Speaker Menon questions OMB on Office of Mass Engagement and PEU

Okay, in January 2026, with Executive Order 7, the mayor established the Office of Mass Engagement.

The existing public engagement unit, PEU, budgeted within HRA, was incorporated into this new office.

We would like to get a better understanding of the work of the Office of Mass Engagement and how specifically PEU will now operate.

So what is the total budget and headcount?

For the Office of Mass Engagement.

And I want to say that the PEU is an,

an entity that council members and community boards, I mean, they're sort of on the front lines of dealing with community outreach.

So we really under, this is why we really want to better understand these various functions.

So what is the total budget and headcount for OME in fiscal 2027 and in the out years?

So the total budget for the Office of Mass Engagement is $53 million,

and that includes in this executive budget $2.8 million for new funding for staff in the executive budget in 27 and out.

And as you noted, there are multiple offices that are included.

In there and so the additional funding would fund an additional 20 lines in the in the office.

Did you say 53 million for OME?

Overall budget for OME 53 million.

Okay.

But how much of OME's budget then is for PEU?

We can provide you a breakdown for all the different offices that are in there.

There's PEU, there's CEAU, there are...

You know what the other, there, look.

Okay, and what are the new office's responsibilities?

Well, I think that

The Community Assistance Unit, as has existed, as you know, connects government with communities and being able to inform New Yorkers and all communities about what services government provides, so on and so forth.

In an acute housing crisis as well, there's outreach to various communities to inform them about assistance in their housing needs, for example.

So these are the kinds of things that the office, even before there was the creation of Office of Mass Engagement, has existed to do.

And so there's a continuation of those efforts and really a ramp up of those efforts to reach New Yorkers and their communities.

So in the executive plan, we can see that 10.3 million in dedicated budget codes for PEU within HRA includes the 20 positions that you mentioned.

From conversations council finance staff has had with OMB, we understand there is additional funding and headcount for PEU that is not so clearly delineated in the budget.

Why is that?

So, Patrick, do you have the...

Excuse me.

PEU, I believe, exists within one or two budget structures within HRA.

So it's not that hidden or anything.

And I think PEU budget is approximately $24 million.

And we can provide those codes to your staff.

And the last question I have on this topic is what safeguards are in place to ensure that OME is not engaging in political work or other outreach?

That is not, that would be a conflict of interest.

Government offices cannot participate in political activities.

That is very clear from the very beginning.

And so employees are instructed as such.

And so whether it's through conflicts of interest board training, DOI training, employees understand what their roles and responsibilities are.

This is a government office, not a political operation.

Okay, and so all the employees have taken COIB training?

I know that I will get back to you to confirm who has taken it or not.

Okay.

Okay, I have more questions, but I'm going to turn it back over to Chair Lee, and I'll go on the second round.

Thank you so much.