Salaam explains vote - CityFEPs, Fair Fares, responsible negotiation

Salaam.

I'm just loading on the record of the council proceedings that the YMCA is funded in this budget that we are adopting and that my family and I are associated with that not-for-profit.

Permission to explain my vote.

Permission granted.

Thank you for the opportunity to share the pride that I feel for the efforts of my colleagues.

I want to thank the mayor, and I also want to thank our chair of finance, Linda Lee, and the entire council team.

But I want to especially thank our speaker, Julie-Menin.

Their hard work and dedication delivered a budget that puts New Yorkers first.

Their leadership helped secure a historic agreement to expand City FEPS, ending years of litigation, and creating a stronger, more sustainable program that will help keep more New Yorkers safely housed for years to come.

This budget also includes the largest, in fact, expansion of fare fares in the program's history, increasing, as has been said,

eligibility to 200% of the federal poverty level and providing an additional 340,000 New Yorkers with access to half-price subway and bus fares.

These accomplishments reflect the Council's leadership's ability to negotiate,

and responsibly, reaching agreements that are truly in the best interest of our city while delivering meaningful results.

For working class families.

Again, congratulations to our speaker, Julie-Menin, Chair Linda-Lee, and every single person involved in making this budget a success.

Thank you.

And I vote aye.

Thank you, Councilman.