“Supporting New Yorkers with accessible mental health care and support is critical, especially in light of the challenges exacerbated by the pandemic. With the launch of the National 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, individuals experiencing mental health-related distress finally have an easy way to reach the help they need. This new dialing code serves as an alternative to 911 for mental health crises, which will result in a more appropriate response for those seeking assistance.
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“I am devastated and heartbroken by the loss of former Council Member and Assembly Member Albert Vann. He was a dedicated public servant, an educator, a strong advocate for the empowerment of Black communities, and a steadfast champion of Central Brooklyn. Council Member Vann mentored generations of leaders in New York City and faithfully served his constituents for nearly four decades in elected office.
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“We are reviewing the preliminary maps of Council Districts released today by the NYC Districting Commission. It is critical for the public to provide input on these first drafts as part of the ongoing redistricting process. We strongly encourage all New Yorkers to participate, and we will continue working to ensure communities’ interests are prioritized and protected.”
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Plan reduces development in areas with flood risk and advances community land trust to manage low-density housing and open space, while facilitating development of five mixed-use buildings with affordable housing, commercial spaces, and community facilities along the subway line.
City Hall, NY – Today, the Council voted to approve the Resilient Edgemere Plan in Majority Whip Selvena N.
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City Hall, NY – Today, for the first time in the history of the Council, the legislative body votes on a “NYC Abortion Rights Act” bill package to safeguard abortion and advance reproductive health care in the City. The package of laws and resolutions seeks to protect women, trans, and gender non-conforming people’s access to safe abortion and reproductive healthcare in New York City, as some states across the country are restricting access to services on the heels of the Supreme Court decision last month overturning Roe v.
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New York, NY – At a Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) hearing on Wednesday, Speaker Adrienne E. Adams submitted testimony in support of proposed rule changes that would expand its ability to investigate complaints. The changes would allow CCRB to investigate complaints of racial profiling and bias-based policing, as well as self-initiate complaints. These significant changes are the result of Council legislation that was enacted, including Local Law 24 of 2022 for which Speaker Adams was the lead sponsor.
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41 of Council’s 51 members urge mayor and DOE to restore school budgets with over $760 million in newly discovered unspent federal stimulus funds before decisions that would separate teachers from existing schools for next year
City Hall, NY – A supermajority of the New York City Council called for Mayor Eric Adams and Schools Chancellor David Banks to immediately restore individual school budgets by using more than $700 million in newly discovered unspent federal stimulus funds at the Department of Education (DOE) from the previous fiscal year.
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“Despite the Supreme Court’s dangerous decision to overturn nearly 50 years of legal precedent, the right to safe abortions must be protected. Today, New York made clear to the entire country that we are a safe haven for civil rights, including abortion and reproductive health care, at a time when they are under attack. By taking the crucial first step to add an Equality Amendment to the state constitution, our state partners have demonstrated true national leadership.
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“New Yorkers deserve to be safe from all forms of violence, including the gun violence that has harmed our communities for too long. The U.S. Supreme Court’s dangerous ruling to make the concealed carrying of guns in New York easier puts us at risk of even more bloodshed and trauma. I applaud our state partners for convening a special session to pass laws that will protect New Yorkers and save lives, especially the expansion of ‘sensitive areas’ to restrict guns in locations that the New York City Council identified as in need of protection.
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“For too long, the Special Victims Division (SVD) of the NYPD has failed to appropriately respond to incidents and survivors of sexual assault and other gender-based violence. The Council has increasingly pushed for greater accountability and oversight of SVD to properly support survivors and help them access safety and justice. We will closely monitor the Department of Justice’s investigation into SVD, their policies, and practices.
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