Thursday, May 28, 2026, 10 a.m. (New York City time), Council Chambers - City Hall
Committee: Committee on Finance
This was day three of the Council's fiscal 2027 executive budget hearings, held jointly by the Committee on Finance (Chair Linda Lee), the Committee on Children and Youth (Chair Althea Stevens), and, for the third panel, the Committee on Immigration (Chair Elsie Encarnación). The first panel examined the Administration for Children's Services' proposed $3.51 billion budget, focusing on the agency's savings measures (including the closure of four prevention contracts totaling 360 slots), child care vouchers and the roughly 25,000-child waitlist, Raise the Age reimbursement, secure detention populations, and Fair Futures. The second panel covered the Department of Youth and Community Development, dominated by questions on the Compass after-school reprocurement, including awards, protests, non-awarded providers such as Manhattan Youth and Hudson Guild, and Summer Rising. The third panel examined the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, including immigration legal services funding, the legal support hotline, language access, and the Executive Order 13 sanctuary audit. No votes were taken; public testimony for all three agencies was scheduled for Wednesday, June 10.
0:08 . Good morning and welcome to
0:08 today's New York City Council
0:12 executive budget hearing for
0:12 the committee on finance join
0:14 with the committee on children
0:16 and youth and join with the
0:17 committee on immigration at
0:20 this time police silence all
0:21 electronic devices and no 1
0:23 approach a dais at any time
0:24 chairs. We are ready to begin.
0:28 Great. Okay, wait. Okay. Got a
0:31 gavel. Always forget that part
0:33 a.
0:34 And welcome to day three of
0:38 the fiscal seven executive
0:39 budget hearings, I'm council
0:41 Linda Lee, today's hearings
0:42 will begin with the
0:44 administration for children's
0:44 services, followed by a
0:45 department of youth and
0:47 community development and the
0:48 mayor's office of immigrant
0:51 affairs. I'm pleased to be
0:51 joined by my colleague and
0:52 your friend council chair of
0:55 the committee on children and
0:57 youth and today we have been
1:00 joined by counsel morte
1:03 shulman, councilmember Epstein
1:04 , Council Member council
1:08 member wang and councilman
1:09 deputy speaker Williams is on
1:12 zoom. Um, welcome commissioner
1:15 of jones destin. Week two or
1:17 day seven, rather day six t
1:20 oyou and your team and of
1:22 course, you're amazing, team.
1:23 Thank you all for joining us
1:24 today to answer our questions
1:26 on May 12 2026, the
1:29 administration released the
1:30 executive financial plan for
1:31 fiscal 20 26 2 20 30 with a
1:35 proposed 27 budget of $124.7
1:39 billion the administration for
1:40 children's services proposed
1:42 fiscal 27 budget of $3.51
1:46 billion represents 2.7% of the
1:49 administration's proposed 27
1:50 budget and the executive plan
1:51 and this is an increase of
1:55 $89.6 million, or 2.6% fro
1:58 mthe originally budgeted in the
2:00 f preliminary plan. This
2:03 increased results from several
2:05 actions, including additional
2:06 funding added for child
2:08 vouchers foster care staffing
2:10 across the agency and a base
2:11 lining of the promise program
2:15 as of April 2026 easiest his
2:16 account was 562, less than
2:19 their just 26 budget had in
2:23 the counsel's preliminary
2:24 budget response. We called o
2:24 nthe Mayor to apply for the
2:26 state waiver that would allow
2:27 the City to apply for
2:29 reimbursement of its
2:30 expenditures across fiscal 2
2:35 019 2 20 26 related to the
2:35 implementation of the states
2:36 raise the h act further in our
2:38 response. We called on the
2:40 administration to continue t
2:41 oinvest in childcare vouchers
2:43 by baseline ing the promise
2:47 program in our preliminary
2:47 budget hearing. We encourage
2:49 the administration to explore
2:49 ways to end the waiting list
2:50 practice for child care
2:52 vouchers, which now stands at
2:54 approximately 25000 childre
2:57 nwhile we were pleased to see
2:58 the promised New York City
2:59 baseline and some additional
3:00 funding added for child car
3:01 evouchers, I hope to se
3:03 eprogress made in reducing the
3:05 voucher waitlist and ensuring
3:06 these families are able to
3:07 receive the vital child care
3:08 services that they need,
3:10 whether through or other
3:13 agencies I look forward t
3:14 ohearing from our New
3:15 commissioner on how plans to
3:16 address the urgent challenge
3:17 of providing childcare and
3:19 continue to equitably served
3:22 families amid citywide savings
3:25 requirements. My questions
3:26 today will largely focus on
3:27 areas in which was a to
3:29 realize savings the agency's
3:31 process and methodology and
3:33 identifying these savings and
3:34 updates on the nearly $200
3:37 million in state funding
3:37 designated for at risk youth
3:40 and and I want to turn it over
3:41 to my co chair for this
3:42 hearing council Stevens for
3:43 her opening statement. Good
3:49 morning and thank you,
3:50 charlene. My.
3:50 Name is Althea Stevens I'm
3:51 serves as a share of committee
3:53 on children youth for this
3:54 person part of our hearing
3:55 this morning I looked forward
3:56 to discussing changes t
3:58 obudget since the primary plan,
4:00 the executive budget included
4:02 investments in several areas,
4:03 including child care vouchers,
4:05 detention facilities and
4:05 staffing across the agency New
4:08 needs of were added to the
4:11 fiscal 20 26 in the executive
4:13 plan growing and fiscal 20 27
4:18 and dropping to 80 point point
4:20 7 million in fiscal 20 28 and
4:21 in the outer years.
4:22 Additionally, other
4:23 adjustments and fiscal 20 26
4:25 totaled drop into 2 million in
4:28 fiscal 20 27 and in the out
4:31 years while the city's budget
4:33 now it's been balanced without
4:35 property taxes increase all
4:36 the agencies are required t
4:37 omeet savings and vacancy
4:40 reduction benchmarks as
4:41 agencies providing frontline
4:42 lines. There's is some of the
4:43 city's most vulnerable
4:45 residents understanding impact
4:46 of these savings targeted this
4:50 critical my theme for today
4:51 and we'll always continue to
4:52 be the City will not be
4:54 considered affordable. If it's
4:55 not affordable for young
4:56 people because if we don't
4:57 invest in our young people on
4:59 the front end and.
5:00 Then ultimately investing
5:01 them on the back end when they
5:02 are living and doing things
5:06 that are
5:06 . Not things that we want to
5:07 see. I I look forward t
5:08 odiscussing how easy is
5:08 respondents to the Mayor
5:11 requirements, the methodology,
5:12 the rationale and identifying
5:14 areas where savings could be
5:16 realized and must critically
5:18 the effects on services or
5:20 programming that these savings
5:22 might have. I'm also
5:22 interested in understanding
5:23 how the agency is working with
5:25 the state partners to maximize
5:26 the funny and vital services
5:28 such as child care vouchers
5:29 ,preventative preventative
5:32 services and programming. I'm
5:32 also really curious to hear
5:34 about the plan for the money
5:35 that was allocated to the from
5:38 the governor because in our
5:41 preliminary hearing that plan
5:41 still had not been discussed
5:43 with us and want to make.
5:44 Sure that the money that was
5:45 allocated for you services and
5:48 the rays age that we are
5:50 going to about and also w
5:54 . Put in a hardship
5:58 application in the council's
5:59 response responsibility t
5:59 oensure that the City budget is
6:01 fair, transparent and
6:02 accountable to New yorkers as
6:02 the chair of children and
6:04 youth committee. I will
6:05 continue to push for
6:07 accountability and
6:07 transparency in the budget
6:09 amidst the niece eliminate
6:10 budget gaps and meet saving
6:13 requirements are
6:13 responsibility as an acting a
6:14 budget that reflects the needs
6:15 and interests of our cities
6:18 youth taking on even higher
6:19 importance like them as often
6:21 repeated this budget must not
6:22 be balanced on the back of
6:24 working people or young peopl
6:27 e. I'm at an oar because nobody
6:28 keep talking about the young
6:29 people, some today, through
6:31 and and and throughout the
6:33 examination ensure that this
6:34 is the case before we get
6:35 started. I would like to take
6:37 a quick moments, I think both
6:38 my staff and an entire council
6:40 fiscal division for their
6:41 efforts in preparing for this
6:43 hearing. Margaret julia,
6:47 richard, rhea, elizabeth and
6:48 my deputy chief of staff
6:48 career in the entire 18 bac
6:49 kand in the sweet 16 at this
6:52 time I pass it back to charli
6:55 e. Great. Thank you so much
6:56 sure before we get started. I
6:58 just wanted to take a woman to
7:00 think the entire council
7:02 finance team and division for
7:04 preparing today's hearing,
7:05 especially julia harmless and
7:07 margaret barnsley for today's
7:08 hearing and of course, brian
7:10 surf, though all the finance
7:11 analyst and support staff who
7:12 make it all work and just as.
7:14 A reminder for this year's
7:16 executive budget hearing
7:17 sbecause we're on a tighter
7:17 timeline that we normally are
7:20 we're going to be doing all of
7:22 the public testimony on
7:23 Wednesday, tenth beginning at
7:25 9 30 and I see some of our
7:26 partners here from our non
7:29 profits that are here with us,
7:30 which I'm glad, actually,
7:31 because I think it's alway
7:32 simportant to be in the room
7:34 and listen to the feedback and
7:35 then also hopefully will help
7:36 inform the questions you do
7:39 have when we hopefully we'll
7:40 see you back on the tenth jun
7:42 etenth Wednesday, starting at 9
7:44 30 a. M. So I will turn it now
7:46 over to our committee counsel
7:47 to swear in the witnesses for
7:52 their testimony. Good morning.
7:53 Everyone. Do you affirm t
7:54 otell the truth, the whole
7:55 truth and nothing but the
7:56 truth before this committee
7:57 and to respond honestly t
7:59 ocouncil member questions
8:00 commissioner jones gas.ton?
8:04 Yes, deputy commissioner
8:06 plotnikov.
8:07 Yes, deputy commissioner
8:08 gondo. Yes, deputy
8:10 commissioner mendez. Yes,
8:11 deputy commissioner really
8:15 notice
8:16 . Yes. Deputies commissioner
8:17 welcome. Er, yes and deputy
8:20 commissioner
8:20 . Ginsberg. Yes, you begin.
8:33 Just good morning. My name is
8:35 rebecca jones, gaston and I am
8:37 honored to serve as a
8:40 commissioner for the
8:42 administration of children's
8:42 services. I'd like to thank
8:44 chair Stevens, charlie and the
8:45 members of the.
8:46 Children and youth and
8:47 finance committees for
8:49 convening today's hearing on
8:50 the for City fiscal year 20 27
8:55 . I am joined by my colleague
8:56 s, deputy commissioner for
8:58 financial services margaret
8:59 penticoff, deputy commissioner
9:01 for external affairs stephanie
9:03 rendell, deputy commissioner
9:04 for the division of youth and
9:06 family justice nancy ginsberg,
9:07 deputy commissioner for the
9:09 family services division
9:13 louisa linares, deputy
9:13 commissioner for family
9:15 permanency services, Inna
9:16 mendez and deputy commish for
9:17 the division of child and
9:19 family while being elizabeth
9:23 welcome or before I begin. I
9:24 want
9:24 . To acknowledge melissa
9:25 hester for her study and
9:27 compassionate leadership as
9:29 interim commissioner during a
9:31 period of transition. Melissa
9:32 guided this agency with.
9:34 Care, integrity and deep
9:35 commitment to children and
9:39 families, and I want to thank
9:40 her and congratulate her on
9:41 her New role as executive
9:43 deputy commissioner of people,
9:44 operations and technology, I
9:50 often say, I often say that I
9:51 was born into the system
9:53 .child welfare is not simply
9:54 the work I do. It is personal
9:57 to me, it has shaped my life,
9:59 my sense of purpose and my
10:01 understanding of what?
10:01 Children, youth and families
10:03 need not only to survive but
10:06 to he'll grow and thrive
10:08 because I know personally what
10:10 systems can mean in the life
10:10 of a child. I approach this
10:13 role with both urgency and
10:18 hope my professional journey
10:18 has taken me from the
10:20 frontline practice and child
10:21 protection and foster care t
10:23 oleadership roles at the state
10:25 and federal levels, including
10:27 serving as commissioner of the
10:29 administration on children,
10:30 youth and families during the
10:30 biden harris administration
10:33 across every role, every
10:35 system and every community.
10:38 One lesson has remained
10:40 constant, meaningful and
10:41 lasting change only happens
10:43 when we remain grounded in the
10:46 voices experiences, strengths
10:47 and hopes of the people most
10:48 impacted by our decisions. Fat
10:52 belief will guide my
10:55 leadership s
10:55 . I also recognize that this
10:56 work does not happen in
10:58 isolation the well being of
11:00 children and families depends
11:02 on strong partnership across
11:04 systems and sectors, including
11:08 providers, advocates,
11:09 community leaders and our
11:09 partners in the judiciary
11:11 ,lasting progress requires all
11:12 of us working together with.
11:15 Shared accountability and
11:16 shared commitment to safety,
11:18 healing, fairness and
11:21 opportunity. I believe deeply
11:23 that safety and connection
11:25 must coexist. Children should
11:28 be safe. Families should have
11:30 the support they need t
11:31 oremain together whenever
11:34 possible
11:35 , communities should be seen
11:35 ,not simply through the lens of
11:37 need, but through the lens of
11:39 strength with and possibility
11:43 children are not cases
11:45 families are not problems to
11:47 solve communities are not
11:49 deficits to manage their
11:51 people with stories, strength,
11:52 hopes and potential, and our
11:55 responsibility is to shape
11:57 systems that recognize
11:58 humanity and respond with
12:00 accountability, compassion and
12:03 intention ask commissioner I'm
12:05 committed to working,
12:06 continuing the work of
12:07 strengthening child welfare
12:08 system that is more responsiv
12:11 e, more equitable, more
12:12 preventive and more humane.
12:15 That means ensuring child
12:19 protective intention is
12:20 focused on where children are
12:23 truly unsafe
12:24 . While continuing to inves
12:24 tin the community based and
12:26 family centered supports that
12:28 help families thrive, occurs,
12:32 it means listening closely to
12:33 young people and families with
12:38 lived experiences and
12:38 recognizing them as partners
12:39 in shaping the solutions
12:43 . And it means continuing t
12:44 otransform how we support young
12:45 people involved in the
12:46 juvenile justice system.
12:48 Seeing them not only for the
12:50 worst moment in their lives,
12:52 and future. I also want to be
12:59 clear about the tone and the
13:00 spirit, I hope to bring t
13:01 othis role, I believe in
13:03 stewardship, I believe in
13:05 partnership, I believe in
13:07 accountability rooted in
13:09 compassion, and I believe in
13:11 systems change happens when we
13:12 are willing to listen to learn
13:13 and to act with informed
13:18 intentionality. I also believe
13:19 .
13:19 None of this work as
13:21 possible without a skilled
13:23 supported and well resourced
13:26 workforce
13:26 . Everyday staff provide staff
13:30 provider partners, attorneys,
13:32 clinicians, case planners
13:33 direct care staff and so many
13:36 others carry enormous
13:37 responsibility on behalf o
13:38 fchildren and families, often
13:41 under incredibly complex
13:43 circumstances. If we want
13:44 stronger outcomes for childre
13:46 nand for families. We must
13:48 continue investing in the
13:49 people who make these outcomes
13:53 possible. I look forward t
13:54 obuilding and honest and