John,

Today I voted no on the FY24 budget.

I did so with a deep appreciation for Speaker Adrienne Adams and the entire Budget Negotiating Team, which secured significant restorations to the Mayor’s proposed cuts for critical agencies and programs. I proudly stood with them and many of my colleagues as we fought back against austerity and united to deliver what working New Yorkers deserve.

I am especially proud of the fact that for the second year in a row, I was able to successfully negotiate a continuation of the historic Abortion Access Fund Initiative at $850,000 to provide real and practical support to people seeking abortion in New York City as well as $16 million for Promise NYC. These programs will provide essential support to people seeking abortion and immigrant families in need of high-quality childcare. They represent the vision of the anti-racist feminist City I have fought for since coming to the City Council.

However, the austerity that the Mayor forced through is just too destructive for me to endorse.

From cradle to college, the Mayor has insisted on slashing our educational system. The promise of Universal 3K was scheduled to be fully realized this year, but this budget caused many families in our District to have their 3K applications rejected. Despite strong efforts to hold our K through 12 schools harmless, this budget is requiring schools in our District to excess critical staff, with deeper cuts still on the table for the fall. This budget also fails to make new investments in CUNY, the economic driver that has allowed students, especially students of color like me, to become our City’s next generation of leaders.

This austerity is also reflected in the Mayor’s short-sighted refusal to allocate any new legal services funding for the over 80,000 asylum seekers our City has recently welcomed. This refusal will limit the ability of our newest neighbors to get work authorization, leaving them dependent on a strained shelter system that is also seeing cuts. The Mayor loves to talk about how we are in a crisis, yet with this decision and his veto of the historic CityFHEPs package, he has been unwilling to take the steps needed to get us out of said crisis.

While this budget administers cuts across the board, the already-bloated NYPD budget is increasing by a staggering $1.85 billion, effectively boosting police spending by 17%. Units like the school police, Strategic Response Group (SRG), and Vice remain funded without any real oversight or accountability. We are giving the police a blank check while starving the social services that keep our communities safe.

As co-chair of the Progressive Caucus, chair of the Immigration Committee, and Council Member for the 39th District, I could not approve this budget. You all sent me to City Hall to fight for a New York that provides a world-class public education to young people, lives up to our values as a Sanctuary City, and prioritizes care over cages.

I hope everyone enjoys their holiday weekend. There will be more to discuss in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.

In Solidarity,

Shahana

P.S. Our office will be closed this coming Monday, 7/3, and Tuesday, 7/4, for the July 4th holiday! If you need anything, you can leave a message over email at [email protected]. Please expect a delay in response.