – The New York City Council on Tuesday will vote on a legislative resolution seeking to provide equal benefits to members of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) who are diagnosed with disabilities caused by cancer. This change would give members of the FDNY the same benefits as other fire fighters in New York.

The Council will also vote on a legislative resolution seeking to allow members of the New York Police Department (NYPD) to extend their pension benefits back from their time as cadets. READ MORE

The $92.8 billion budget improves quality of life for all New Yorkers and encourages fiscal responsibility

City Hall, NY – Speaker Corey Johnson, Finance Committee Chair Daniel Dromm, Capital Budget Subcommittee Chair Vanessa Gibson and Mayor Bill de Blasio announced an agreement on the Fiscal Year 2020 budget. The Fiscal Year 2020 budget includes many of the priorities the Council pushed for in order to improve the lives of all New Yorkers, including a commitment to work towards pay parity for day care providers and fair funding for parks. READ MORE

City Hall – The New York City Council on Thursday will vote on a bill to establish a full public match finance system, which will make it easier for candidates to run for office without having to rely on large donations.

The Council will also vote on two bills related to art on city-owned property. The first would create a task force to study and make recommendations regarding monuments, statues, public art, and historical markers. READ MORE

New York, NY – Council Speaker Corey Johnson released the following statement in regard to the rent protection agreement reached in Albany:

“I applaud our State Legislature for reaching an agreement on stronger rent laws that will protect almost two-and-a-half million New Yorkers. Housing is the issue of our time, and this historic agreement will help us tackle the corresponding crises of affordability and homelessness that are threatening everything we love about New York. READ MORE

The Council will also vote on bills related to physical education reporting and portable ramp accessibility

City Hall – The New York City Council on Wednesday will vote on a bill that would create a street design checklist, an important planning tool that will help make our streets safer for all New Yorkers. READ MORE

New York, NY – Today, Council Speaker Corey Johnson and the City Council launched an interactive map of public parks in New York City Map. The new interactive map offers detailed information on all of the 1,700 parks in the city, including amenities, funding information, and programming at each spot.

Launching just in time for Memorial Day weekend, the map shows where New Yorkers can find playgrounds, basketball and handball courts, running tracks, pools, barbecue areas, food concessions and dog runs. READ MORE

City Hall, New York – Today, Speaker Corey Johnson and the New York City Council announced the voting results and winning proposals of the 2018-2019 Participatory Budgeting cycle. During the voting period, which took place from March 30th until April 7th, more than 118,000 New Yorkers voted to allocate over $39 million in capital funding for locally-developed capital projects across 32 Council Districts in New York City. READ MORE

Brooklyn, NY – New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson and Sanitation & Solid Waste Management Committee Chair Antonio Reynoso gathered at Maria Hernandez Park in Brooklyn on Saturday to demand Mayor Bill de Blasio restore $4.2 million in funding for extra litter basket collection in the Fiscal Year 2020 Budget.

New Yorkers deserve a cleaner city. READ MORE

New York, NY – Criminal and social justice reform advocates, activists, social service providers and educators praised Council Speaker Corey Johnson’s first policy speech on criminal justice reform delivered at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

“John Jay College is a recognized forum for vibrant discussions about the most complex justice issues we face today.  We are proud to host City Council Speaker Corey Johnson at John Jay as he unveils new proposals designed to improve public safety. READ MORE

New York, NY – New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson on Thursday delivered a criminal justice policy speech, unveiling numerous proposals that seek to obtain a fairer and more just criminal justice system for the 21st century.

The speech at John Jay College of Criminal Justice included diversion and alternatives to incarceration, parole reform, addressing the mass incarceration of the mentally ill, instituting a day fine system, diverting drivers with suspended licenses violations to the Department of Motor vehicles, and eliminating mandatory surcharges imposed for convictions.  READ MORE