Lincoln Restler
1:24:18
And thank you for laughing.
1:24:20
I've disagreed with the mayor at nearly every step.
1:24:23
Of this budget process ever since the first round of extreme and unnecessary cuts that were imposed in November.
1:24:29
The budget that we're voting on today is imperfect.
1:24:32
But under the leadership of Speaker Adams, we have been unified as a body in our fight to restore meaningful investments in our communities and to prevent the most harm.
1:24:40
By organizing together, guided by the best interest of New Yorkers, we got a lot more than Eric Adams wanted to give.
1:24:48
Thanks in part to the progressive caucus who did a great job in organizing with the Homes Now campaign.
1:24:53
We help secure $2, 000, 000, 000 of funding over the next 2 years to create deeply afforded and desperate deeply affordable and desperately needed housing.
1:25:02
The council pushed to restore $600, 000, 000 in expiring funds to our neighborhood schools, the cuts that would have been just awful.
1:25:11
$58, 000, 000 in funding for our libraries means the return of 7 day a week service.
1:25:16
And we were able to partially lift the mayor's hiring fee freeze at the parks department, add a second cleaning shift at high traffic parks to ensure that they're clean and well maintained.
1:25:25
And we restored over $1, 000, 000, 000 in funding for sustainability and resiliency grades to our city buildings, including our schools, to help meet our climate goals.
1:25:34
There were more resources available though in this budget.
1:25:37
And despite the council's best efforts, The mayor's commitment to fiscal austerity continues to hurt New York City.
1:25:43
I'm disappointed by the mayor's refusal to fully fund Universal 3k and fully restore multiple rounds of the cuts that he's imposed to CUNY.
1:25:51
The lack of childcare options is driving the affordability cross crisis for young families in New York City.
1:25:56
The council was able to secure some very positive investments in early childhood education, but we need more resources and we need a mayor who actually wants more kids enrolled in 3 k.
1:26:05
With the new investments in this budget, we will continue to push the administration to ramp up outreach and better manage seat distribution.
1:26:12
I am immensely grateful to the speaker, the finance chair, Justin Brandon, and my colleagues.
1:26:17
But ultimately, no budget can solve for the mayor's mismanagement of our city.
1:26:21
And unfortunately, this management was on full display during this budget process.
1:26:25
New Yorkers deserve a budget and a mayor that are building toward our collective future.
1:26:29
Every New Yorker can afford housing, where every New Yorker can afford housing, where every parent has access to childcare, and every child defines an excellent education.
