Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Dalaeja Forman, Worker-Owner from Breadfruit Cooperative
3:01:43
ยท
90 sec
Dalaeja Forman, a worker-owner from Breadfruit Cooperative, testified to request support for the Worker Cooperative Business Development Initiative (WCBDI). She emphasized the importance of funding for cooperative sustainability and community self-determination in New York City.
- Requested $5,097,082 for fiscal year 2026 towards WCBDI
- Highlighted the challenges faced by worker cooperatives due to rising costs in NYC
- Called for a cooperative LLC category in the Corporate Transparency Act to address its impact on undocumented cooperative owners
Dalaeja Forman
3:01:43
Good afternoon everyone.
3:01:44
My name is Delaja Foreman.
3:01:46
I'm a worker owner in a cooperative named Breadfruit.
3:01:48
We are a woodworking cooperative.
3:01:50
I'm also an advocacy council member alongside the New York City Network for Worker Cooperatives.
3:01:55
We'd like to request city council support for $5,097,082 for fiscal year 02/1926 toward the worker cooperative business development initiative, WCBDI.
3:02:05
WCBDI has been essential for the sustainability of our cooperatives, particularly because we are primarily working class business owners and are facing the rising cost of rents and living conditions in general in New York City.
3:02:17
This funding has supported worker cooperatives directly as well as cooperative developers, education initiatives, legal and operation support.
3:02:24
It is deeply necessary to support worker cooperatives because we are a type of small business that create not only business sustainability, but community sustainability due to the community centered nature of cooperative principles.
3:02:37
Supporting worker cooperative supports community self determination.
3:02:40
Also, we would like there to be a co op stipulation or cooperative LLC category for the cooperative excuse me, the corporate transparency act due to the disparate impact the act has on our LLC co ops, which are the majority of our co ops, many of whom by people who are undocumented.
3:02:56
Like many worker owners, I have to work, do other work to support my business in a city that is systemically challenging for cooperative businesses to sustain.
3:03:03
I'm literally on break from work right now.
3:03:06
Helps us change help us change this dynamic.
3:03:08
Thank you for investing in generational community sustainability, and we look forward to your funding.
3:03:13
That is all.