REMARKS
Crystal Hudson explains her vote on the NYC budget
1:05:57
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148 sec
Council Member Crystal Hudson explains her vote in favor of the NYC budget, highlighting the council's efforts to restore funding for various city services and institutions despite the mayor's proposed cuts. She emphasizes the council's commitment to addressing affordability, housing, and education issues.
- Praises the restoration of $53 million for cultural institutions and $58.3 million for libraries, including $42.6 million baseline for 7-day service
- Highlights $2 billion secured for affordable housing over the next two fiscal years
- Notes restorations and new funding for older adult services, early childhood education, and CUNY
Crystal Hudson
1:05:57
Thank you.
1:05:57
This year, the council had a herculean task.
1:06:00
Work with a mayor bent on undermining New York City's core institutions to craft a budget that meets the well-being of the people that shape our communities.
1:06:07
Fortunately, under the leadership of Speaker Adams and with the help of everyday New Yorkers, this is a council that rights back and makes clear that the material needs of our communities are not to be interfered with.
1:06:17
Be it our city's cultural institutions, libraries, older adults, housing, early education, or Q And E.
1:06:22
Over the past few months, our offices have been flooded with calls and emails from our constituents with a singular message to not touch our libraries or cultural institutions, and this speaker fought tooth and nails to fully restore $53, 000, 000 in funding for cultural and $58, 300, 000 our libraries, including $42, 600, 000 baseline to ensure 7 day service and perpetuity.
1:06:43
This budget bolsters the council's commitment to combating affordability crisis in our city, especially our housing crisis.
1:06:49
Thanks to the tireless advocacy of the progressive caucus.
1:06:52
This budget secured $2, 000, 000, 000 for affordable housing over the next 2 fiscal years.
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As chair of the committee on aging, I'm glad this budget pushes back on many of the mayor's extreme budget cuts for older adult services.
1:07:03
We restored $1, 100, 000 in cuts older adult centers added $4, 750, 000 for home delivered mail reimbursements to provide an extra dollar per mail to providers.
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And secured $1, 000, 000 in funding for state planning and legal services to combat deep theft and other issues commonly facing older adults.
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We have more work to do to fight this mayor's attempt to defund older adults and secure funding for things like case management services and older adult center capital improvements.
1:07:29
But this budget, thanks to the council and the council alone, moves us closer to creating a city where everyone can age in place with dignity.
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And with nearly $300, 000, 000 in funds secured for early childhood education and $54, 200, 000 in added funds for CUNY, this council is ensuring every child receives a world class education from the beginning to the end of their tenure in public education.
1:07:49
I'm also proud that this budget includes $1, 500, 000 for an unrestricted cash assistance pilot program for Low Income New Yorkers, as established by a bill of mine that passed last session and became local law.
1:08:01
We won't secure every goal in each budget, but this council is doing the very hard work of caring funding for programs and services that advance the principles of equity and justice that guide this body.
1:08:10
I vote I, and I'm the closing on the record of the council proceedings at the museum of the city of New York is funded in the budget we're adopting, and my spouse is associated with that entity.
1:08:19
And that make the road New York as funded in the budget we're adopting, and my tenant is associated with that entity.
1:08:24
Thank you.
