Schulman explains vote - health investments, Spider-Man Way, Far Rockaway trauma center

Schulman.

I'm disclosing on the record of the council proceedings that the office of the mayor of the city of New York is funded in the budget we are adopting.

My sibling is associated with that entity.

Permission to explain my vote.

Permission granted.

Thank you, Majority Leader.

Today I am proudly voting for one of the most robust and comprehensive budgets this council has passed in quite a while.

I want to thank and congratulate Speaker Julie-Menin for spearheading

a budget that reflects what we value as a city.

This budget makes important investments in our communities by providing housing for those who are homeless, tackling food insecurity,

enhancing our parks and libraries, supporting older adults, improving health and quality of life by keeping our neighborhoods safe and clean, and continuing to strengthen the programs New Yorkers rely on every day.

As chair of the Committee on Health, I'm especially pleased that this budget includes investments in the Spay-Nuda pilot initiative I introduced last year and provides for a much-needed pet pantry program.

I also want to thank the speaker for the $10 million investment in the Far Rockaway Trauma Center, something that is sorely needed.

We need a lot more, but this is a great start, and it hasn't been done before, so I want to thank her for that.

This year, I am privileged to have more than $2.2 million in discretionary funding to support local organizations in my district and more than $10 million in capital funding for...

To benefit my constituents, more details to follow on that, so stay tuned.

Thank you again to Speaker Menon, and special thanks to the Speaker's negotiating team, Miguelina, Jonathan, and Nathan, Finance Chair Linda Lee, the City Council Finance Division, my colleagues and my wonderful staff, led by my Chief of Staff Jonathan Boucher and Kevin McAlee,

my...

Budget director for their hard work throughout this budget process.

I also want to mention that I am, that I have a street name, co-naming for Spider-Man Way in Forest Hills for nearly six years.

65 years, Spider-Man has represented the very best of Queens.

And actually, believe it or not, there is a Parker family that did live at 20 Ingram Street.

So I'm very much looking forward to that.

And with that, I vote aye on all.

Thank you, Councilman.