Council Member Dinowitz introduces resolutions on civic readiness seal, arts curriculum, and design-build threshold

Councilmember Dinowitz, followed by Caban.

Thank you, Mr.

Majority Leader.

You know, there's a few things that...

can be more important than our children and the education of our children.

But so often, the education of our children is measured on a very narrow scope of skills.

And so there are two resolutions that I'm introducing.

Resolution 620 calls upon the Department of Education to ensure that the seal of civic readiness is available to all New York City public high schools.

This seal recognizes students who demonstrate civic knowledge, skills, and engagement, not just through coursework, but through service learning, research projects, and community engagement.

This is the type of education that our students should be engaged in.

Robust education that is more than just about a test and that engages the community.

And ensuring that the seal is available at every public high school would give eligible students equal access to civic engagement.

And next, Resolution 621, co-sponsored by Council Members Brewer and Thomas Henry, call upon the state legislature to pass Senate Bill 6318, requiring arts and music curriculum in all New York City public high schools.

The arts are an essential part of a holistic education, and every student should have access to quality arts courses beyond art on a cart, which is what we hear about so many times in our schools.

And arts in and of themselves have value.

They are not just in service of advancing your English or your math skills.

And finally, Resolution 6318.

619, veering off the education for a bit, calls upon the state legislature and governor to amend the New York City Public Works Investment Act to lower the monetary threshold for utilizing design-build in construction projects.

This would allow for design-build construction.

It's a process where a single vendor both designs and builds a project.

It would allow for smaller city construction projects such as parks, prefabricated toilets.

This would make projects more efficient and cheaper, and government efficiency is something we so desperately need in our city.

Thank you, Mr.

Majority Leader.

Thank you.