Governor Hochul Releases FY24 Executive Budget
Last Wednesday, Governor Hochul released her Executive Budget for Fiscal Year 2024. The state’s $227 billion budget includes no significant tax raises, and Governor Hochul emphasized the importance of affordable housing, public safety, and mental health care. The budget contains a record $34.5B in education funding, including a full funding of foundation aid and a $125M investment in full-day pre-K. Governor Hochul also pledged $1B to address the asylum seeker crisis in New York City and $1B in mental health care, including $890M to build and operate 1000 new residential beds. The State Assembly and Senate will begin joint budget hearings today.
NYC Council Passes and Introduces Legislation
Last Thursday, the NYC Council convened a Stated meeting, where they passed and introduced multiple pieces of legislation. City Council passed a bill requiring that city agencies’ annual employment plans include information on how to address pay disparity. The Council also passed resolutions calling for Lunar New Year to be recognized as an official holiday in New York City. Bills were also introduced mandating a report studying a universal benefits application for citywide use, and requiring that all job listings provide information about bonuses and benefits. Additionally, Stephen Chu, Angie Master, and Mark Ginsberg were approved as mayoral appointees to the Landmarks Preservation Commission. You can find all of the bills that were passed and introduced here.
Citywide Composting Program
Mayor Adams rolled out his plan for a citywide compost collection program. In the next 2 years, all NYC residents will have access to a composting program. This implementation follows a curbside compost pilot program that has run in Queens since October 2022. Households will not need to sign up for the program, and can set out their compost items in a bin for pickup by DSNY. The service will begin in March 2023 in Queens, October 2023 in Brooklyn, March 2024 in Staten Island and the Bronx, and October 2024 in Manhattan.
Council Hearing on Facial Recognition Technology
On Friday, February 24, New York City Council’s Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection will hold an oversight hearing on the use of facial recognition technology. This hearing follows the introduction of a bill on the state level, sponsored by Senators Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Liz Krueger and Assemblyman Tony Simone, which would prohibit venues from utilizing this software to refuse entry to visitors.