Banks explains vote - NYCHA investment, anti-privatization, RAD/PACT concerns

Banks.

I'm disclosing on the record of the council proceeding that the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Juvenile Justice are funded in this budget and we are adopting and my brothers are associated with these entities.

Permission to explain my vote?

Permission granted.

Thank you, Majority Leader.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, to the leadership team and to the Finance Division.

Thank you for your tireless work.

To Mark, my colleagues, thank you for your tremendous work on this year's budget.

This year budgeted, as stated by the speaker earlier, delivered the largest package of investments secured in the city council history, both capital and expense.

It makes critical investments in addressing the ongoing affordability crisis here in New York City while expanding opportunity and improving the quality of life of all New Yorkers.

We expanded mental health services, strengthened affordable and supportive housing, and invested in preparing vacant NYCHA units for occupancy and increased support for older adults across our city.

And while these investments move our city forward, including steps to bring more NYCHA units back online, we must be honest that they do not yet meet the full scale of the need for facing public housing residents.

As we recognize this progress, we must also confront

where our city is still falling short.

For me, that begins with public housing.

For decades, NYCHA has suffered from chronic underinvestment, but let me be clear, the answers to this investment is not privatization.

The answer is investment.

Public housing deserves public investment, and public land must remain for public use.

This is why I will continue calling for an immediate moratorium on new RADPAC conversions until we fully evaluate their long-term impact on residents and their rights.

And instead, we must prioritize direct investment in traditional Section 9 housing by expanding comprehensive modernization program.

This is how we will repair and rehabilitate and modernize NYCHA while keeping it permanently public.

And when it's a community's future is at stake, residents deserve more than a presentation.

They deserve a voice.

Every night your resident should have the right in a formal democratic process to vote on whether or not they want to go rad pack.

Please tell us your vote, Councilmember.

Thank you.

Thank you, Majority Leader.

I vote aye on all.

Appreciate you.

Thank you.

Save section 8.

There was no sass in that, I promise.