Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 1 p.m. (New York City time), 250 Broadway - 8th Floor - Hearing Room 2
Committee: Committee on Children and Youth
0:16 Good afternoon welcome to
0:16 today's New York City Council
0:18 hearing for the committee on
0:20 children and youth at this
0:22 time please silence all phones
0:24 and electronic devices if you
0:25 wish to speak in today's
0:27 hearing please fill out an
0:28 appearance card with one of
0:30 the sergeants moving forward
0:31 no one is to approach the dead
0:34 chair you begin good.
0:41 Good good welcome to today's
0:44 hearing on children in youth
0:45 on the children you've
0:47 committed I'm councilman roth
0:48 thea Stevens chair of the
0:49 committee thank you for
0:50 joining us here today where
0:53 where this committee will be
0:54 evaluating dice deeds beacons
0:56 and cornerstones program
0:57 . In addition to the oversight
0:58 topic will be also hearing the
1:02 following
1:02 . Resolutions brazo 3
1:04 2sponsored by Council Member
1:05 setting aside a portion of
1:07 revenue from state betting t
1:09 osupport youth
1:10 . Um sports programs upgrade
1:12 communities to support
1:13 infrastructure and expand
1:14 access to recreational
1:15 activities for young people
1:17 russell hundred 42 bar council
1:20 member calling for for the
1:21 establishment of the center
1:23 for fatherhood initiative
1:24 under the office of children
1:26 and family services raizo 161
1:28 deputy speaker Williams
1:29 calling for the establishment
1:31 of baby bomb pilot program for
1:34 foster use russell 2 1 7
1:36 sponsor are Council Member
1:37 calling for the regulation of
1:40 false or misleading
1:41 advertising related to food
1:42 products to be protected t
1:45 oprotect children rezo to 76
1:47 sponsored by deputy william
1:48 speaker which will create a
1:50 targeted meaningful test
1:51 guaranteed income program for
1:52 low income individuals young
1:54 adult and foster youths razo
1:58 hundred 77 by deputy.
1:59 Speaker Williams calling for
2:01 the creation of a federally
2:03 funded savings account for
2:05 every child and raise 278 also
2:08 sponsored by deputy.
2:09 Speaker Williams calling for
2:11 the management of funds and
2:13 eligible child care bank
2:14 accounts by the state
2:15 comptroller.
2:16 Those are all the reasons
2:17 we're hearing so now we'll
2:18 actually get to what we're
2:20 really here for
2:22 . For decades became a corner
2:25 stone as trusted a trusted
2:27 neighborhood
2:28 . They provided young people
2:28 and adults with safe.
2:30 Spaces to learn build
2:32 relationships develop skills
2:34 access support services and
2:35 engage with their communities
2:36 could have have some tissue
2:38 thank you today there are 9
2:41 2beacon programs and a hundred
2:44 cornerstones programs
2:45 operating throughout the City
2:45 that serves tens of thousands
2:47 of New yorkers each year
2:49 . This number reflects the
2:50 significant demand for
2:51 accessible community based
2:54 programming and critical roles
2:55 that those hunters play I'm
2:58 sorry I'm thank you
3:02 . Critical role that those
3:02 singers play those programs
3:05 are particularly thinkyou're
3:06 important at at time when many
3:08 young people continue to
3:10 reflect significant challenges
3:11 as young people are
3:12 experiencing extraordinary
3:13 high rates of loneliness
3:16 anxiety and social isolation
3:18 research consistently
3:19 . Demonstrates that
3:19 participation and structural
3:20 community based program and
3:22 prove educational outcomes
3:24 strengthens social connecting
3:25 support mental health and
3:26 promotes positive youth
3:27 development at the same time
3:30 today's hearing provides an
3:31 opportunity to assess whether
3:32 our vestments have kept the
3:34 pace with expectations we we
3:36 placed on these programs the
3:38 last comprehensive beacon
3:39 procurement was issued in
3:42 20017 and the last cornerstone
3:43 procurement was issued in 2015 e
3:46 continued to deliver services
3:49 through contract renews and
3:51 extension.
3:51 But providers have
3:53 consistently raised concerns
3:55 regarding funding levels
3:56 staffing challenges security
3:58 costs and conditions of the
3:59 facilities many providers
4:01 report that they are absorbing
4:03 substantial cost beyond their
4:05 contract awards to continue on
4:07 operating these vital programs
4:08 as we look at the future it is
4:10 important that we evaluate
4:11 whether providers have the
4:12 resources necessary to meet
4:13 the needs of the communities
4:15 they serve we look forward t
4:17 odiscussing dad's plan for
4:18 future procurement but since
4:19 your programming expansion and
4:21 opportunities to strengthe
4:22 ncommunity based programs
4:23 citywide there testimony and
4:25 testimony from community
4:26 members will help inform how
4:28 City can continue to support
4:30 these critical community
4:32 institutions
4:32 . Before we begin I would like
4:33 to think committee staff
4:35 including student senior
4:35 apollo Ana senior policy
4:38 analyst elizabeth artz our
4:41 senior committee counsel I'm
4:45 real
4:45 . A gaza wall at their hard
4:47 gstaff back at district 16 I
4:53 will now turn it over to a
4:55 committee counsel to swear in
4:57 the administration mom did you
4:58 want to read oh I have another
5:00 statement to read it was very
5:03 long this is from dr natasha
5:08 Williams Council Member in the
5:10 attachable
5:10 . Rooms committee on children
5:12 and youth hearing a statement
5:13 on brazil 106 1 2 7 6 2 7 7 2
5:18 7 8 wealthy inequalities have
5:19 often been described as one of
5:21 the defining process issues of
5:22 our time however while the
5:23 wealth gap in our country and
5:25 our City has reached alarming
5:27 levels
5:27 . We know those
5:28 disproportionate are the
5:29 result of deep rooted
5:31 historical and systematic
5:33 discrimination against some of
5:35 the most marginalized
5:36 community.
5:37 Particularly black and brown y
5:40 the medium household networks
5:41 for black families and 14 14
5:44 times lower than that of white
5:45 families in New York this
5:47 reality again underscored by
5:49 state City state and federal
5:51 government have long known
5:52 . And at a time failed failed
5:55 quite at a time has failed t
5:57 oadequately address those who
5:59 have been historically
6:00 disadvantaged have also been
6:03 systematically denied
6:04 meaningful opportunities t
6:05 obuild financial security for
6:06 themselves and future
6:08 generations despite long
6:09 starring barriers that
6:12 continue to particularly
6:14 circle the cycle of poverty
6:16 . Lawmakers are every at every
6:18 level of government introduced
6:19 legislation aimed to narrowing
6:20 the wealth gap one proposal
6:22 that has gained significant
6:24 attention is this creation of
6:24 a so called baby bond program
6:26 . Those programs establish
6:29 government and and manage
6:31 savings accounts.
6:31 For newborns helping create
6:32 long term financial assets
6:34 that can be assess in
6:39 adulthood access in adulthood
6:40 raise a hundred 61 we'll call
6:41 the New York state legislation
6:44 to pass somebody bill a 7 2 4
6:47 1 5.
6:48 Sponsored by assembly member
6:49 khalil anderson which would
6:51 establish a baby bond pilot
6:52 program for foster youth who
6:55 disproportionately face
6:56 financial instability
6:58 . In adulthood razo 2 7 7 will
7:01 call on congress to pass s 441
7:07 slash hr 1 0 4 1 also known as
7:08 the american opportunity
7:11 account act sponsored by
7:14 senator cory booker and
7:17 congresswoman pressley rezo 2
7:18 7 8 we'll call on New York
7:20 state to pass the senate bill
7:24 5 6 4 an assembly bill a 6 0 5
7:30 9 introduced by senator jamal
7:33 bailey and assembly member
7:35 michael michael benedetto
7:35 these will require the state
7:37 to deposit a thousand dollar
7:38 sallocation and so it counts
7:39 managed by the controller
7:41 additionally resolution 278
7:42 will call on congress to pass
7:45 legislation creating a
7:47 meaningful tea tested
7:48 guaranteed income program for
7:49 low income individuals young
7:51 adults and foster care use
7:53 . Research also shows that
7:55 even small amounts of savings
7:56 because have made long term
7:58 impacts including reducing the
7:59 future state loan debt
8:01 lowering aquatic financial
8:02 stress and increasing
8:04 household wealth with
8:06 particularly significant gains
8:07 for black and latino families
8:10 those findings make it clear
8:12 that even modest investments
8:14 in financial security can
8:15 create meaningful generational
8:16 changes we must continue to
8:20 advance serious conversation
8:21 and bold policies that help
8:22 close the wealth gap and
8:23 expand opportunities for our
8:26 young people thank you I would
8:28 like to knowledge councilman
8:29 councilman be Felder and
8:30 Council Member.
8:31 Borough oh thank you for
8:32 being here councilmember
8:33 . Brewer only the o are
8:34 . Here I know I know we're so
8:37 blessed and let me tell you
8:39 guys to get ready because
8:41 councilmember Brewer is
8:42 serious about the community
8:47 center so.
8:47 We will now hear testimony
8:49 from the administration before
8:50 we begin I will administer the
8:52 affirmation panelists please
8:54 raise your right hand I will
8:55 read the affirmation once then
8:57 call on each of you
8:58 individually to respond ah do
9:00 you affirm to tell the truth
9:01 the whole truth and nothing
9:03 but the truth before this
9:04 committee and to respond
9:06 honestly to Council Member
9:08 begin a hello oh it's okay
9:49 afternoon Stevens and members
9:50 I think it's just the sound
9:53 . Good afternoon chair Stevens
9:55 and members of the children
9:58 and youth committee bring it
10:00 closer no no no let me no it's
10:06 too loud good afternoon chair
10:07 Stevens and members of the
10:08 children and youth committee I
10:11 am wanda ash ral associate
10:14 commissioner of the New York
10:16 City department of youth and
10:19 community development I am
10:19 joined by my bi three cia
10:22 harrah's assistant assistant
10:24 commissioner for community
10:26 centers thank you for the
10:28 opportunity to discuss the
10:31 beacon cornerstone a community
10:33 centers d y c d s community
10:35 centers include 92 beacon
10:38 programs located in public
10:39 schools across New York City
10:41 and 100 cornerstone programs
10:44 operating in New York City
10:45 housing authority developments n
10:50 non school hours during non
10:53 school hours on weekdays
10:54 weekends and in the summer
10:57 each center transforms its
10:59 host location into a resource
11:01 for the whole community by
11:03 offering an integrated range
11:05 of programming tailored t
11:09 olocal needs for all
11:10 participants especially youth
11:11 community centers offer a safe
11:13 place to engage in
11:15 recreational activities
11:16 discover New interests acquire
11:18 skills and find opportunities
11:20 to contribute to the community
11:22 guided and supported by
11:24 program staff centers provide
11:26 activities and services for
11:28 school aged youth
11:28 . Families and adults ages 2
11:32 0to years
11:32 . And older including seniors
11:34 in keeping with the original
11:37 concept programs make special
11:38 efforts to engage hard t
11:41 orecruit youth and young adultsn
11:44 activities that foster
11:45 positive youth development
11:47 social emotional learning assi
11:49 beneficialadership skills
11:53 . D y qed community centers
11:55 have a broad reach in fiscal
11:57 year 25 programs served more
12:01 than 62000 youth and 17000
12:04 adults cornerstone programs
12:05 range in size from smaller
12:07 centers to large multipurpose
12:10 community spaces in fiscal
12:11 year 25 cornerstone community
12:14 centers served over 21000
12:15 young people and 6700 adults
12:19 . D y c d monitors program
12:20 performance and provides
12:22 technical assistance to help
12:25 programs reach their contract
12:26 and community goals d City
12:29 program managers make periodic
12:31 onsite visits to programs to
12:32 ensure that sites are
12:34 welcoming properly staffed
12:35 engaging the community and
12:37 operating at full capacity d y
12:39 City program managers also
12:41 monitor weather enrollment and
12:43 attendance are consistent with
12:45 contracted levels and program
12:48 goals d y cities evaluation
12:50 and monitoring system and d c
12:53 connect documents detailed
12:55 program evaluations and fou
12:58 rkey sections program practice
13:01 program compliance
13:02 administration and outcomes
13:04 and outputs if a program does
13:05 not meet the established
13:07 standards the right City issue
13:09 a strategic action plan or a
13:12 corrective action plan.
13:13 And provides on site
13:15 coaching and capacity building
13:17 resources if there are issues
13:18 or indicators that need
13:21 serious and formal correction
13:23 this includes but it's not
13:25 limited to contract compliance
13:28 program quality and outcomes
13:29 and safety violations beacon
13:32 and cornerstone community
13:34 centers host specialized
13:36 activities and participate in
13:37 various citywide initiatives
13:39 to support and enhance
13:39 offerings to the community
13:42 these include Saturday night
13:44 lights um which is a sports
13:47 program that enhance has
13:48 enhanced community center
13:50 programming by offering young
13:52 people year round free sports
13:54 and enrichment activities on
13:56 Saturday evenings the s and l
13:58 program provides basketball
13:59 soccer dance and other sports
14:01 and arts services in the
14:03 community centers and schools
14:05 uh most of which are co
14:07 located and with beacon and
14:10 cornerstone programs there are
14:12 141 programs throughout the
14:14 City of which 46 are located
14:17 in beacon and 50 are located
14:19 in cornerstone community
14:20 centers in fiscal year 2
14:23 5programs served 442
14:27 4participants we also offer
14:28 mental health support services.
14:31 Diversity participated in a
14:32 pilot initiative in
14:34 partnership with the mayor's
14:35 office of community mental
14:36 health to introduce New skills
14:39 for program staff on mental
14:40 health coping strategies they
14:42 can use to work with young
14:45 people in partnership with the
14:47 New school center for global
14:50 mental health City facilitated
14:51 the first adaptation and
14:53 implementation of early
14:54 adolescent skills for emotions
14:57 prefer to ease in the united
15:02 states the intervention was
15:04 specifically developed t
15:06 oprovide a scalable culturally
15:09 adaptable and preventive and
15:10 preventive model of care for
15:13 youth experiencing symptoms of
15:15 anxiety stress.
15:16 Depression and other forms
15:17 of psychological distress the
15:19 ease initiative focused on