Committee on Aging

Housekeeping and hearing opening

Council staff welcomes attendees to the joint hearing of the Committees on Aging, Disabilities, and Finance, and reminds everyone to silence phones and not approach the dais.

0:00:52 3 min 35 sec

Chair Zhuang opens hearing and outlines bills on agenda

Council Member Susan Zhuang introduces the oversight hearing on SCRIE and DRIE, thanks co-chairs Lee and Hanif, and summarizes bills including Intro 1011 on eviction disclosures, the pre-considered informational toolkit bill, Resolution 55A on automatic enrollment, Resolution 512 on benefit continuation, and Resolution 610A on full SCHE exemption.

0:04:27 1 min 34 sec

Chair Zhuang on affordability crisis facing older New Yorkers

Zhuang highlights DFTA's 2025 needs assessment finding one in four older adults lack stable housing, discusses rent burden on fixed incomes, and explains how SCRIE protects seniors from rent increases while providing property tax benefits to owners.

0:06:01 2 min 6 sec

Chair Zhuang on SCRIE awareness gaps and enrollment barriers

Zhuang notes many eligible older New Yorkers are unaware of SCRIE, cites burdensome documentation requirements and income eligibility ceilings as drivers of under-enrollment, and outlines goals for understanding agency outreach across cultural, linguistic, and disability communities.

0:08:07 2 min 48 sec

Chair Zhuang on state legislative priorities and resolutions

Zhuang presents Resolution 431 on property tax incentives for senior housing, Resolution 470 on expanding DRIE household eligibility, and Resolution 471 on shifting SCHE income verification to state tax department, then thanks committee staff and recognizes attending colleagues.

0:10:55 2 min 42 sec

Chair Lee on Finance Committee bills and hearing purpose

Council Member Linda Lee outlines Finance Committee bills including Intro 307 on universal SCRIE/DRIE applications, Intro 934 on SCHE income categories, Intro 978A on income limit increases, Intro 1010 on SCHE/DHE thresholds, Intro 1033 on notice requirements, and the pre-considered training bill, then discusses the importance of rent freeze programs for older adults and people with disabilities.

0:13:38 2 min 5 sec

Chair Lee on agency collaboration and staff acknowledgments

Lee emphasizes the need to identify persistent barriers to program access, references public charge concerns, and thanks Finance Committee staff and ASL interpreters before passing the microphone to Chair Hanif.

0:15:42 1 min 24 sec

Chair Hanif on DRIE program and disability housing crisis

Council Member Shahana Hanif describes the DRIE program's purpose, notes nearly one in six New Yorkers has a disability, and explains how DRIE freezes rent for low-income tenants with disabilities through property tax credits to owners.

0:17:07 1 min 7 sec

Chair Hanif on DRIE enrollment decline and borough disparities

Hanif details DRIE enrollment falling from 12,215 households in 2019 to 11,012 in 2024, notes 42% enrollment among eligible households down from 56%, and highlights the Bronx as the only borough with declining DRIE enrollment, with Morrisania and East Tremont having under 25% enrollment.

0:18:14 41 sec

Chair Hanif on affordability gaps for enrolled DRIE recipients

Hanif reports the median DRIE recipient household income is $16,671 with tenants paying 62% of income toward frozen rent, and 16% have frozen rent exceeding their entire household income, arguing freezing rent at unaffordable levels defeats the program's purpose.

0:18:55 1 min 7 sec

Chair Hanif on city outreach steps and constituent case

Hanif acknowledges DOF's SCRIE/DRIE ombudspersons, PEU's rent freeze outreach, and MOPD's housing access documentation, then shares a constituent case involving months-long SCRIE renewal delays that nearly depleted a senior's Social Security.

0:20:01 1 min 39 sec

Chair Hanif on DRIE age demographics and outreach gaps

Hanif emphasizes DRIE is not an older adult program with eligibility starting at 18 and average recipient age of 64, notes working-age disabled tenants won't see themselves in senior-focused outreach, and asks about targeted outreach before thanking staff and colleagues.

0:21:41 1 min 26 sec

CM Marte on SCRIE/DRIE/SCHE/DHE importance and Intro 1010

Council Member Christopher Marte thanks committee chairs and advocates, describes the programs as critical anti-displacement tools, and explains Intro 1010 which implements the state's increased income eligibility to $75,000 for SCHE and DHE, giving tens of thousands more seniors and disabled homeowners access to tax breaks.

0:23:07 1 min 55 sec

CM Marte on Intro 307 universal SCRIE application portal

Marte details how Mitchell-Lama tenants must use HPD's paper-only SCRIE process while other tenants use DOF's online system, causing confusion and delays, and explains Intro 307 would create a single universal online application and recertification portal regardless of agency.

0:25:02 1 min 52 sec

CM Cabán on Resolution 55 for automatic SCRIE enrollment

Council Member Tiffany Cabán notes over 1.5 million seniors live in the city with many on fixed incomes, shares her experience as a law student helping with SCRIE/DRIE applications, and urges passage of Resolution 55 calling on the state to authorize automatic enrollment for eligible seniors.

0:26:54 3 min 7 sec

CM Banks on agency training and rent freeze outreach bill

Council Member Chris Banks explains his pre-considered bill requiring DOF to provide annual SCRIE/DRIE training to designated personnel at city agencies serving older adults and people with disabilities, covering eligibility, applications, renewals, accommodations, and referrals, with annual reporting to the Council.

0:30:01 3 min

CM Louis on Intro 978A raising income threshold to $75,000

Council Member Farah Louis presents Intro 978A to increase the SCRIE/DRIE income ceiling from $50,000 to $75,000 retroactive to July 1, 2026, citing DOF data showing 67,677 enrolled versus 158,214 eligible households, and noting median rent-to-income ratios of 56% for SCRIE and 62% for DRIE recipients.

0:33:01 3 min 4 sec

Clement So testifies on deaf seniors' barriers to DRIE

Representing the Metropolitan Asian Deaf Association, Clement So describes how deaf seniors face systemic barriers including lack of ASL-accessible eligibility notices, phone-based administrative systems, and tight recertification timelines, and urges mandatory accessible notices, direct ASL video appointments at DOF, and funded community-based navigation support.

0:36:06 2 min 41 sec

Administration oath administration

Council staff administers the oath to administration witnesses including Commissioner Nisha Agarwal, Ryan Murray, Alika Amprey-Samuel, Julie Walpert, and Jeffrey Shear from DOF, DFTA, HPD, and MOPD.

0:38:47 3 min 19 sec

DOF testimony on Rent Freeze program overview and statistics

First Deputy Commissioner Jeffrey Shear introduces agency representatives and explains the SCRIE and DRIE programs, detailing how DOF establishes frozen rent with property tax credits for owners, and reports 67,677 households served in 2024 including 50,071 DOF-SCRIE, 6,594 HPD-SCRIE, and 11,012 DRIE households.

0:42:06 1 min 35 sec

DOF testimony on outreach and administrative improvements

Shear describes DOF's outreach through senior center events, rent freeze clinics with elected officials, PEU's Benefits on Your Block initiative, targeted outreach to non-renewing participants, online application and renewal options, and a streamlined single application replacing separate initial and renewal forms.

0:43:41 1 min 30 sec

DOF testimony supporting Intro 978A income limit increase

Shear expresses DOF support for Intro 978A implementing the state's income ceiling increase to $75,000, projecting approximately 5,000 additional households and estimating fiscal impacts of $4.5 million in year one, $8.6 million in year two, and $13 million in year three.

0:45:12 1 min 12 sec

DOF testimony on Intro 307 universal application position

Shear notes DOF supports the objective of reducing administrative barriers but explains that the DOF-HPD division involves different workflows and payment mechanisms, requiring substantial technical upgrades, and welcomes working with the Council and HPD on implementation.

0:46:24 1 min 22 sec

DOF testimony on SCHE and DHE homeowner exemption programs

Shear describes the Senior Citizens Homeowners Exemption and Disabled Homeowners Exemption programs, reporting 50,912 SCHE exemptions with $190.9 million tax expenditure and 2,500 DHE exemptions with $8.5 million expenditure in fiscal year 2026.

0:47:46 2 min 17 sec

DOF testimony on Intros 1010, 934, 1033, and pre-considered 2458

Shear discusses Intros 1010 and 934 on increasing SCHE benefits and income caps, noting DOF support but deferring positions pending budget clarity for fiscal year 2028, and addresses Intro 1033 on discretionary notice requirements and pre-considered 2458 on annual training, questioning whether mandating annual training is necessary given existing practice.

0:50:03 1 min 54 sec

Zhuang asks DFTA about SCRIE referral process and numbers

Zhuang questions Ryan Murray of DFTA on how the agency identifies and refers SCRIE-eligible older adults, with Murray reporting 1,752 individuals enrolled through older adult centers and 2,340 through case management programs, and describing outreach through town halls and PEU enrollment days.

0:51:57 1 min 1 sec

Zhuang asks about language access and culturally relevant outreach

Zhuang asks about language services at centers, and Murray explains centers are required to provide culturally and linguistically relevant services with staff speaking community languages including Spanish and Chinese.

0:52:58 20 sec

Zhuang asks about outreach to deaf community

Zhuang asks whether DFTA reaches out to the deaf community like Mr. So's organization, and Murray acknowledges more can be done and welcomes the opportunity to work with the organization.

0:53:17 1 min 5 sec

Zhuang asks about dedicated SCRIE outreach staff

Zhuang asks how many staff are dedicated to SCRIE outreach, and Murray explains there is no dedicated SCRIE staff but at least 308 case assistance individuals across centers and 21+ case management programs provide benefit information and application help.

0:54:23 56 sec

Zhuang asks about outreach beyond senior centers

Zhuang presses on whether DFTA has outreach methods beyond senior centers, and Murray describes case management agencies serving over 30,000 homebound individuals, social media channels, and the Aging Connect call line for referrals.

0:55:18 1 min 20 sec

Zhuang asks about culturally specific platforms like WeChat

Zhuang asks whether DFTA uses culturally sensitive platforms like WeChat or KakaoTalk, notes she has never seen SCRIE outreach on WeChat despite being active there, and urges outreach through ethnic newspapers and language-specific platforms to reach seniors who don't use Facebook or Instagram.

0:56:38 42 sec

Zhuang asks about enrollment success rate and hotline outreach

Zhuang asks about the percentage of successful enrollments from DFTA referrals and whether DFTA uses a hotline, with Murray confirming enrolled numbers represent successful enrollments and that Aging Connect receives housing and benefits calls as top categories.

0:57:20 1 min 16 sec

Zhuang asks about non-internet seniors and homebound outreach

Zhuang asks how DFTA ensures seniors without internet or technology skills aren't left behind, and how homebound seniors are reached, with Murray explaining boots-on-the-ground work at centers and case management agencies conducting intake and screening for housing supports through home visits.

0:58:36 53 sec

Zhuang asks about Meals on Wheels partnership for outreach

Zhuang asks whether DFTA partners with Meals on Wheels to deliver SCRIE information during meal deliveries, and Murray explains case management agencies handle home visits and applications, while home-delivered meals can also disseminate information.

0:59:28 59 sec

Zhuang asks about Cabinet for Older New Yorkers and SCRIE enrollment

Zhuang asks whether the Cabinet for Older New Yorkers works on SCRIE enrollment, and Murray describes two initiatives: PEU outreach and training Adult Protective Services staff to complete applications for the most vulnerable individuals.

1:00:28 41 sec

Zhuang asks about cabinet meeting frequency and publicizing agenda

Zhuang questions the cabinet meeting schedule, noting a gap from a couple months ago to December, and Murray corrects that liaison meetings are monthly with the last executive cabinet meeting June 25th and the next on September 28th, and offers to follow up on publicizing agendas.

1:01:09 2 min 18 sec

DOF adds info on outreach unit application numbers

Jeffrey Shear adds that DOF's outreach unit, which conducts over 220 events annually, received over 1,200 SCRIE/DRIE applications in fiscal year 2026, up from 900 in fiscal year 2024, often completing applications directly with citizens at events.

1:03:27 1 min 12 sec

Hanif asks about ethnic media outreach budget and strategy

Hanif asks whether agencies use dedicated ethnic media budgets for outreach, and Shear says applications are available in all required languages online but needs to follow up on foreign language media spending, while Hanif offers to recommend ethnic media outlets.

1:04:39 2 min 19 sec

Hanif asks about DFTA outreach beyond OAC network

Hanif asks how DFTA reaches older adults outside the older adult center network, and Murray discusses community partnerships, subway campaigns on ageism and caregiving, and plans to proactively reach people entering their 60s.

1:06:58 1 min 7 sec

Hanif asks about mass engagement and budget allocation

Hanif asks about coordination with the Office of Mass Engagement and budget allocated for older adult outreach, with Murray confirming PEU is part of that office, and Shear offering to follow up on budget data.

1:08:05 1 min 41 sec

Hanif asks about SCRIE/DRIE renewal rates and lapses

Hanif asks about renewal rates and how many benefits lapsed for non-renewal between 2023 and 2025, and Shear reports a 95% renewal rate maintained through two letter reminders and four email reminders, with 70% of non-renewals due to late or missed deadlines.

1:09:46 2 min 11 sec

Hanif asks about reasons for non-renewal and follow-up

Hanif asks about the most common reasons for missed deadlines, and Shear explains DOF doesn't hear from most non-renewing participants who may have moved, but sends reminders before and after deadlines with a grace period, and works with PEU on targeted outreach.

1:11:56 1 min 3 sec

Hanif asks about codifying automatic renewals

Hanif asks whether DOF would support codifying automatic renewals to reduce lapses, and Shear explains current law doesn't authorize automatic renewals but DOF has created a short form for five-time renewers, and is willing to have conversations about automatic renewal if state law changes.

1:12:59 1 min 23 sec

Hanif asks about disability-related extension requests

Hanif asks how many disability-related reasonable accommodation requests were received, granted, and denied, and Shear reports 190 SCRIE requests in FY25 with 3 denied and 202 in FY26 with 2 denied, plus 41 DRI requests in FY25 with 2 denied and 72 in FY26 with 0 denied.

1:14:22 3 min 19 sec

Hanif asks about DRI benefit takeover denials

Hanif asks how many DRI benefit takeover applications were denied because a surviving member wasn't listed on prior applications, and Shear reports none, as DOF changed its policy in fiscal year 2022 to no longer deny for that reason.

1:17:41 1 min 27 sec

Hanif asks about temporary income exceedance data

Hanif asks how many benefits ended because household income temporarily exceeded $50,000 and how many had frozen rent restored, with Shear reporting SCRIE losses of 27 in FY24, 17 in FY25, and 8 in FY26, and DRI losses of 2, 1, and 1 respectively, promising to follow up on restoration data.

1:19:08 2 min 54 sec

Hanif asks about eligibility estimates by borough

Hanif requests updated eligibility estimates for FY26-27 by borough, and Shear provides 2023-based estimates: 40,000 Manhattan, 37,000 Brooklyn, 30,000 Bronx, 27,000 Queens, and 1,400 Staten Island, noting methodology limitations that tend to overstate eligibility.

1:22:02 1 min 29 sec

Hanif asks about enrollment decline factors

Hanif asks whether SCRIE and DRIE enrollment declines have different causes, and Shear attributes declines primarily to COVID-related deaths and people moving out of the city, noting a slight 0.8% enrollment increase in 2024.

1:23:31 1 min 32 sec

Hanif asks about immigration status impact on enrollment

Hanif raises concerns that public charge fears and immigration policy changes may be driving enrollment declines among immigrant seniors, and asks whether DOF tracks this, with Shear noting DOF doesn't ask immigration status but will look into the issue with community partners.

1:25:02 4 min 25 sec

Lee asks MOPD about DRIE outreach and enrollment process

Lee asks Commissioner Agarwal how MOPD participates in DRIE outreach, and Agarwal describes website information, constituent referrals through tabling and presentations, housing resource guidelines, and referrals to DOF's Disability Service Facilitator and PEU's Rent Freeze team, noting plans to enhance outreach including home access community engagement.

1:29:28 1 min 41 sec

Lee and Zhuang ask MOPD about referral numbers and DOF relationship

Lee asks about MOPD referral numbers, and Agarwal explains MOPD doesn't do enrollment but refers to DOF, receiving about 500 constituent calls per month mostly housing-related. Zhuang asks about the DOF-MOPD relationship, and Agarwal describes outreach collaboration and referrals for both DRIE and SCRIE.

1:31:09 1 min 46 sec

Zhuang asks MOPD about data tracking and call volume

Zhuang asks how MOPD tracks constituent issue areas and call data, and Agarwal explains they collect simple data on whether callers need housing, employment, or other services, with two staff handling calls and emails including one seconded from 311.

1:32:55 29 sec

Zhuang asks MOPD about caregiver-headed households

Zhuang asks whether MOPD has data on or conducts outreach to caregiver-headed households with adult children with disabilities, and Agarwal says MOPD doesn't have such data but calls it a great idea for targeted outreach.

1:33:24 48 sec

Zhuang asks MOPD about working-age disabled outreach gaps

Zhuang asks whether MOPD identifies enrollment gaps among working-age disabled tenants not reached by older adult outreach, and Agarwal acknowledges the need to expand outreach to younger disability populations and close that gap.

1:34:12 2 min 27 sec

Zhuang asks MOPD about call staffing and office size

Zhuang asks how many staff answer phones at MOPD and the total office size, and Agarwal reports two people handle calls and emails, with about 20 total staff at MOPD, and notes they may need another 311-seconded person due to call volume.

1:36:39 47 sec

Zhuang asks DOF about outreach staff and application ratios

Zhuang asks DOF about full-time outreach staff numbers and the ratio of staff to approved applications, and Shear says he doesn't have the information but will follow up.

1:37:26 2 min 21 sec

Zhuang asks about disabilities-focused outreach spaces

Zhuang asks what specific disabilities-focused spaces the city uses for DRIE outreach, mentioning CUNY campuses, and Agarwal describes a town hall at Tanya Towers for deaf and deafblind residents, while Shear says DOF works with community-based organizations but doesn't have the list and will follow up.

1:39:47 1 min

Zhuang asks about DRIE outreach events and effectiveness

Zhuang presses for details on outreach events, asking what events took place last month and whether there are recurring events, and Shear describes events with council members, elected officials, and CBOs, plus street outreach in heavily trafficked areas, confirming they are effective.

1:40:46 3 min 11 sec

Zhuang asks about Brewer's monthly clinic model and expansion

Shear mentions a monthly SCRIE clinic with Council Member Brewer, and Zhuang asks whether similar clinics exist with other members, praising the model as a place of trust and urging expansion to all 50 council members. Shear confirms DOF wants to work with all members and sent emails to every elected official in August.

1:43:57 48 sec

Zhuang asks about DRIE age-skewed enrollment and outreach budget

Zhuang asks whether there's a plan to address DRIE enrollment skewing older when eligibility starts at 18, and Shear says DOF doesn't limit outreach by age. Zhuang then asks about the outreach budget, and Shear says he needs to follow up.

1:44:45 3 min 30 sec

Brewer praises DOF clinics and asks about Mitchell-Lama SCRIE

Brewer praises DOF's monthly clinics and volunteer assistance, noting the income increase from $50,000 to $75,000 will require significant hand-holding. She asks about Mitchell-Lama SCRIE/DRIE, and HPD's Alika Amprey-Samuel describes targeted outreach including workshops, flyering, and weekend visits to buildings with proposed increases, noting 6,187 enrolled households and some with Section 8.

1:48:15 1 min 57 sec

Brewer asks about memory loss and recertification challenges

Brewer raises concerns about older adults forgetting to re-register for SCRIE due to memory loss and asks for solutions, and Shear describes pre-populated forms, multiple reminders, and reasonable accommodations designed for people with memory loss, with Brewer urging further conversation on the issue.

1:50:12 1 min 15 sec

Zhuang asks about expanding clinics to all council members

Zhuang notes her office sees 7,000 people annually and urges DOF to offer workshops in all council member offices, and Shear confirms DOF wants to work with every member and sent outreach emails to all elected officials in August.

1:51:27 1 min 53 sec

Zhuang reads Brooks-Powers question on SCHE estimates

Zhuang reads a question from Council Member Brooks-Powers about how many additional homeowners could benefit from raising the SCHE/DHE income ceiling to $75,000, and Shear estimates roughly 5,000 households citywide but doesn't have borough breakdowns.

1:53:20 58 sec

Zhuang asks about NYCHA and Section 8 exclusion from rent freeze

Zhuang asks whether there are plans to address seniors in NYCHA or with Section 8 vouchers who are excluded from rent freeze programs, and Shear explains the state legislation only changes the income cap and doesn't alter basic eligibility guidelines.

1:54:18 2 min 20 sec

Zhuang asks about consolidated intake and Access NYC integration

Zhuang asks whether there is a single consolidated public-facing intake point like Access NYC that flags SCRIE/DRIE eligibility alongside other benefits, and Shear describes DOF's online eligibility tool and application portal, noting under 20% of applications are online and many seniors prefer paper.

1:56:38 1 min 35 sec

Zhuang asks about state vs city implementation and prior legislation impact

Zhuang asks about the responsibility split between DOF and state DHCR and whether prior council legislation expanding income limits produced projected enrollment increases, with Shear noting no confusion with DHCR and attributing enrollment declines to pandemic factors rather than legislation.

1:58:13 1 min 8 sec

Zhuang asks about IT improvements and cross-agency data sharing

Zhuang asks what IT improvements could reduce lapses and whether funding was requested, and whether there's a cross-agency system that flags SCRIE/DRIE eligibility when seniors apply for other benefits, with Shear noting DOF maintains a dedicated rent freeze portal and Agarwal offering to follow up on cross-agency integration.

1:59:21 39 sec

Aldebol asks about joint applications with SNAP benefits

Council Member Shirley Aldebol asks whether there could be a joint application process for SNAP and housing benefits, noting providers frequently hear this request from constituents.

2:00:00 3 min 30 sec

Lee discusses AI and cross-agency data sharing for applications

Lee raises the idea of using AI and cross-agency data sharing to identify people falling through the cracks, comparing it to a common app for benefits, and Shear expresses DOF's interest in joining those conversations, acknowledging the time tax on beneficiaries and providers from multiple forms.

2:03:30 43 sec

Lee asks about public data reporting on SCRIE/DRIE

Lee asks whether DOF publishes enrollment, denial, and utilization data publicly, and Shear confirms the data is available and will be shared directly with the Council.

2:04:13 1 min 33 sec

Lee asks about tax expenditure figures for SCRIE/DRIE

Lee asks about annual tax expenditures, and Shear reports $178 million in FY26, $214 million projected for FY27, and $243 million projected for FY28, representing 20% and 14% growth respectively, based on OMB's June 2026 plan.

2:05:46 1 min 15 sec

Lee asks about RGB 0% rent adjustment impact

Lee asks about the projected effect of the Rent Guidelines Board's 0% adjustment on SCRIE/DRIE enrollment, and Shear says DOF hasn't done that specific analysis but notes 0% is better for the public and doesn't change the need for outreach.

2:07:01 1 min 16 sec

Lee asks about $44 million cost breakdown for income limit increase

Lee asks about the $44 million estimated cost of raising SCRIE/DRIE income limits over FY27-30, and Shear confirms the estimate hasn't changed since the state budget, with 82% ($36 million) attributable to SCRIE and 18% ($8 million) to DRIE.

2:08:16 2 min 7 sec

Hanif asks about DOF training to other city agencies

Hanif asks whether DOF provides SCRIE/DRIE training to other agencies, what topics are covered, and who facilitates, and Shear confirms training is provided to DFTA, MOPD, ACS, and HRA staff on eligibility and application processes, conducted by outreach unit and taxpayer advocate staff on an as-needed basis.

2:10:23 2 min 45 sec

Hanif asks about Bronx DRIE enrollment decline analysis

Hanif asks what analysis capacity DOF has to examine enrollment decline causes, particularly in the Bronx, and Shear provides detailed breakdown showing deaths accounted for 56% of the 1,203 decline, non-renewals 225, moves 250, and 23 transfers to SCRIE, noting DOF loses contact with those who leave.

2:13:08 58 sec

Hanif asks about DRI recipient age breakdown

Hanif asks how many DRI recipients are 62 or older, and Shear reports 6,729, offering to provide a breakdown of younger recipients as well.

2:14:07 1 min 27 sec

Hanif asks about immigrant and LEP community outreach

Hanif asks how DOF reaches immigrant and limited English proficient communities, and Shear describes translated forms on the website, language translation services at five DOF business centers used about 120 times per month, and work with community-based organizations.

2:15:34 2 min 57 sec

Hanif asks about DOF business centers and in-person assistance

Hanif asks where the five DOF business centers are located and whether applicants can walk in for application help, and Shear confirms one per borough with the Manhattan center on John Street having a dedicated exemption walk-in unit, while all centers provide translation services and application assistance.

2:18:31 44 sec

Hanif asks about how to find outreach events

Hanif asks about the best way for the public to find out about DOF outreach events, and Shear says DOF contacts council members directly about events.

2:19:15 2 min 3 sec

Zhuang closes Q&A and transitions to public testimony

Zhuang thanks agency representatives, emphasizes shared goals of serving seniors and disabled communities, and announces the transition to public testimony.

2:21:18 2 min 31 sec

Public testimony instructions and first panel called

Zhuang reads public testimony rules including two-minute limits, no recording at the witness table, and written testimony submission procedures, then calls the first panel: Lloyd Feng, Molly Krakowski, Irak Shehansky-Rivas, and Ariel Hirsch.

2:23:50 1 min 55 sec

Lloyd Feng testifies for AARP supporting Intro 978

Lloyd Feng of AARP New York, representing 750,000 city members, supports raising the SCRIE/DRIE income threshold from $50,000 to $75,000, citing a 2025 report showing 41% increase in older adults in poverty and 250,000 older New Yorkers below the poverty line.

2:25:45 2 min 16 sec

Molly Krakowski testifies for JASA on implementation priorities

Molly Krakowski of JASA, serving 40,000 older adults, supports expanding SCRIE/DRIE eligibility and urges robust multilingual outreach, requiring housing providers to post eligibility information, and proactively reaching out to those previously denied for exceeding $50,000 income.

2:28:01 1 min 44 sec

Irak Shehansky-Rivas testifies for NYSAFA supporting bills

Irak Shehansky-Rivas of the New York State Association for Affordable Housing supports Intros 307, 934, 978A, 1010, and 1033, and Resolutions 55, 470, 512, and 431, urging adequate agency staffing and resources to prevent eligible New Yorkers from waiting for relief.

2:29:46 2 min 16 sec

Ariel Hirsch testifies for UHAB on HDFC and Mitchell-Lama impacts

Ariel Hirsch of UHAB urges passage of the full suite of bills, focusing on Intro 978A and Intro 307's impacts on HDFC and Mitchell-Lama cooperatives, citing cases of seniors waiting months for SCRIE approval through HPD's paper-only process and language barriers in documentation requirements.

2:32:02 1 min 58 sec

Lee responds to first public testimony panel

Lee thanks panelists, notes agency staff are still present taking notes, emphasizes outreach and language barriers as key concerns, and highlights the discovery that only one HPD staff member processes HDFC SCRIE applications as a staffing issue to address.

2:34:00 2 min 10 sec

Katrina Toma testifies for Legal Services NYC on income threshold

Katrina Toma of Legal Services NYC reports assisting nearly 1,200 families with SCRIE/DRIE from 2023-2025 and over 300 in 2026, noting many clients are ineligible due to the $50,000 cap and that household income rules pressure families to split up to qualify.

2:36:10 2 min 41 sec

Elizabeth Fox testifies on eviction cases and income limit gap

Elizabeth Fox of Brooklyn Legal Services shares a client case where a household earning $52,000 annually—$2,000 over the limit—couldn't freeze their rent despite being on fixed incomes and facing retirement, arguing expanded eligibility would prevent eviction and displacement.

2:38:51 1 min 21 sec

Solomon Smart testifies for Bronx Works supporting bills

Solomon Smart of Bronx Works supports Intro 978A and Resolution 55, citing data showing SCRIE/DRIE recipients save $176-$191 monthly over 5-10 years, and noting Bronx Works has served older adults since 1972.

2:40:12 2 min 9 sec

Janine Cahill-Jackson testifies on 82-year-old client facing eviction

Janine Cahill-Jackson of the Legal Aid Society shares a case of an 82-year-old Bronx tenant $3,000 over the income limit and facing eviction after heart surgery, who cried upon learning about the proposed income threshold increase, and urges passage of the bills.

2:42:21 4 min 35 sec

Jean Stevens testifies for Volunteers of Legal Service

Jean Stevens of VOLS strongly supports Intros 307, 978A, and Resolutions 55 and 512, describing their rent freeze clinics and hotline, and arguing automatic enrollment, universal applications, and benefit restoration after temporary income increases would have immediate impact on the 57% of eligible New Yorkers who remain unenrolled.

2:46:57 2 min 18 sec

Suzanne Duque testifies on FDNY EMS community work

Suzanne Duque of FDNY EMS Be Heard office describes EMS workers' role in supporting vulnerable New Yorkers, their exposure to hazards, and the challenges of choosing between overtime and family needs on low wages.

2:49:15 8 min 32 sec

David Cook testifies for EMS PAC on staffing and pay crisis

David Cook of EMS PAC, an FDNY paramedic and lieutenant, describes critical ambulance shortages with 10-30 minute response times, low pay driving mass exodus from the field, EMS workers considering striking, and calls on the City Council to address the emergency staffing crisis, noting $50 million in state EMS funding was redirected to firefighters.

2:57:47 2 min 8 sec

Walter Adler testifies on EMS solidarity with vulnerable New Yorkers

Walter Adler, a 23-year paramedic, expresses EMS support for all legislation benefiting elderly and disabled New Yorkers, explains EMS workers came to the hearing because only one or two committee meetings per year address EMS issues, and frames EMS as allies in fighting for affordable housing and vulnerable populations.

2:59:55 3 min 4 sec

Christian Bear Lopez testifies on EMS response times and budget cuts

Christian Bear Lopez, a Queens paramedic living in Chair Lee's district, describes transporting four critically ill patients who all waited 30 minutes for ambulances, cites a $3 million FDNY EMS budget cut, and notes EMTs start at $18/hour while food delivery pays more, demanding council action on the staffing crisis.

3:03:00 2 min 42 sec

Michael O'Connor testifies on private sector EMS pay and conditions

Michael O'Connor, a private sector EMT for eight years, describes starting wages of $20.50/hour, mandatory overtime shifts, and having to spend $60 on taxis after being mandated, earning $20 less than the additional hours paid, illustrating the affordability crisis facing EMS workers.

3:05:42 2 min 13 sec

Nicholas Mosley testifies on FDNY EMT pay and living conditions

Nicholas Mosley, an FDNY EMT, describes earning $12/hour after pension deductions for 90-hour pay periods, knowing 12-year EMTs still living with parents, and single mothers working overtime plus weekend gigs just to scrape by, questioning whether he's to blame for staying in a job with insulting pay.

3:07:54 1 min 51 sec

Omar Muhammad testifies calling for independent EMS department

Omar Muhammad, a former five-year first responder, notes medical emergencies drive 70% of FDNY runs but EMS receives barely 20% of the budget, and calls on the City Council to create an independent Department of EMS with full pay parity and dedicated budget control.

3:09:45 2 min 4 sec

Alex Cardoza testifies on EMS system failures and mass exodus

Alex Cardoza, a NYC paramedic, describes 6,000 daily calls becoming the norm, units sent across boroughs, 30-minute to two-hour response times, and a mass exodus from EMS, noting the recent budget increased FDNY overall but decreased the EMS division specifically.

3:11:49 3 min 11 sec

Hanif and Lee respond to EMS worker testimonies

Hanif acknowledges the urgency of the EMS crisis, shares frustration about the lack of dedicated hearings, and offers to meet with workers. Lee references the May executive budget hearing where EMS pay parity was discussed, notes her visit to the Bay Terrace training site, and commits to continuing the fight for EMS salary increases.

3:15:00 4 min 34 sec

Manhattan BP Hoylman-Sigal testifies supporting Intro 978 and related bills

Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal thanks the council for the hearing, notes Manhattan has the largest share of SCRIE/DRIE recipients, cites average rents reaching $6,650, and urges passage of Intro 978, Council Member Cabán's resolution on automatic enrollment, and Intro 307 on universal applications.

3:19:35 2 min 19 sec

Lex Atham Singh testifies for Access Justice Brooklyn

Lex Atham Singh of Access Justice Brooklyn supports Intro 978A, noting the $50,000 threshold hasn't been updated since 2014 while the median cost of living for two older adults exceeds $90,000, and shares stories of older adults at risk of displacement from communities they've lived in for decades.

3:21:54 2 min 1 sec

Brenda Irizarry testifies as Bronx tenant supporting income cap increase

Brenda Irizarry, a Bronx tenant since 1982 and member of Tenants and Neighbors and CASA, supports raising the SCRIE/DRIE income cap to $75,000, sharing that she's currently ineligible but fears future MCI rent increases in her 100-year-old building could make her unable to afford rent.

3:23:55 2 min 18 sec

Rabia Khalid testifies for APNA Community Services on enrollment barriers

Rabia Khalid of APNA Community Services, serving South Asian Muslim immigrant communities, describes how limited English proficiency, digital literacy barriers, and complex household structures compound enrollment challenges, and urges meaningful multilingual navigation support, reduced documentation burdens, and formal roles for community-based organizations.

3:26:12 1 min 57 sec

Wynne Perry-Asami testifies for Goddard Riverside

Wynne Perry-Asami of Goddard Riverside, serving 22,000 New Yorkers, shares a story of a 71-year-old actress who lost income during the pandemic, fell into arrears, and was helped over five years to enroll in SCRIE, allowing her to remain in her home, and urges passage of Intros 978, 1010, and 307 with increased outreach funding.

3:28:10 3 min 46 sec

William Jourdain testifies for Woodside on the Move

William Jourdain of Woodside on the Move, serving Queens for 50 years, supports raising the income threshold and emphasizes that expanding eligibility means little if eligible New Yorkers never enroll, sharing that his own mother benefits from Council Member Aldebol's constituent services but most seniors lack such family support.

3:31:56 3 min 45 sec

Brianna McKinney testifies for Project Guardianship

Brianna McKinney of Project Guardianship, providing Article 81 guardianship services, supports Intros 978A and 1010 and Resolution 431, explaining how COLA increases can push clients over the income threshold and trigger cascading benefit losses that lead to displacement into more restrictive settings.

3:35:41 2 min 15 sec

Marcus Jackson testifies for Encore Community Services

Marcus Jackson of Encore Community Services, supporting older New Yorkers for nearly 50 years, supports Intros 307 and 978A, emphasizing that housing affordability is inseparable from aging in place and urging sustained community outreach funding for older adult centers, case management programs, and trusted CBOs.

3:37:57 2 min 18 sec

Caitlin Downing testifies for SPOP on mental health and housing

Caitlin Downing of SPOP, the only agency exclusively dedicated to community-based mental health care for older adults, describes how 40% of referred clients have such dire unmet social health needs they can't participate in therapy, with housing being the most urgent need, and shares cases of suicidality and relapse triggered by housing insecurity.

3:40:14 2 min 10 sec

Graciela Torres testifies as Bronx tenant advocate

Graciela Torres, a Bronx rent-stabilized tenant and advocate, strongly supports Intros 978A and 1010, arguing the $50,000 cap doesn't reflect NYC reality and that seniors shouldn't have to become completely poor before receiving protection from displacement.

3:42:24 2 min 19 sec

Rebecca Poole testifies for CNYC on co-op and condo homeowners

Rebecca Poole of the Council of New York Cooperatives and Condominiums, representing 170,000 dues-paying members, supports Intros 1010, 934, and Resolution 471, noting that increasing operating costs and Local Law 97 mandates create major affordability issues for senior and disabled co-op/condo homeowners who need help staying in their homes.

3:44:43 3 min

Michelle Hall testifies on Rochdale Village Mitchell-Lama increases

Michelle Hall of Rochdale Village, a Mitchell-Lama development, reports a 31.2% maintenance increase and $17.6 million unpaid water bill, urging passage of Intro 978 to help vulnerable senior and disabled cooperators facing displacement and to reduce eviction costs and empty apartments.

3:47:44 3 min 24 sec

Sue Peters testifies on monetary reform and banking privileges

Sue Peters of the Upper West Side, representing the American Monetary Institute, discusses how private commercial banks create new money through lending, quoting Treasury officials from 1959, and argues this privilege is the root cause of affordability crises discussed at the hearing.

3:51:08 2 min 47 sec

Sandra shares personal eviction and landlord harassment story

Sandra, a 68-year-old rent-stabilized tenant, describes being evicted after her aunt died, paying full rent when SCRIE benefits were cut off, being locked out of her apartment after an emergency trip to Guyana, and receiving no help despite writing to the mayor and attending rent freeze events. Zhuang offers to connect her with legal assistance.

3:53:55 2 min

Milagros Franco testifies for BCID on disability enrollment

Milagros Franco of the Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled, with 19 years of DRIE/SCRIE application experience, urges automatic enrollment, public campaigns, DOF outreach to independent living centers, and increased MOPD funding, and expresses solidarity with EMS workers on ambulance wait times.

3:55:55 2 min 50 sec

Melissa Reddick testifies for Mitchell-Lama Residence Coalition

Melissa Reddick of the Mitchell-Lama Residence Coalition, a statewide volunteer organization, urges passage of Intro 978 to raise the income cap, citing disturbing reports of high annual increases at Mitchell-Lama developments and sharing that she personally lost benefits after a capital improvement project left her homeless for two years.

3:58:45 5 min 19 sec

Sharon Suggs testifies as disabled homeowner on rising costs

Sharon Suggs, a 30-year Forest Hills resident and co-op owner on Social Security Disability, describes applying for the Disability Homeowners Exemption without response, rising maintenance fees and Local Law 97 burdens, and fears that increasing costs will force long-term residents, seniors, veterans, and disabled homeowners from their communities.

4:04:04 3 min 27 sec

Dr. Rose testifies for Aging Gracefully Coalition on housing fragmentation

Testifying virtually, Dr. Rose of the Aging Gracefully Coalition of Faith-Based Organizations recommends expanding and streamlining all housing subsidies for seniors into a single accessible program, citing over 520 senior housing applications including 300 on HUD 202 waitlists and 220 on Housing Connect, and urging policy that addresses real economic conditions beyond poverty lines.

4:07:31 2 min 30 sec

Christian Costines testifies for SNAP Eastern Queens

Christian Costines of SNAP Eastern Queens Older Adult Center describes serving ethnically and economically diverse older adults in Queens, noting many low-income seniors are ineligible for SCRIE because they live in unregulated apartments or NORCs with mixed eligibility, and supports simplifying applications and raising the income threshold.

4:10:01 4 min 15 sec

Barbara Jones testifies on Jamie Towers Mitchell-Lama increases

Barbara Jones, a 31-year resident of Jamie Towers Cooperative in the Bronx, reports maintenance increasing from $1,009 to $1,679 in two years—a $500 increase—and describes losing SCRIE when management companies changed, urging passage of Intro 978 and better agency coordination.

4:14:16 2 min 2 sec

Katie Bordnaro testifies for MLRC on Intros 978 and 307

Katie Bordnaro of the Mitchell-Lama Residence Coalition supports Intro 978 to raise the income cap and Intro 307 for a universal online application portal, praising the council's prior measure to auto-send SCRIE applications to Mitchell-Lama residents and urging committee passage of both bills.

4:16:18 1 min 56 sec

Dora Carreno testifies on enrollment failures and outreach gaps

Dora Carreno, testifying individually, notes that despite SCRIE enacted in 1970 and DRIE in 2005, only 42% of eligible households are enrolled, calling it shameful and urging passage of Intros 978, 307, and Resolution 55, plus comprehensive public messaging from the council, mayor's office, and Office of Mass Engagement.

4:18:14 2 min 45 sec

Maka Cham testifies for CIDNY on disability enrollment gaps

Maka Cham of the Center for Independence of the Disabled New York highlights that over 90,000 eligible households remain unenrolled in SCRIE/DRIE, and strongly supports Intros 934, 978, 1010, 470, 307, and Resolution 55, urging expanded outreach strategies to close the enrollment gap for people with disabilities.

4:20:59 1 min 20 sec