New York City Council Adopts FY 2015 Budget

Dear Friends,

What an incredible and rewarding six months at the New York City Council, where we have made great strides to meet the needs of our constituents through progressive and dynamic leadership. Under the leadership of Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, we adopted a $75 billion budget for FY 2015 on Wednesday, to restore and expand critical programs and services for all New Yorkers.  Now that’s what I call progress!

From women’s issues and public safety to youth and senior services, I have worked alongside my colleagues and each and every one of you to ensure that our communities receive the resources they need to raise and support their families. The passage of this budget is a major accomplishment and a resounding victory for my constituents.

Great things have happened:

I, in partnership with Council Member Ritchie Torres, who chairs the Public Housing Committee; concerned Council Members; and the residents of Farragut, Ingersoll, Lafayette Gardens, Atlantic Terminal, and Walt Whitman Houses fought to keep our centers open.

·57 NYCHA community and senior centers open. Our voices were heard loud and clear in the chambers of City Hall and as a result, NYCHA will receive the $17 million it needs to maintain these facilities. The Lafayette Gardens Community Center, which is located in my district and was initially slated for closure, will remain open. This summer, NYCHA community centers will remain open in the cornerstones until 11 PM, seven days a week. I am overjoyed that my constituents will have safe spaces to engage in conversation, create art, and continue to build our culture-rich centers. Community centers are a tool for empowerment in our neighborhoods.

As Chair of the Women’s Issues Committee, I have championed efforts to increase support for survivors of domestic violence. I am proud to announce that with the support of the Women’s Caucus, we will fund programs and initiatives that address violence against women.

·The DoVE initiative will receive $4 million to support the neighborhood-based domestic violence services in the most vulnerable and high-incidence areas of NYC. The funds will be used to support prevention and empowerment workshops, comprehensive service referrals and legal advocacy to victims of domestic violence.

In recent weeks and as we move into the summer season, we have seen an uptick in violence across our city.

·An additional 200 police officers will be reassigned to help curb the violence by patrolling our streets and ensuring the safety of our families, particularly our youth and seniors.   

As you all know my passion is rooted in the arts, I am elated that the arts were emphasized in this budget cycle.

·The Brooklyn Delegation voted and awarded the Brooklyn Arts Council $50,000 to promote and preserve creative expression within our borough.

Embracing the rich history and deep cultural contributions that communities of color and their institutions have had on the cultural life of New York City is vital.  The rich cultural tapestry of the City includes extraordinary people, communities and cultures! Through initiatives like “Coalition of Theaters of Color” (CTC), our smaller, community-focused cultural institutions will continue to flourish and preserve the diversity of traditions and cultural values housed in these institutions. 

Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and my fellow Council Members welcomed an expansion of CTC, which was enhanced by $1 million, resulting in a $1.7 million project.

Education is essential to the advancement of our city and state.

·I want to thank the Members of the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus for prioritizing Medgar Evers College located in the heart of Crown Heights for increased support that will enhance opportunities for K-12 students, school teachers, leaders and parents to sustain the learning process throughout the year.

·The Crown Heights Jewish Community Council, which provides a wide range of social services and a food pantry, for all backgrounds, can expand its reach within the community to meet the needs of low-income families in need of assistance.

I am proud of the work that my colleagues and I have done over the past several months and will continue to do throughout the remainder of this year. I am committed to serving this district as we work collaboratively to strengthen both our families and our community.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact my office at (718) 260-9191.

Sincerely,

Laurie A. Cumbo

Chair, New York City Council Women’s Issues Committee