\u201cToday\u2019s preliminary budget is the first step forward in negotiating a responsible, fiscally sound budget that delivers for all New Yorkers. We commend Mayor de Blasio for working with the Council to immediately secure $7.3 million to provide thousands of NYPD officers with new, cutting edge bullet-resistant vests and applaud the Administration for including critical funding to strengthen our City\u2019s emergency response system and to help reduce New York City\u2019s soaring homeless population. We also applaud Mayor de Blasio for supporting Science, Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) programs at CUNY and for providing the resources to help train the next generation of New Yorkers secure skilled jobs in emerging fields. We are also happy to see the City will continue to fund NYPD patrols of NYCHA buildings which for too long fell on NYCHA to fund itself.<\/p>\n
While the proposals in today\u2019s budget are a good starting point , we are disappointed that the Administration did not include funding to increase the NYPD\u2019s headcount. The Council believes that raising the headcount of NYPD is essential and we will be advocating it strongly this budget cycle. In addition, the Council is disappointed to see no additional funding to New York City\u2019s cultural institutions and libraries. Given the Mayor\u2019s housing plans, we also will be reviewing the 10-year capital plan very closely.<\/p>\n
Over the coming weeks, the Council will be conducting a comprehensive review of the preliminary budget at our public hearings where we will fully review all the proposals outlined today and we encourage all New Yorkers to attend and to take part in this important process.\u201d<\/p>\n
###<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cToday\u2019s preliminary budget is the first step forward in negotiating a responsible, fiscally sound budget that delivers for all New Yorkers. We commend Mayor de Blasio for working with the Council to immediately secure $7.3 million to provide thousands of NYPD officers with new, cutting edge bullet-resistant vests and applaud the Administration for including critical funding to strengthen our City\u2019s emergency response system and to help reduce New York City\u2019s soaring homeless population.<\/p>\n
…<\/p>\n