Hi, it’s Comptroller Brad Lander :-)

A few days ago, I reached out seeking your input on the most important issues facing New York City.

Hundreds of folks took the survey and expressed concerns over a wide range of issues, and I’m eagerly reading your input. Three topics that came up a lot:

Affordability: The affordability crisis is driving families out of New York City. Housing is the single biggest affordability issue — the rent is too damn high — and a significant driver of rising homelessness. Meanwhile other costs — child care, transportation, health care, student debt, healthy food — remain high. We need bold solutions, starting with a housing agreement in Albany to build more housing, protect tenants, and provide vouchers to help homeless families get off the streets. That’s why my office launched a City-level housing campaign to invest in permanently affordable rental and homeownership options.

Safety and Security: This is an anxious time. People want more done to keep New Yorkers safe, and one effective way to do that is by confronting the crisis of mental illness. We need to make sure that folks cycling from the streets and subways, to hospitals, to jail, and back again — who are most likely to be at-risk themselves and potentially cause harm to others — actually get the care and supportive housing they need. My office’s audits and policy reports have identified failures in these systems, AND solutions that will work better. I won’t stop pushing until we make them happen.

Immigration: New York City is the greatest immigrant city the world has ever known. We CAN handle the current arrival of asylum seekers, help them get work authorization and jobs, and become the new generation of New Yorkers. Instead of Mayor Eric Adams’ cruel shelter eviction policy, we should focus on the legal services and workforce development that helps immigrants get on their feet, move out of shelter, and find employment. This is by far the quickest and most cost-effective approach that treats immigrants with dignity.

Rising to these challenges and others requires stronger management and better government from City Hall. And that’s what I’m focused on every day.

Mayor Adams calls me “the loudest person in the city” — but I won’t stop being loud in demanding competent, compassionate leadership from City Hall. That’s how we’ll make New York more inclusive and more efficient.

Every day, my goal is to make our City government run better, so it can deliver for ALL NEW YORKERS. However, to continue this work, we need resources. Would you please consider making a contribution today to support our efforts in making New York City more inclusive?

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John, this is a team effort. We’ve got a great team in the Comptroller’s office — but it extends far beyond that. Good government is the platform that allows New Yorkers to work together to confront the challenges we face.

Please join me in building a more vibrant city by contributing any amount you can today.

Thanks,

Brad