Carlina Rivera
1:59:36
Thank you so much Chair Brannan.
1:59:39
Passport stamps are such a flex.
1:59:44
And I wanna just thank everyone here, especially my colleagues for fighting so diligently for their communities to ensure that their neighborhoods, their neighbors, their constituents have opportunity.
1:59:57
Good afternoon and welcome to the hearing for the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries, and International Intergroup Relations.
2:00:03
I'm council member Carlina Rivera, chair of this committee.
2:00:06
This afternoon we will be discussing the fiscal twenty twenty six executive expense budget for DCLA which stands at 215,100,000.0 in the fiscal twenty twenty six executive capital commitment plan which includes $1,200,000,000 in fiscal twenty twenty five to twenty twenty nine for the department.
2:00:26
I'm happy to see that at the urging of the council, the administration added baseline funding of $45,000,000 executive plan which includes 23,500,000.0 for cultural development fund recipients and $21,500,000 for the thirty four cultural institution group member organizations.
2:00:46
However, I am disappointed that the administration did not allocate and baseline the full $75,000,000 for the city's cultural institutions as the council called for in its budget response.
2:00:57
The city's cultural institutions are renowned worldwide for providing enrichment to all audiences while contributing to the growth of our neighborhoods and the city's economy.
2:01:08
The additional $30,000,000 of baseline funding would assist the SIG institutions in paying staff salaries, providing accessible public programs, and for security and maintenance of city owned buildings.
2:01:22
The funding would also help thousands of creative nonprofits that rely on CDF funding to keep their doors open and provide services across the city.
2:01:32
Our cultural organizations provide welcoming spaces for our community creating positive social impact.
2:01:38
In a moment when the federal government is closing its doors on immigrants, on international allies, and on public funding for the arts, we in New York City are remain committed to what makes us great.
2:01:51
Our doors are open and we will always be the same welcoming New York City that people have been drawn to for centuries.
2:01:59
We're a global city for culture, a sanctuary for creativity, and a place that believes in community power and support.
2:02:08
Cultural organizations and arts workers are not just major economic drivers, they are the heart and soul of our communities enriching our lives and showcasing our values.
2:02:19
In the face of ongoing challenges from the slow recovery of tourism to shifting federal policies, really the cuts and threats to federal funding.
2:02:29
We must ensure that the arts and culture sector is fully supported.
2:02:33
And as the chair of the committee on cultural affairs libraries international intergroup relations, I will continue to push for accountability and accuracy and ensure that the budget reflects the needs and interests of the city.
2:02:46
It is essential that the budget that we adopt this year is transparent, accountable, and reflective of the priorities and interests of the council and the people that we represent.
2:02:57
This hearing is a vital part of this process and I expect that DCLA will be responsive to the questions and concerns of council members and I look forward active engagement with the administration over the next few weeks to ensure the fiscal twenty twenty six adopted budget meets the goals the council has set out.
2:03:15
As we know historic times call for historic investments.
2:03:19
Thank you very much.
2:03:20
I wanna just recognize the members.
