Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Julian Morales, Organizing and Advocacy Manager at Fifth Avenue Committee
2:13:20
ยท
133 sec
Julian Morales from Fifth Avenue Committee (FAC) testifies about the impact of city contract delays on nonprofit organizations, highlighting that FAC and its affiliates are owed over a million dollars dating back to fiscal year 2022. He urges for immediate action to address the backlog of payments and proposes solutions to improve the contracting process.
- Calls for groups to receive at least 50% of their contracts as advances at the start of the year
- Requests additional funding for Stabilizing NYC coalition, citing no increase in six years despite inflation
- Advocates for increased funding for CHIPS (Community Housing Preservation Strategies) to $4,495,000 in FY 2026
Julian Morales
2:13:20
Thank you committee chair Juan who's my council member and other members of the contracts committee for the opportunity to testify today.
2:13:27
My name is Julia Morales and I'm the organizing and advocacy manager at the Fifth Avenue Committee FAC.
2:13:32
I'm here to discuss how the city contracts have impacted nonprofit groups and CDCs like FAC and our affiliate organizations.
2:13:39
FAC is owed and our affiliate organizations over a million dollars going back to fiscal year twenty twenty two.
2:13:46
We rely on this critical funding to provide transformational services and maintaining our affordable housing in Brooklyn.
2:13:55
We think that this is unacceptable and we want to see immediate actions taken.
2:14:00
We would like to see a bunch of solutions including groups should immediately receive a significant portion of their funds and advances from FY24 into FY twenty three.
2:14:13
And also I just want to reiterate groups should receive an advance of at least 50% of their contracts at the start of the year.
2:14:19
We also want to say we receive funding through stabilizing NYC and also CHIPS.
2:14:24
For the past several years, the council has awarded stabilizing three point seven million dollars to continue our work and we're looking for an additional $1,300,000 to protect homes, win more building improvements, and strengthen organizing across the city.
2:14:37
This coalition has not seen an increase in six years despite inflation and cost of living increases.
2:14:43
The last year of the multi year contract for SNCC members have not had their contracts registered and are still waiting for f y twenty four and f y twenty five funds.
2:14:53
These contract delays experienced by Us nonprofits have made the need for COLA and inflation increases more critical.
2:14:59
Particularly on CHIPS, as as you all know CHIPS has been a vital lifeline of New York City's most vulnerable New Yorkers.
2:15:05
For over fifteen years over 45 groups worked tirelessly to protect low income bipoc and immigrant tenants and and homeowners from facing displacement.
2:15:15
Particularly on CHIPS we urge the council to act to act by addressing the contract backlog and ensuring on time payments and contract approvals by increasing CHIPS funding to 4.9 $4.4950000.00 dollars in f y twenty twenty six.
2:15:32
Thank you so much for the opportunity to testify.