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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Matteo Guerrero-Tabares, Lead Organizer of Trans Immigrant Project at Make the Road New York
3:32:27
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Matteo Guerrero-Tabares from Make the Road New York testified about the fiscal year 2026 budget's impact on trans, queer, and non-binary immigrant New Yorkers. He emphasized the need for continued support and funding for diverse communities in the face of anti-immigrant and transphobic attacks.
- Requested $20,000 for the Trans Equity Programs initiative to support the Transmigrant project
- Called for an expansion of trans equity funding to $10 million to include more trans-led organizations
- Requested $110,000 for support of persons involved in sex trades, including Know Your Rights training and outreach
- Asked for $35,000 for the domestic violence and empowerment initiative to support sex workers in North Brooklyn
Matteo Guerrero-Tabares
3:32:27
Hi.
3:32:28
Good afternoon, Sherri Williams and everybody in the space.
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My name is Matteo Guerrero, and I am a lead organizer with Make Through New York particularly with the Transimmigrant Project.
3:32:37
On behalf of our 28,000 members and staff, I thank the committee for the opportunity to share concerns with fiscal year twenty six budget and its impact particularly on trans queer and non binary immigrant New Yorkers.
3:32:51
Make the Road believes firmly in safeguarding dignity and fairness across our communities.
3:32:56
And over the years, the council has done so much to ensure that New Yorkers continues to be a city that welcomes all our communities regardless of their immigration status and genders.
3:33:06
In the face of a horrifying anti immigrant and transphobic attacks, our communities need the city council support more than ever before.
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The city must fortify rather than undermine the critical services and funding for our diverse communities and protect New Yorkers of all immigration statuses and genders.
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We ask the council to use every available tool to reverse the mayor's attacks on immigrants and working class New Yorkers of color.
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Federal immigration informants must not be allowed to come into our city and terrorize our people.
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The services that our that organizations like us provides provide are essential.
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We help the most vulnerable New Yorkers stay healthy, access medical care, and reduce HIVAIDS and STI transmission.
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We organize immigrant communities to stand together against hate violence and organize for policies that bring real safety and not criminalization.
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And these are some of the examples of the funding that we are requesting.
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One of them is the trans equity programs.
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We are requesting 20,000 for this initiative to support our Transmigrant project and develop the leadership of trans Latinx women in Corona, Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, and Queens.
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We're also echoing the calls of our allies across the city that are demanding that the trans equity funding be expended to 10,000,000 so that more organizations that are trans led are also included in that program, in that funding initiative.
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Supports for persons involved in the sex trades were requesting a total of 110,000, 50 thousand of that through the speakers initiative.
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From this initiative to support our work to provide Know Your Rights training, outreach, and also provide information to communities who are in the sex trades.
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And as well as the domestic violence and empowerment and empowerment initiative, we're requesting 35,000 to support our work to expand awareness about the rights, benefits, and community support available to sex workers in North Brooklyn while developing the leadership community members.
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Thank you again for the opportunity to testify and for protecting the vital services for trans immigrant communities that they depend on.
3:35:20
Thank you very much.