REMARKS
Council Member Carr introduces legislation for transparent shelter contract renewals
0:56:04
ยท
62 sec
Council Member David M. Carr introduces Introduction 1166, which would require the Department of Homeless Services to notify relevant council members, borough presidents, and community boards when renewing emergency shelter contracts. The legislation aims to increase transparency and allow community representatives to provide input on shelter renewals.
- The bill is co-sponsored by Deputy Speaker Ayala
- It applies to the renewal of emergency shelter contracts, not initial openings
- Carr urges colleagues to support the legislation in the interest of transparency
David M. Carr
0:56:04
Thank you, majority leader.
0:56:05
Colleagues, today, I'm introducing introduction 1166 with deputy speaker Ayala, which would require the Department of Homeless Services to give a notification whenever they're going to renew, an emergency shelter contract to the relevant council member of our president and community board.
0:56:21
I think no matter where we stand on the migrant crisis of the last several years and the need for homeless shelters in a more general sense, I think we all agree that the administration of the day should be transparent with the community's representatives and letting them know, when they're going to renew an emergency contract, which is not along the same rushed nature of when you initially open an emergency shelter.
0:56:44
These renewal decisions, I believe, are made well in advance, and it also affords an opportunity to those elected officials and community organizations to give an opinion to DHS about whether or not the shelter renewal is warranted or not.
0:56:57
And so I urge all my colleagues in the interest of transparency to sign on to introduction 1166 and support this piece of legislation.
0:57:05
Thank you.