Dinowitz explains vote - delivering for working families on transit, housing, education
Council Member Dinowitz discloses CUNY association. He reflects on helping constituents at their worst moments and highlights budget deliveries: Fair Fares expansion, CityFEPs, NYC Kids Rise, restorative justice, mental health support, CUNY OmniCards, early childhood seats, and baselined parks funding. Votes aye on all.
Dinowitz.
I'm disclosing on the record of the council proceedings that City University of New York is funded in the budget we are adopting, and I am associated with that entity.
Permission to explain my vote?
Permission granted.
Thank you so much, Majority Leader.
Good evening.
Good evening.
Thank you, sir.
I have to, well, may I rise to explain my vote?
It's my time.
Your time has started.
I'll do what I want with that time.
I'm okay.
I'm okay.
No, it's not just this why I love my job.
I think our job is very special.
Like, every day we get to help people.
And the people who come into our office are very often coming in at their worst, right?
People who are at their wits end struggling just to get to their job on the bus, people on the verge
of eviction, and parents who are anxious and desperate about the success of their children and families who want their parks to be safe and clean.
And for those families, for those neighbors of ours, we demand the best from our government.
And today, we are delivering the best in our government.
So for those workers that
come into our office just trying to get to their job and do better for the city, we hear you.
And we're delivering an expansion of fair fares.
For the families on the brink of eviction, we hear you.
And we are delivering expanded city FEPS to keep you housed.
And for those parents who simply want their children to do better than they were ever able to do, we hear you.
And we are delivering New York City Kids Rise, $1,000 for every public school, kindergarten investments in restorative justice, mental health support, student success centers, OmniCards for CUNY students, early childhood seats, teacher training, and so much more.
And for those families who want those safe, clean parks, increased and baseline parks funding.
The delivery of these services in this budget is due in large part all of us working together under the leadership of Speaker Menning.
And I just want to thank you, Speaker Menning, for standing firm and delivering a budget that delivers for our constituents, to our finance chair, and to the entire finance staff.
Thank you so much.
I vote aye on this budget and on all the legislation.
Thank you.