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Q&A

Brewer questions CEC on language access and funding advocacy

New York City Council · Jun 22, 2026 · starts 1:17:15 · 45 sec

Brewer asks about language access request volume and whether CEC advocates for community board funding. Saeed says they receive occasional requests, and Salter notes boards' biggest frustration is lack of funding for language outreach. Saeed confirms funding advocacy is a different process outside CEC's role.

Gale A. Brewer

And the other question I have is, do you get a lot of requests for language?

Gale A. Brewer

Do you have to refer to MOIA quite a bit?

Gale A. Brewer

How does that work?

Gale A. Brewer

Because I've

Gale A. Brewer

Obviously, that would be good if you did.

Gale A. Brewer

I just didn't know.

Sarah Saeed

Yeah, I don't think we are getting a lot.

Sarah Saeed

We do get them occasionally.

Sarah Saeed

Benjamin, do you want to add?

Benjamin Salter

I mean, we get one or two a month of somebody asking for interpretation or translation services.

Gale A. Brewer

Yeah, we should be doing more because then that would bring more people into the community.

Benjamin Salter

I think that's one of the biggest frustrations that boards have is the lack of ability and funding to do that.

Gale A. Brewer

To do the outreach for that.

Gale A. Brewer

Okay.

Gale A. Brewer

And do you advocate for community boards to get more funding, or that would be something that would come out of a different process?

Gale A. Brewer

That would not be what CEC would do?

Sarah Saeed

It's a different process.

Gale A. Brewer

Different process.

Gale A. Brewer

Okay.