REMARKS
Shekar Krishnan explains vote on NYC budget
1:09:59
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151 sec
Council Member Shekar Krishnan explains his vote in favor of the NYC budget, highlighting the council's efforts to restore funding cuts and secure investments in critical areas. He praises the budget's provisions for early childhood care, affordable housing, and parks maintenance.
- Krishnan emphasizes the council's role in opposing the mayor's "bleak vision" and pushing for investments in libraries, cultural institutions, and community services.
- He notes specific wins for NYC parks, including the expansion of maintenance workers and restoration of the Parks Opportunity Program.
- While voting yes, Krishnan acknowledges there is more work to be done, including achieving 1% of the budget for parks and guaranteeing free 3-K and pre-K for all families.
Shekar Krishnan
1:09:59
I'm disclosing on the record of the council proceedings at the New York City Department of Education, the Variety Boys And Girls Club of Queens, and the YMCA are funded in this budget.
1:10:07
We are adopting, and my children are associated with those entities.
1:10:11
First, I want to say a big thank you to Speaker Adams and her leadership, our finance chair, Justin Brennan, central staff, finance staff, and, of course, Parks committee staff, Michael Sherman, Jack Story, Chima Overshare, and my office staff too.
1:10:23
For their tireless work and dedication, to produce the budget that we have today over months of work.
1:10:28
The budget is a single most important piece of legislation we negotiate with the mayor every year.
1:10:33
It sends paychecks to lifeguards, teachers, and nurses.
1:10:36
It plants trees, fills potholes, and feeds children.
1:10:39
It opens libraries, it cleans parks.
1:10:41
This year's budget was another win by our council against the mayor's bleak vision for our city.
1:10:46
The budget addresses our city's challenges head on, We will provide free full year extended day early childhood care to thousands of working parents.
1:10:54
We will spend $2, 000, 000, 000 to build new affordable housing.
1:10:57
And for our New York City parks, we won the permanent expansion of 2nd shift maintenance workers a program that provides a second afternoon and evening shift of cleaning for our parks on the busiest days each week.
1:11:09
The full restoration of the parks opportunity program which opens paths to meaningful careers for thousands of disadvantaged New Yorkers each year and an end to a pointless hiring freeze on Parks workers.
1:11:19
These are wins We also fought and won against the mayor's cuts to so many institutions that working families of New York City depend on.
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Cuts to our libraries, restored permanently.
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7 day service at our libraries restored, cuts to our museums, theaters, and cultural institutions restored, cuts to community composting restored, and cuts to school, lunches, restored.
1:11:39
This council will not let our city fail our families.
1:11:42
We pulled this budget away from the mayor's austerity and towards the New York City that our council believes in.
1:11:47
But there is still much more work to do in the years ahead.
1:11:49
We need at least 1% of the budget for parks as the mayor promised when he campaigned.
1:11:54
We need to guarantee a free local 3 k and pre k c to every single family that wants 1.
1:11:59
We need to put people in homes and make sure they can stay there.
1:12:02
We need to move budget negotiations with this city hall away from restoring draconian cuts to instead true investments our communities deserve.
1:12:10
We need to build a safe, fair, florishing city for all.
1:12:13
That is the work ahead, and we and the city council will hold the line.
1:12:16
And in conclusion, having some of the activists on the step of city hall having fought alongside my colleagues and the council to make critical investments and reverse dire cuts.
1:12:24
I now stand with my colleagues.
Amanda FarÃas
1:12:25
Remember your time has expired?
Shekar Krishnan
1:12:27
To vote yes on this budget.
1:12:29
Thank you.
