REMARKS
Selvena Brooks-Powers explains her vote on the NYC budget
0:47:49
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173 sec
Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers expresses her support for the NYC budget, highlighting the council's efforts to restore funding for essential services and secure additional investments in affordable housing and transit. She emphasizes the council's approach of being fiscally responsible while meeting constituents' needs.
- Brooks-Powers mentions the restoration of funding for libraries, cultural institutions, education, and housing.
- She notes the expansion of the Fair Fares program with $10 million in baseline funding to make transit more affordable.
- The council member discloses her affiliations with organizations receiving funding in the budget, including Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, YMCA, and her child's connection to the Department of Education.
Selvena Brooks-Powers
0:47:49
From the moment the preliminary budget was released, we knew this would be a fight.
0:47:53
With crippling inflation and the reduction in federal funding post pandemic, the city has continued to face a range of fiscal challenges but this council has always been clear about our approach to the budget.
0:48:04
We are fiscally responsible when we do right by our constituents.
0:48:08
Investing in the essential programs and services that New Yorkers rely on every day helps us not only today, but also to build a strong foundation for the future.
0:48:19
This that is why this council for to restore cuts to our libraries, cultural institutions, education, and housing, and so much more.
0:48:28
We push to expand eligibility for fair fares, adding over $10, 000, 000 in baseline funding to make transit more affordable for thousands of qualifying New Yorkers who use our subways and buses every day.
0:48:41
We secured an additional $2, 000, 000, 000 to build, preserve and preserve affordable housing, including funding, to support homeownership, construction, and renovation so that more New Yorkers are able to maintain and own their homes.
0:48:55
Malla's budget is a victory for the people of New York.
0:48:57
We understand that there is still more work to be done.
0:49:01
In my own district, we were able to secure your funding from the administration for a level 1 or level 2 trauma center, a facility that my community desperately needs.
0:49:11
We continue to work with the city and state to ensure we will see this through.
0:49:15
I thank my colleagues for your support from the very beginning, including TNT, The members as as well as council members in Nazis, Schulman, and Ariela, especially,
Pierina Ana Sanchez
0:49:27
I wanna
Selvena Brooks-Powers
0:49:28
thank I wanna give a huge thank you to our speaker, Adrian Adams, for her steadfast leadership throughout this budget cycle and beyond.
0:49:37
And to finance chair Brennan for his tireless advocacy on and off the day as we see you.
0:49:44
I wanna thank the speakers' chief of staff Jeremy John, 1st deputy chief of staff, Ayesha Ali, and the entire finance team as well, Tanisha Edwards, Richard Lee, and all the folks who have led this effort from behind the scenes.
Althea Stevens
0:49:57
Council member your time
Amanda Farías
0:49:58
has been
Selvena Brooks-Powers
0:49:59
done.
0:49:59
I just would like to disclose that on the record of the council proceedings that I am affiliated with the Queen's Alumni chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, and we are funding this organization we are adopting today, and that the YMCA is funded and the budget we are adopting, and I am associated with that entity.
0:50:23
And that the Ed School of the Arts is funded and the budget we are adopted, and my child is associated with that organization.
0:50:30
And that the New York City Department of Education is funded in the budget we are adopting, and my child is associated with that organization.
0:50:39
With that, I vote I.