Lee explains vote - thanks finance team by name

Lee.

Thank you.

So I'm disclosing for the record of the council proceeding that the New York City Department of Education is funded in the budget we are adopting, and my children are associated with that entity, and that Korean Community Services is funded in this budget we are adopting, and my husband is associated with that entity.

Permission to exclaim my vote?

Permission granted.

Thank you.

So I just want to say thank you so much to our speaker for fighting so hard and negotiating such a strong budget that includes so many wins that are historic, many of which my colleagues have already highlighted around CityFEP.

Special shout out to Councilmember Pierina Sanchez, as well as a lot of our colleagues who fought so hard to get that into the budget and negotiate it.

We still have a lot more work to do, but very thankful for homebound meals for our seniors, as well as a lot of the mental health programming that we know is important and keeps New Yorkers safe.

But I just really wanted to spend most of my time, well, before I get to that, and special shout out to

to all the advocates and providers who participated in all the roundtables, the rallies, the conversations with all of us members to really fight for and advocate a lot of their asks and needs and to guide us in that process.

And special shout out to Councilmember Pierina Sanchez, as well as a lot of our colleagues who fought so hard to get that into the budget and negotiate it.

We still have a lot more work to do, but very thankful for homebound meals for our seniors, as well as a lot of the mental health programming that we know is important and keeps New Yorkers safe.

But I wanted to really dedicate my time to recognizing some key people from our finance team that really did such an amazing, amazing job negotiating this budget and putting everything together.

But I just really wanted to spend most of my time, well, before I get to that, and special shout out to

So I'm just going to read all your names.

So finance chair Nathan Toth, managing director Jonathan Rosenberg, deputy directors Emra Adev, Chima Obesher, Paul Simone, and Isha Wright,

chief economist and assistant director Dilara Dimnikou, who always schools us on property taxes,

supervising economists Paul Sturm and Andrew Wilber, assistant directors Alia Ali, Julia Haramis, Florentine Kabor, Dan Krupp, Caitlin O'Hagan, James Reyes, and Jack Story.

Chief Counsel, Nicholas Connell.

Senior Counsel, Nadia Jean-Francois.

Council Committee, who always is my ride or die, who sits next to me and shares all his snacks during hearings, Brian Sarfo.

My Senior Advisor, Athena Say.

And many of the finance analysts, economists, and support staff who work behind the scenes.

And shout out to my district staff as well for holding the fort down.

And with that, I vote aye on all.

Thank you.