THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
OFFICE OF COUNCIL MEMBER
Farah N. Louis
CONTACT:
Alex Taylor, Communications Director
ATaylor@council.nyc.gov
July 1, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Louis statement on FY 2022 budget
NEW YORK ––– Council Member Farah N. Louis, Vice Co-Chair of the Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus, issued the following statement on approval of the 2022 budget.

STATEMENT BY COUNCIL MEMBER FARAH N. LOUIS

"I am proud of Speaker Corey Johnson and my colleagues in the City Council who worked tirelessly to pass a $98.7 billion budget for FY 2022. This historic spending plan offers New Yorkers critical and significant investments in quality-of-life services, education and anti-violence initiatives while restoring many of the service cuts caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. It also makes historic investments in working-class families and communities of color that were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. These investments will drive New York City's comeback and lay the foundation for a more fair and equitable future for years to come.

Last year's budget process was fraught with challenges and difficult choices including a $2 billion cut from New York State and a $7 billion loss in revenue. My colleagues and I fought hard to protect essential workers and service providers in the face of this enormous $9 billion deficit. But thanks to the Biden Administration’s $1.9 trillion stimulus bill, we were able to restore funding in this year’s budget as well as enhance crucial initiatives for everyday New Yorkers.

I am grateful the 2022 budget includes:
 
EDUCATION
  • $15 million for expanding NYC Kids Rise with Universal Baby Bonds, a program that gives every kindergartner a college savings account with at least $100.
  • Universal Academic Recovery Plan to guide school communities and support student achievement during the 2021-22 school year.
  • $18 million for class-size reduction
  • $24 million to increase the rate paid to Summer Rising providers. Summer Rising is a summer program for all New York students in grades K-12 providing rigorous academics, social-emotional supports and fun enrichment programming.
  • $5 million to add ten new community schools
  • $2 million for the LGBTQ curriculum
  • $10 million for the education equity curriculum
  • $26 million for a citywide literacy curriculum to help students read at grade level and address the learning loss created by virtual learning; $160 million for universal summer school; $22 million to expand special education pre-k; $19.7 million to restore College Access for All
  • $81.1 million to add 650 social worker positions to the Department of Education and $5 million for direct mental health support

HIGHER EDUCATION
  • $4 million to establish four-year CUNY Scholarships for Black and low-income students.
  • $500,000 for paid internships in science, business, public health and the green economy for students at Medgar Evers College.
  • $6.5 million for CUNY Career Initiative pairing the Department of Small Business Services with CUNY and industry partners to deliver short-term training in high-demand fields for job placement for approximately 1,000 New Yorkers.
  • $4 million for an Advanced Manufacturing Career Collective (AMCC) to create a pipeline of skilled, diverse talent into advanced manufacturing careers through an educational and work-based learning experience. AMCC will train an estimated 400 students in its first year, scaling up to support over 1,000 New Yorkers annually.

PUBLIC SAFETY
  • $24 million for the Precision Employment Initiative to hire 1,000 people this summer in Mott Haven, Bronx, Brownsville and South Jamaica who are at most risk for violence prevention via employment and support services.
  • $57 million for reentry housing with healthcare and employment counseling for New Yorkers with criminal records returning to the community.
  • $6.6 million to expand “Jails to Jobs” to provide transitional employment to formerly incarcerated individuals including those on state parole.
  • $5 million to provide peer mentorship for incarcerated individuals and formerly incarcerated individuals.
  • $6 million to expand Crisis Management System-based Hospital Violence Intervention Program into new hospital locations to support victims of violence and their families.
  • $6 million to expand Crisis Management System services in the 40th and 44th New York City Police precincts in the Bronx.
  • The 2022 FY budget also makes substantial investments in mental health and public safety including expanding mobile treatment teams, community-based hate crime prevention and the Advanced Peace program.
  • $14 million for programs providing individuals involved in the criminal justice system with alternatives to pre-trial detention, jail or prison. These programs include community service and substance abuse as well as short-term and long-term housing, job placement and vocational training.
  • The expansion of Summer Youth employment to a total of 75,000 slots

QUALITY OF LIFE
  • $20 million in sanitation services including $7 million to expand organic drop-off sites, $4 million to fully fund the commercial waste zone and $1.8 million to start a Zero Waste organics pilot at schools and the New York City Housing Authority.
  • $8.6 million for additional litter basket collection

MENTAL HEALTH
  • $2 million for programs providing mental health treatment to children ages five and under
  • $3.4 million for mental services to older adults in non-clinical settings such as senior centers, drop-in centers, religious institutions, social clubs, homeless prevent programs

FIGHTING COVID-19
  • New York City has spent more than $8 billion on Covid-19 and administered over 9.2 million vaccination doses. The 2022 FY budget includes funding to finish the fight against COVID. It also includes support for LifeSci NYC, a billion-dollar commitment over the next decade to create an estimated 40,000 jobs in the public health industry.

SMALL BUSINESSES
  • $30 million to promote tourism and direct support for small businesses, including grants, low-interest loans and commercial lease legal assistance
·      $11 million for the NYC Business Quick Start program to help guide small businesses through city regulations.

CITY CLEANUP CORP
  • Hire 10,000 residents to form a City Cleanup Corps across the five boroughs.
 
RAINY DAY FUND
  • $500 million added to the city’s reserves, including a first-time “Rainy Day Fund”

It has truly been an honor to work with Speaker Johnson. As Chair of Mental Health, Disabilities and Addiction Committee and as Co-Chair of the Women’s Caucus, I have fought for – and won – greater access to mental health services, maternal and reproductive health rights and equal pay. As Co-Chair of the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus, I have championed cleaner streets, more affordable housing, youth services, anti-violence initiatives and other issues of critical importance to District 45. I want to thank the advocates, residents, community leaders who advised and worked with me to get an equitable budget. I look forward to our continued partnership together on behalf of all New Yorkers. 
 
Congratulations to Speaker Corey Johnson, Finance Chair Daniel Dromm, Subcommittee Chair Helen K. Rosenthal and our Finance Division led by Latonia R. McKinney for managing New York City's budget process during a global pandemic.
 
Although no spending plan is ever perfect and many difficult choices were made, I believe the 2022 budget candidly reflects the aspirations, challenges and day-to-day essential needs of New York City and its citizens as we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic and come back strong."

Sincerely,
Farah N. Louis

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New York City Council Member Farah N. Louis represents the 45th Council District, which comprises Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood, Marine Park, Flatlands, & Kensington in Brooklyn, NY. Currently, she serves as Chair of the Committee on Mental Health, Disabilities, and Addictions. She is also a member of the committees on Civil Service and Labor; Economic Development; Education; Finance; Housing and Buildings; Youth Services; Women and Gender Equity. Council Member Louis is the Co-Chair of the Women’s Caucus and Vice Co-Chair of the Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus.
Council Member Farah N. Louis | Website