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New York City Council
Executive Budget Hearings - Finance
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Council staff welcomes attendees to day three of FY27 executive budget hearings, covering the Committee on Finance joined with Committees on Children and Youth and Immigration. Staff reminds attendees to silence devices and not approach the dais.
Councilmember Linda Lee gavels in and introduces the hearing on ACS's FY27 executive budget of $3.51 billion, noting a $89.6M increase from preliminary plan. She highlights child care vouchers, Promise NYC baselining, and the 25,000-child voucher waitlist.
Lee notes ACS headcount is 562 below FY26 budgeted levels. She calls on the Mayor to apply for the state Raise the Age hardship waiver for reimbursement going back to FY19, and urges progress on reducing the voucher waitlist. She previews questions on savings methodology and $200M in state at-risk youth funding.
Chair Stevens discusses new needs of $55.7M added in FY26 executive plan, growing to $104.6M in FY27. She emphasizes the city must not be balanced on the backs of young people, and raises concerns about savings methodology, state funding plans, and the hardship application for Raise the Age.
Lee and Stevens thank their respective staff and the Council Finance Division. They remind attendees that public testimony will be held Wednesday, June 10th at 9:30 AM, and that nonprofit partners are welcome to attend and listen.
Committee counsel swears in Commissioner Rebecca Jones-Gaston and six Deputy Commissioners for their testimony before the committees.
New ACS Commissioner Rebecca Jones-Gaston shares her personal background in child welfare, her career from frontline practice to federal leadership under the Biden-Harris administration, and her commitment to equity, prevention, and partnership.
Jones-Gaston discusses her belief that safety and connection must coexist, that children are not cases and families are not problems, and her commitment to investing in a skilled, supported workforce. She outlines her approach to juvenile justice transformation.
Jones-Gaston presents the $3.51B FY27 budget including $1.4B in city funds. She thanks Chief Savings Officer Margaret Pletnikoff and highlights the Mamdani administration's prioritization of expanding quality child care throughout the city.
Jones-Gaston explains state-city budgetary agreements enabling recertification of low-income child care vouchers and support for HRA-served families. She announces Promise NYC is baselined at $25M, supporting approximately 1,000 slots, creating certainty and stability.
Jones-Gaston announces 11 community partnerships with expanded community ambassador roles. She details ACS's 44 provider agencies operating 127 prevention programs with 10,277 slots, and notes community referrals increased from 12% in January 2023 to 27% in March 2026.
Jones-Gaston explains the budget includes closing four prevention programs totaling 360 slots for $2.7M CTL savings, with assurances that no family will lose services and that ACS will monitor community needs.
Jones-Gaston reports fewer than 6,300 children in foster care, down from 42,000 when ACS was created. She details the $40M Youth Safety and Success Initiative funding Fair Futures coaches, College Choice program expansion, and the new Career Choice program.
Jones-Gaston explains the executive budget aligns Fair Futures and Career Choice spending with programmatic ramp-up, saving $2M CTL in FY26-27 for Fair Futures and $405K CTL for Career Choice, with no impact on services. Full ramp-up to 5,400 youth by FY29.
Jones-Gaston explains $1.4M CTL reduction in Preparing Youth for Adulthood services due to surplus, $233K CTL reduction for adoption recruitment contracts no longer maintained since 2015, and $97.5M CTL to address the Title IV-E budget gap from federal reimbursement ineligibility.
Jones-Gaston highlights $1.6M for immigration legal services and fees for children in foster care, noting ACS's long history of working with pro bono providers on special immigrant juvenile status and new Trump administration fee increases.
Jones-Gaston reports 362 youth in secure detention, 66 in non-secure detention, and 128 in close-to-home. The budget includes $6.3M for Horizon exercise pavilion, maintenance, supplies, and conversion of a 6-bed to 9-bed non-secure placement facility, plus capital needs for HVAC and IT.
Jones-Gaston concludes by emphasizing the budget reflects investment in children and families, acknowledges federal policy pressures, and commits to intentional transformation rooted in equity, community partnership, and accountability.
Lee recognizes Councilmembers Marano, Ossé, Felder, Jay Sanchez, and Mealy who have joined. She notes both she and Stevens are former nonprofit leaders and emphasizes breaking government silos.
Lee asks how ACS determined which savings to include and what metrics were used. Deputy Commissioner Pletnikoff explains the data-driven approach under Executive Order 12, focusing on operational efficiencies, program performance, and aligning budget to projected revenues.
Lee asks which programs and services were included in savings and whether any direct services see funding decreases. Pletnikoff explains savings came from maximizing revenue, sunsetting administrative contracts, IT savings, Esperanza closure, and slowing ramp-up of Fair Futures and Career Choice.
Lee asks about total loss of state and federal funding from savings and whether funding can be shifted. Pletnikoff explains revenue cannot be transferred because CTL dollars are needed to draw down revenue, and the total revenue takedown for FY27 is $29 million.
Lee asks about average reimbursement timelines to providers. Pletnikoff reports 7.7 days for health and human service invoices, much lower than the citywide average of 17 days, and notes ACS leads in timely contract registration.
Lee asks about contracting issues and provider concerns. Pletnikoff reports close to 100% of contracts registered on time on the human service side, with contracts typically registered within a couple months of Schedule C.
Lee asks about conversations with OMB regarding applying for the state hardship waiver. Pletnikoff confirms conversations have occurred but the decision rests with City Hall and OMB. ACS estimates $549M in expenses and $133M in capital spent on Raise the Age since FY19.
Lee asks about $194.5M in baseline state funding and $300M total across agencies. Pletnikoff says no further guidance from the state yet, with the budget possibly being signed during the hearing. The funding is meant as revenue, not expansion.
Ossé raises concerns about families in his district unable to access non-mandated child care vouchers. Deputy Commissioner Volcomore explains the state budget determines funding for low-income vouchers, currently no new vouchers can be issued, but recertifications continue and families are directed to NYC Public Schools and DYCD alternatives.
Stevens expresses alarm at 362 youth in secure detention, up from 150 when she took office. She asks about interagency efforts to reduce numbers. Deputy Commissioner Ginsberg confirms active conversations with MACJ and DYCD, and Stevens demands a coordinated plan.
Stevens expresses frustration that ACS reduced close-to-home capacity through the RFP and now needs to expand. Pletnikoff clarifies it's converting an existing 6-bed non-secure detention to 9 beds, not building a new facility. Stevens argues providers warned against right-sizing.
Stevens argues prevention services were credited for reducing facility numbers, making cuts contradictory. Deputy Commissioner Linares explains the decision was difficult, based on capacity analysis, SCR costs, and provider performance against KPIs across FY24-FY26.
Stevens asks for details on the four programs being eliminated. Linares confirms three in Brooklyn and one in Queens, totaling 360 slots with 199 active families currently receiving services. Stevens presses on proximity of alternative services for affected families.
Stevens expresses concern about vulnerable families, particularly Black and brown families, having to travel for services and trust new social workers. Linares details the transition process including dedicated case review teams, provider coordination, and family involvement in next-step decisions.
Stevens challenges the 90-day transition period as too short for both families and workers losing jobs. Commissioner Jones-Gaston references successful transition of 5,000 families during COVID in six months. Stevens calls the response cold and advocates for protecting human service workers.
Stevens questions why Fair Futures faces $4.9M in baseline savings when ACS has touted the program's success. Deputy Commissioner Mendez explains the savings slow the ramp-up timeline but the program still grows, reaching 4,800 in FY27 and 5,400 by FY29, with more money per slot.
Stevens asks how ACS communicates to providers that they can request additional funding. Mendez explains the contract management unit works with providers on budgets and will ensure agencies know they can discuss additional needs. Commissioner Jones-Gaston commits to creating new provider feedback mechanisms.
Stevens asks about specific targets and benchmarks for Fair Futures. Mendez details targets of 4,800 for FY27, 5,000+ for FY28, and 5,400 for FY29, with current data showing 4,300 youth served, 87% in care, and two-thirds of eligible youth reached. Stevens raises concerns about inconsistent information sharing with youth.
Stevens asks how often the contract management unit meets with providers and how utilization is tracked. Mendez explains monthly invoice reviews, conversations about vacancies and turnover, and plans to refine qualitative tracking alongside monetary monitoring.
Wong asks about the ACS headquarters move. Deputy Commissioner Glendell explains all staff are moving from 150 Williams Street to 110 Williams Street by end of June, with the new location designed to be more family-friendly with meeting rooms and playrooms.
Wong asks about youth numbers at Horizon and Crossroads detention centers. Ginsberg reports 181 at Horizon and 186 at Crossroads including 11 young women. Wong raises a state comptroller report on 13-73% absenteeism; Ginsberg says current attendance is 72-74%, close to community rates.
Wong asks about average time in detention and graduation rates. Ginsberg reports 97.4 days average stay, about 150 graduates over 3.5 years, and a CUNY MOU enabling college programming through Hostos and BMCC for youth with diplomas or GEDs.
Schulman highlights Forestdale in her district faces cuts and asks about losing the state match and whether other areas could be cut instead. Pletnikoff confirms 62% state reimbursement loss and notes over 1,000 vacant slots. Schulman implores reconsideration given prevention's long-term cost savings.
Joseph asks how the city plans to expand the initiative while cutting the New Visions portal it depends on. Deputy Commissioner Mendez explains ACS is working with NYC Public Schools on an MOU and cloud service agreement to introduce the portal to foster care agencies as a pilot for the next school year.
Epstein, a former foster care worker, asks about outreach to fill vacant prevention slots and plans for the Children's Center. Jones-Gaston commits to improving outreach. Mendez details robust services at the Children's Center including mental health, mentorship, and 39 current residents with reduced length of stay.
Restler confirms 25,600 children on the voucher waitlist and presses on funding for FY27. Volcomore says the state budget must be analyzed first. Restler suggests SCCF vouchers as a one-year model and raises alarm about OCFS regulations limiting vouchers to exact work hours, which would disrupt child care centers.
Gutierrez uplifts concerns about CAMBA and Forestdale cuts and asks about voucher recertification rates. Volcomore reports 6-7% of families cannot continue due to federal priority rules for unhoused, special needs, and very low-income families. Gutierrez asks about siblings unable to qualify.
Williams asks about short and midterm racial equity goals. Jones-Gaston lists short-term goals including school-based prevention and community referrals, and midterm goals including staff training, community spaces, reducing unnecessary SCR reports, and restorative approaches in juvenile justice.
Williams asks about budgetary actions needed and how ACS identifies at-risk youth. Jones-Gaston believes goals are achievable within current budget. Ginsberg details expansion of ACEs program serving 400 more youth with $7M CTL, and Girls Just Us expanding to Queens and Bronx with 24 additional young women.
Pletnikoff corrects her earlier statement, noting the actual revenue impact from savings is $14.91 million, not $28.9 million as she mistakenly stated in haste.
Mealy raises concerns about youth sleeping on the floor at Crossroads and questions the three-bed expansion. Jones-Gaston denies anyone sleeps on the floor. Ginsberg clarifies plans for 28 additional beds at Crossroads with two new halls and classroom space, separate from the 6-to-9-bed non-secure conversion.
Brewer asks about support for children in foster care whose parents are incarcerated at Rikers. Mendez describes the CHIP team facilitating visits and case planning. Brewer requests data on reunification possibilities and additional funding, which Jones-Gaston commits to providing.
Brewer asks about numbers of youth aging out and support to prevent homelessness. Mendez reports 420 non-permanency discharges in 2024 and 383 in 2025, with Fair Futures, CityFHEPS vouchers, Anthos aftercare, and Supervision to 21 team providing support.
Stevens asks if providers being cut have been notified in writing. Jones-Gaston says not yet in writing but leadership was contacted verbally. Stevens then asks about CPS vacancies; officials report 191 vacancies in Division of Child Protection with 108 CPS positions vacant.
Stevens asks about background check timelines and onboarding for child protective specialists. Officials report about six weeks for background checks, several months of training at Satterwhite Academy including simulation, and approximately 70% of candidates complete the process.
Lee announces round two questions, with Councilmember Joseph followed by Councilmember Schulman.
Joseph asks for current numbers at Crossroads and Horizon. Officials confirm 181 at Horizon and 186 at Crossroads, with capacity of 245 bedrooms each. Joseph notes the facilities are near capacity.
Joseph asks about ACS working with NYC Public Schools on transportation for foster care students. Mendez details the reimbursement plan established in 2022, recently revised with increased daily rates and expanded eligibility, with ACS providing transportation for Children's Center youth.
Schulman asks about tools for public school staff to match students with prevention services. Deputy Commissioner Linares explains social service laws require consent forms, so no aggregate data sharing exists, but individual information can be shared with consent. Schulman also requests a briefing on cuts' impact on Forestdale.
Williams asks whether Fair Futures expansion pledged in the racial equity plan will be affected by funding reductions. Officials confirm the program still expands to 5,400 by FY29, with the budget action slowing growth but achieving the same end number.
Joseph asks for five-year data on youth aging out and college enrollment. Mendez provides 420 discharges in 2024 and 383 in 2025, with College Choice growing from 200 at launch to 471 in spring 2026. Joseph also asks about re-engagement supports for youth who leave college.
Lee thanks the Commissioner and team, and announces a quick break before the DYCD hearing. Stevens asks if the Commissioner survived the questioning.
Lee reconvenes for the second hearing on DYCD's FY27 executive budget of $1.62 billion, representing 1.3% of the city budget. She notes a $14.2M decrease from the preliminary plan due to savings from consulting contract elimination, vacancy reduction, and COLA adjustments.
Lee notes the Council called for $14.2M for runaway and homeless youth programs, peer navigators, and housing navigators. She introduces Commissioner Sandra Escamilla-Davies and notes the three chairs' shared nonprofit experience.
Stevens details DYCD's $1.6B FY27 budget, $14.8M for CMS expansion, $8.8M for Advance and Earn, and $3M savings from 27 vacant positions. She raises concerns about RHY funding not being baselined and praises the new Compass RFP release after 10 years.
Stevens acknowledges concerns from providers losing Compass contracts and urges DYCD to evaluate the RFP process for future procurements. She pushes for completing Beacons and Cornerstones RFPs while the new commissioner with provider experience is in place.
Lee reminds attendees that public testimony is June 10th at 9:30 AM, recognizes additional council members, and committee counsel swears in Commissioner Escamilla-Davies and her team.
Escamilla-Davies shares her three-month listening tour findings, noting DYCD's growth in scale and complexity. She outlines her team's examination of procurement, contracting, payments, and performance management to ensure responsive, effective operations.
Escamilla-Davies presents the $1.619B budget, with $1.5B in tax levy, $105.4M federal, $18.4M state, and $5.2M in-city funds. She details $10.9M in FY26 savings and $34.8M in FY27, from in-house audits and cost estimate readjustments, with no service cuts.
Escamilla-Davies details the Compass RFP with $727M in FY27 funding, 121 center-based awards with 7,840 seats, 806 school-based awards with 95,841 seats, 8,621 additional seats, and 52 new community-based organizations. She acknowledges providers who lost contracts.
Escamilla-Davies reports 150,000 Summer Rising applications, 127,000 offers extended (3,500 more than last year), 300 sites including 19 additional buildings, and enhanced collaboration with NYC Public Schools for students with disabilities and enrichment.
Escamilla-Davies shares the early mayoral commitment to continue housing navigation, peer navigators, and financial coaches for RHY in FY27. She reports SYEP received a record 230,000 applications, funded at $246M to serve 100,000+ youth, with expanded career-ready programs.
Escamilla-Davies reports the Fatherhood Program has engaged 500+ fathers, with a second annual Fatherhood Policy Symposium convening 100+ leaders. She announces the fifth annual Affirming Father convening on June 25th at John Jay College and thanks her staff.
Lee asks about $107.6M reduction in community development programs and $103.9M in contractual services. Officials explain the reduction is due to one-time council restoration funding for adult literacy that hasn't been added yet for FY27.
Lee asks about the $3M vacancy reduction of 27 positions and which programs will be affected. Officials say locations haven't been identified yet but the goal is no service disruption. Lee also asks about Executive Order 12 savings, which came from surplus and unobligated funding with no service cuts.
Lee asks for the breakdown of school-based versus center-based Compass budgets and whether contracts will be registered by the school year. Officials commit to timely registration, with 50% of contracts already in process and a plan for cash flow support.
Lee asks for total applications received. Officials report 209 center-based proposals with 121 awarded, 228 unique school-based providers with 147 awarded, and 3,500 individual school proposals. The minimum viable score was 70, based on organizational experience, staffing, community partnership, approach, and budget.
Stevens asks how DYCD is responding to providers who lost contracts. Commissioner Escamilla-Davies acknowledges the financial and operational impacts, details briefings being conducted, extended protest period, and transition planning efforts.
Stevens asks about the plan for providers running Summer Rising who will lose their host sites after summer. Officials describe coordinating closeout processes, transition convenings between CBOs, and connecting with school leaders and communities.
Stevens asks for specifics on transition meetings, toolkits, and involving local council members. Officials describe transition meetings, knowledge transfer, staff retention discussions, family communication, and principal-level engagement, committing to involve council members.
Stevens asks how 5,000 additional Compass slots for fall 2027 will be located and whether there will be another RFP. Escamilla-Davies says strategic decisions are being made to stabilize the ecosystem and leverage slots to mitigate impact.
Stevens expresses strong opposition to closing any community-based centers, especially with 362 youth in secure detention. She asks about additional OMB funding to fill gaps. Officials confirm ongoing conversations with OMB about responding to concerns.
Stevens asks about the appeal process for school-based providers and 12 schools without awards. Officials confirm the same 10-day appeal process, extended for school-based providers, and explain the 12 schools had no viable or submitted proposals, with plans being finalized.
Stevens raises concerns about new providers getting school-age child care licenses from DOHMH by September. Officials report about 200 programs need new licenses, with coordinated inspections, technical assistance, and contingency plans in place.
Stevens requests lists of non-awarded school-based providers, non-viable center-based providers, and funded groups with amounts. Officials confirm they can provide all requested lists.
Maloney raises concerns about Manhattan Youth losing contracts at some schools despite 94% attendance and positive audits. Officials explain each competition is evaluated on its own merit with different evaluators and competition levels.
Maloney asks for details on how Manhattan Youth scored against criteria and whether principals who ranked them first were overruled. Officials say specifics can't be shared during the protest period but note over 80% of principals got their first or second choice.
Maloney asks about recourse if new providers don't meet community needs, noting lost services like sports and arts. Escamilla-Davies expresses confidence in new providers' responsiveness and commits to taking necessary action if they underperform.
Deputy Speaker Williams asks about budgetary actions for racial equity goals. Chief Equity Officer Denise Ramirez explains goals are incorporated into operations, including capacity building and equity methodology integrated into RFPs.
Epstein asks why the equitable investment methodology won't be fully applied until 2034. Ramirez explains the timeline aligns with RFP cycles and the need to iterate and adapt. Epstein presses on what percentage of programs currently use the methodology, with only literacy and Compass RFPs so far.
Epstein asks how the methodology weighs poverty, demographics, violence indicators, and service gaps. Ramirez explains poverty is the primary driver at 70%, with other factors like disability, temporary housing, and gun violence precincts considered. Epstein asks if the methodology will be publicly released.
Epstein raises Henry Street's 150-year history and Boys and Girls Republic Center losing funding. Escamilla-Davies says strategy is being evaluated after the protest period ends June 4th, with next steps to follow. Epstein presses on parent input in the RFP process.
Epstein argues parents should have been involved in the RFP selection process, not just after awards. Officials explain principals ranked providers but parents were not part of the formal RFP evaluation. Epstein calls this a mistake and requests meetings with parents before the school year ends.
Joseph asks about the total Summer Rising budget and provider payment delays. Officials report $151M for FY27, with 98% of FY27 amendments registered and less than 1% of invoices over 30 days. Joseph asks about strategies to pay providers faster and technical support.
Joseph asks about total Summer Rising applications and provisions for students with IEPs. Officials report 150,000 applications, with accommodation plans coordinated with NYC Public Schools' DIAL team, and confirm one-to-one paras will be provided per IEP requirements.
Restler raises a provider serving the Hasidic community in Williamsburg that scored well at some locations but not others, questioning how the same team can get different scores. Officials explain different evaluators and competition levels at each site affect outcomes.
Restler asks about providers scoring above threshold at some sites but below at others. Escamilla-Davies explains the competitive nature of different geographic areas. Restler also raises concerns about charter schools being selected for Compass awards, deferring detailed questions to Chair Stevens.
Brooks-Powers asks how $14.8M in CMS expansion will reduce gun violence, which groups will see funding, and the transition of CMS from DYCD to the Office of Community Safety. Officials detail the two-phase transition and place-based precision work.
Brooks-Powers asks about year-round employment for youth beyond summer. Officials describe the Work, Learn, and Grow program serving 7,000 youth with college credit opportunities, and the Learn and Earn program serving 1,000, acknowledging tremendous demand for expansion.
Brewer raises concerns about principals lacking contact information for new providers and asks about subcontracting. Officials confirm contracts allow 30% subcontracting. Brewer also asks about PS145 wanting LEAP and contracting improvement metrics.
Brewer asks how DYCD measures contracting process improvement and tracks escalations to the Mayor's Office of Nonprofit Services. Officials describe weekly meetings, internal tracking systems, and the backlog initiative. Brewer asks about provider confusion with three-year contracts.
Wong asks about no-shows at Summer Rising and whether waitlisted families are contacted. Officials explain the collaborative model with schools and CBOs, prioritization of special needs and temporary housing students, and that both schools and CBOs have waitlist access to make offers.
Wong asks whether the $246M SYEP budget is primarily city or state funds. Officials confirm it's primarily city tax levy with a small TANF allocation from the state. Wong advocates for increasing SYEP scale and state funding.
Wilson notes 400+ parents and students concerned about Manhattan Youth losing contracts, with positive audits and decades-long relationships. He asks if there's consideration to reinstate them. Officials explain the school-based process maintains slot continuity, not provider continuity.
Wilson raises Hudson Guild losing funding, leaving a gap for NYCHA families in Chelsea. Escamilla-Davies says center-based strategy is being evaluated post-June 6th. Wilson also asks about using the New Visions portal to track educational outcomes for DYCD programs.
Banks raises concerns about one provider managing 80+ school sites. Officials say the provider makes up 10% of awards and was not selected for everything proposed. Banks questions how providers get contracts in areas without community track records.
Banks asks what opportunities exist for smaller nonprofits to grow within DYCD programs. Officials note 52 new providers including 17 small CBOs, capacity building services, and subcontracting opportunities. Banks shares a specific organization with 10 years of community presence that lost its contract.
Banks asks DYCD to be more proactive in directly contacting smaller organizations about contract issues rather than relying on council offices as intermediaries. Officials acknowledge the concern and commit to improving direct communication.
Stevens asks about preventing the debit card fraud issues from last summer. Officials describe engaging youth in financial literacy training, convening providers, and working with banks, law department, and payroll processors to prevent recurrence.
Stevens asks about a $20M proposal from the NYC Coalition of Adult Literacy for immigrant adult literacy. Officials say no pointed conversation with OMB yet but internal conversations are ongoing with LAC about the proposal.
Stevens asks if DYCD is open to adopting aspects of the council-funded Adult Literacy Forward initiative. Officials say they support the council's pilot but prefer their current model with increased price per participant, and welcome council support to expand slots.
Stevens asks about the Fatherhood Initiative budget and provider locations. Officials report $8.2M for FY27, with 14 providers operating 17 contracts across all five boroughs: 6 in Bronx, 4 in Brooklyn, 3 in Manhattan, 2 in Queens, 2 in Staten Island.
Stevens asks about actual spending for the $11M OmniCard budget. Officials report approximately $4M spent on 80,000 cards for 40,000 SYEP participants, distributed to 90 providers with tight tracking policies on distribution and storage.
Stevens notes time constraints, says remaining questions will be sent in writing, and urges DYCD not to let budget negotiations delay responses. Lee thanks the DYCD team for being great partners.
Lee opens the third hearing for MOIA's FY27 executive budget of $781,962, noting it represents 0.00063% of the city budget. She introduces Chair Encarnación of the Immigration Committee and recognizes attending council members.
Lee outlines her questioning focus: AAPI community support, consolidation of immigrant services, contracts and payment delays, mental health access, legal support hotline, 2030 census preparation, and FIFA World Cup preparation.
Encarnación condemns the San Diego Islamic Center shooting, highlights 800 New Yorkers arrested by ICE between October 2025 and March 2026, and urges restoration of $50M plus an additional $30M for immigration legal services in FY27.
Lee reminds attendees about the June 10th public testimony date, asks members to keep questions brief due to translator time constraints, and committee counsel swears in Commissioner Faiza Ali and Deputy Commissioners Sanchez and Lucero.
Ali shares her background as daughter of immigrants from Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. She describes the atmosphere of intimidation at 26 Federal Plaza and the city's commitment to protecting all New Yorkers regardless of immigration status amid aggressive ICE enforcement.
Ali discusses ICE's presence at Wyckoff Medical Center, NYPD's policy review under EO 13, the Interagency Response Committee's audit of agency policies on immigration enforcement interactions, and updated training guidelines.
Ali presents MOIA's $34.2M FY27 budget with 70+ contracts. She notes 10 new positions are currently open for hiring, and that she has met directly with providers to understand community needs and ensure funding stability.
Ali outlines MOIA's legal programs including 29 providers, legal support centers with $18M over three years conducting 12,000+ screenings since July 2025, the hotline operated by Catholic Charities receiving 19,800+ calls, and expanded hours and languages.
Ali describes a family preparedness phone bank with 225 calls, the Haitian Response Initiative with seven Haitian-led CBOs baselined at $1.7M, six legal clinics in FY26, and concerns about Haiti instability and pending TPS Supreme Court decision.
Ali explains the $3M increase in rapid response legal efforts for detained or at-risk immigrants, coordination with schools through Project Open Arms, and connections to legal resources and know-your-rights information for immigrant families.
Ali outlines MOIA's oversight of 46 agencies' language access implementation, serving 1.8M New Yorkers with limited English proficiency. She describes the April citywide language access coordinators convening, in-house translation team, 300+ immigrant rights workshops, and ethnic media roundtables.
Ali concludes by emphasizing MOIA's mission to ensure immigrant New Yorkers can fully participate in civic, economic, and cultural life. She thanks public servants and community partners, and affirms immigrants are central to the city's story.
Lee asks about limitations of MOIA's structure as a coordinating office rather than a standalone agency. Ali acknowledges limitations but highlights strengths of proximity to executive decision-making at City Hall, and calls for broader stakeholder conversation about potential transition.
Lee asks about regular interagency task force meetings. Ali describes the quarterly interagency task force bringing together all 46 city agencies, plus her own direct meetings with commissioners at key agencies serving immigrants.
Lee raises Stop AAPI Hate data showing sevenfold increase in ICE arrests of Asian community members and an ALDEF report on systemic gaps. Ali details language access challenges, with nearly 60% of Asian language speakers having limited English proficiency, and ethnic media partnerships.
Lee asks how local AAPI-serving CBOs can bridge the gap in culturally competent legal services. Ali highlights the legal technical mentorship program administered by Immigrant Justice Corps and capacity building initiatives for AAPI-led organizations.
Lee asks about the 19,800 hotline calls and how many were connected to legal services. Officials clarify the hotline doesn't collect PII but directs callers to legal support centers, which have served over 12,000 people. A targeted multilingual media campaign launches in mid-June.
Lee raises provider complaints about $15M owed and interest payments on private loans. Ali supports continued investment in contract processing capacity, notes last session's procurement reforms, and describes partnerships with MOX and the Mayor's Office of Nonprofit Services to address bottlenecks.
Lee asks about mental health services for immigrants post-detention. Ali describes coordination with DOHMH and Envision Freedom Fund, and preliminary research to assess mental health impacts of immigration detention and identify service gaps.
Lee asks about additional funding for wraparound services amid federal cuts. Ali says no additional executive plan funding but highlights the Haitian Response Initiative's 610 intakes as an example of trauma-informed care within MOIA's existing network.
Lee uplifts provider concerns about retaining immigration attorneys with higher salaries and the need for flexible funding to cover diverse services. She pauses to let colleagues ask questions.
Encarnación asks about the 10 new open positions and which agencies house them. Officials confirm the positions include the 3 prelim vacancies and are spread across the mayor's office, DCAS, DSS, and SBS, with total PS budget of about $5.3M across agencies.
Encarnación asks which MOIA programs are RFPed. Officials say no new RFPs for FY27, with focus on extending contracts to avoid service breaks. They describe evaluation metrics including number served, languages spoken, and types of services, varying across 11 initiatives.
Encarnación asks what the $33M added in the prelim will be used for. Ali explains it continues current programming while expanding key initiatives, with $14.6M directed to the Rapid Response Legal Collaborative and legal support centers for deportation defense, plus habeas project funding.
Lee asks about planning for potential federal clawbacks. Ali says city funding shields programs from direct federal clawbacks but MOIA tracks trickle-down effects. When asked about budget reserves for emergencies, Ali says she needs to circle back.
Lee asks about advocacy with ONA and state leaders. Ali describes coordinating with ONA on the family preparedness phone bank and ongoing partnership to prevent service gaps. Lee then asks about Rapid Response Legal Collaborative service numbers.
Officials report 383 students supported through KYR efforts, 90 individuals screened under expanded DOE scope with 50 receiving legal services in Q2-Q3, and 137 screenings through the main RLC contract. Lee notes the numbers seem low; Ali explains turnout challenges for events.
Lee asks who authored the EO 13 audit report and MOIA's role. Ali explains the Interagency Response Committee prepared it, chaired by the First Deputy Mayor with MOIA consultation. The audit found significant gaps in agency reporting on ICE interactions.
Lee asks about the significant gaps identified. Ali explains many interactions weren't reported due to ineffective tracking, incidents surfacing after reports were published, or guidance not requiring reporting of subpoenas and warrants. New guidance now requires over-inclusive reporting.
Lee asks about a recommendation to send a patrol executive to 911 calls about ICE presence. Ali says she needs to consult with NYPD and IRC partners for details on what a patrol executive is. Lee asks about agency compliance with posting policies online.
Before yielding to colleagues, Lee asks whether COLAs or rate increases can be addressed without new RFPs. Officials say they need to consult with their contracting agency and will follow up, as Lee notes this could be a way to increase provider funds.
Joseph asks about expanding the Haitian Response Initiative and partnering with council offices. Ali says providers remain the same at current funding. Joseph also asks about asylum seeker filing fees due May 29; officials describe funding allocated for fees and outreach to providers.
Brewer asks about Ruth Messenger's successful home health aide teaching program and whether it will expand. Ali describes a lengthy discussion with Messenger about scaling the model. Brewer also asks about asylum seeker population numbers and adult literacy funding.
Brewer asks about adult literacy cuts and English learning programs. Officials describe MOIA's English Language Support Centers with $500K per library system, the We Speak program for beginners, and the importance of English learning for economic mobility.
Avilés asks about hotline usage trends and whether increased referrals strain legal support centers. Officials describe a capacity tracker tool for real-time coordination, decreased call volume but increased call duration from 4 to 7 minutes reflecting complexity, and screening to route calls appropriately.
Avilés asks about MOIA's advocacy for the $20M Education for Integration and Equity proposal. Officials confirm they've received the proposal and been in touch with DYCD, with conversations ongoing. Avilés emphasizes the need for proactive planning against federal adult literacy cuts.
Avilés asks about MOIA's preparation for the 2030 census. Ali explains that ensuring a full count of immigrant New Yorkers requires long-term sustained groundwork, and that MOIA's language access and community partnership investments build essential infrastructure for census outreach.
Encarnación asks about family separation preparation resources and language availability. Officials note the flyer is available in 8 languages with Urdu translation underway, plus standby guardianship clinics, KYR trainings in schools, and the family preparedness phone bank.
Encarnación asks how MOIA measures compliance with Local Law 30 across agencies, noting a 2023 evaluation found over half of centers in violation. Ali describes oversight, technical assistance, the April convening, and a memo with Deputy Mayor Sue embedding language access as core government function.
Encarnación asks about protections for workers who live in NYC but work outside the city. Officials describe meeting with transnational worker advocates and the chief climate officer about heat and climate impacts on workers, showing innovative cross-jurisdiction coordination.
Encarnación asks about legal services funding for anti-harassment outreach with HPD and collaboration with the new Office of LGBTQIA Affairs. Ali describes meetings with Director Taylor Brown on implementing Local Law 73, assessing TGNC immigrant services, and developing a phased implementation plan.
Encarnación asks about MOIA's partnership with the new $2.8M Mayor's Office of Mass Engagement. Ali describes close communication, sharing information about immigrants, and partnering on outreach efforts, noting they're in the same building.
Lee asks about MOIA's involvement with the World Cup and encouraging exploration of immigrant neighborhoods. Ali describes the NYC Neighborhood Passport program launching June 11th, encouraging New Yorkers to explore five boroughs and collect artist-designed stamps from community organizations.
Lee thanks the Commissioner and team, reminds attendees about the June 10th public testimony date, and concludes the third day of hearings covering ACS, DYCD, and MOIA.