the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Roll call. Aldabald. Present. Ariola. Present. Aviles. Banks. Present. Brewer. Here. Brooks-Powers. Caban. Present. Della Rosa. Here. Dinowitz. Here. Encarnación. Presente. Epstein. Yes. Farias. Present. Felder. Feliz. Here. Gennaro. Here. Gutierrez. Here. Hanif. Here. Hankerson. Hanks. Present. Hudson. Present. Joseph. Present. Krishnan. Here. Lee. Here. Lewis. Present. Maloney. Present. Marta. Present. Mealy. Marrano. Here. Narcisse. Present. Hankerson. Present. Nurse. Here. Osse. I'm here. Paladino. Wrestler. Here. Riley. Present. Salam. Present. Justin Sanchez. Present. Pierina Sanchez. Present. Santos Rosso. Here. Schulman. >> Here. Felder. Here. Stevens. Here. Thomas Henry. Present. Um. Present. Vernikov. Here. Williams. Present. One. Council member One. Here. Wong. Here. Zhuo. Here. Carr. Here. Abreu. Here. Speaker Adams. Here. Thank you. We will now have today's invocation, which will be delivered by Bishop Mitchell G. Taylor, senior pastor at Center of Hope International, which is located at 12-11 40th Avenue in Queens. Good afternoon, everyone. Let us pray. Dear God, we thank you for the great city of New York, a city of strength, diversity, resilience, and opportunity. We thank you for the privilege of gathering in this chamber, where decisions are made that affect the lives of millions of people every single day. Lord, today I stand representing the Center of Hope International and Urban Upbound, an organization that has been blessed to partner with the New York City Council for more than two decades. Since the days of the second speaker of this council, we have worked together to innovate solutions that lift families out of poverty and create pathways to opportunity and wealth in public housing and low-income communities. Through initiatives like Jobs Plus, one-on-one financial counseling, community banking, free tax preparation, small business development, we have witnessed how thoughtful leadership and strategic investment can transform lives. And so today we pray for your wisdom, for your courage, and unity for the leadership of this council. We pray for Speaker Julie Menin, that you would grant her vision and strength as she continues to guide this august body. We pray for the Deputy Speaker, Dr. Natasha Williams, for the Majority Leader Leader Shaun Abreu, for Majority Whip Camilla Hanks, and for Minority Leader David Carr, and Minority Whip Inna Vernikov, asking that you bless them with clarity, collaboration, and a spirit of service. Lord, remember my council member, Council member Julie Won, and we lift up every council member in this chamber. Each one represents neighborhoods filled with families, workers, seniors, and young people who look to them for hope and leadership. Give them wisdom to govern with justice, compassion, and integrity. As our city faces the mammoth challenges of affordability, housing, economic inequality, and opportunity, we ask that you, Lord, would give us the strength and ingenuity to overcome every obstacle before us. We ask your blessings upon this council. Bless their communities, the communities that they serve, and continue to bless this great city, the city of New York. In your name we pray. Amen. Thank you. I will now ask Council member Julie Won to spread the invocation on the record. Thank you so much, Majority Abreu. I'm honored to have Bishop Mitchell Taylor, the senior pastor of Center of Hope International, to deliver today's invocation. The Center of Hope International is a non-denominational Christian church located just outside of Queensbridge Houses in Long Island City. It was found founded by Bishop Taylor in 1999, and the church has grown to over a thousand congregants, many who live in or have deep roots in Queensbridge Houses. This church serves as a beacon of hope for many people, and most notably their Bread of Life Pantry distributes fresh produce, canned goods, frozen products, and household staples to Western Queens residents, and we saw that really flourish and bloom as a beacon of hope for our Queensbridge residents, as our shelter residents during the pandemic and the migrant crisis. With our partnership, the pantry has logged over 22,000 client visits this past fiscal year and distributed more than 400 turkeys to families all over Western Queens, and Queensbridge Houses, Ravenswood Houses, Woodside Houses, and Astoria Houses ahead of Thanksgiving. Bishop Mitchell Taylor is also the co-founder and CEO of Urban Upbound, a non-profit organization that serves thousands of youth and adults living in public housing and other low-moderate income neighborhoods annually, focusing on expanding economic opportunities, and cycles of poverty all over the city of New York. It is the first ever um federal credit union created by and for black men and women, and we are so grateful for your leadership and the ways that you serve in um in a true place of faith. So, thank you, Bishop Mitchell Mitchell Taylor, for being here today, and I make the motion to a unanimous consent to spread the invocation in full upon the record. Thank you so much. Thank you. We will now ask Council member Eric Dinowitz for the adoption of minutes. I make a motion that the minutes of the April 16th, 2026 stated meeting be adopted as printed. Messages and papers from the mayor. Referred to the Committee to Combat Hate. M 60, veto of Introductory Number 175B of 2026. Referred to the Committee to Combat Hate. M 61, mayoral appointment. Referred to Rules. Communication from city, county, and borough offices. None. Petitions and communications. >> None. Land use call-ups. >> M 62. Thank you. I would now ask that the clerk take a roll call vote on today's land use call-up. Aldabald. I vote aye. Ariola. I vote aye. Aviles. Banks. Aye. Brewer. Yes. Brooks-Powers. Aye. Thank you. Thank you. Caban. Aye. Thank you. Della Rosa. Mr. Majority Leader, I request permission to vote on all items on today's agenda. Permission granted. I vote I. Did not vote. I. Encarnación. I vote I. Epstein. Yes. Farias. I. Felder. I. Feliz. I. Gennaro. I. Thank you. Gutierrez. I. Hanif. I. Hankerson. I. Hanks. I. Hudson. I. Joseph. I. Krishnan. I. Lee. I. Lewis. I. Maloney. I. Marta. Majority leader, permission to vote on all items on the agenda today. Permission granted. I vote I. Mealy. I. Morano. I. Narcisse. I. Nurse. I vote I. Osay. I vote I. Paladino. Restler. I. Riley. I. Salam. I vote I. Justin Sanchez. I. Pierina Sanchez. I. Santos Rosso. I. Thank you. Schulman. I. Stevens. I. Thomas Henry. I. Ung. I. Vernikov. I. Williams. I vote I. Won. I. Wong. I vote I. Zhuang. I. Carr. I. Abreu. I. Speaker Adams. I. Today's land use call-ups are adopted by a vote of 48 in the affirmative and zero in the negative. Thank you. We'll now have communication from Speaker Julie Menin. Good afternoon, everyone. Uh, first of all, I want to welcome the interns from Senator Schumer's office to our City Council Chambers. Thank you so much for being here. Great to have you. And I want to welcome Assembly Member Jordan Wright, who's here. We're thrilled to have you visiting us. Thank you. So, tomorrow we recognize International Labor Day in honor of the workers whose contributions make our city function. But, before we go further, I want to acknowledge the recent deaths of working New Yorkers who have tragically lost their lives while on the job. Since the start of the year, we lost Brian Don, a 37-year-old sanitation worker. Dominic Lowry, a 31-year-old laundromat worker. Captain Antoine Forest, a 30-year-old pilot. First Officer McKenzie Gunther, a 24-year-old pilot. And a 47-year-old construction worker. This month, we also lost Amando Medino Dominic, as a 47-year-old bricklayer. And last week, a 28-year-old Abdul Selah was shot and killed while working at his bodega. Even as we mourn their deaths, we will continue to celebrate their lives and their contributions. Our hearts are with their family, their loved ones, and their community. As they navigate this unimaginable loss, I hope they know that the whole city is with them in their grief. This morning, we rallied outside Tweed Courthouse in support of a package of legislation that would increase educational resources on vaccines and call for the state to expand access to them. The numbers show a disturbing pattern that fewer kindergarteners are getting vaccinated overall, and that measles outbreaks have spread across the country, killing three Americans, as many deaths from measles than in the past 25 years combined. We're also seeing higher childhood deaths from diseases like whooping cough and influenza, something that every single parent should be terrified by. Now, one of the root causes for these trends is a massive campaign of misinformation and disinformation, and it's being fueled by US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The new life that Kennedy is giving to the movement has clearly given new life to the diseases themselves. The erosion of public trust in science doesn't just increase health risks for its own band of followers, it also puts our wider community in jeopardy. As lawmakers and as leaders, we cannot sit back and let that happen. So, today, we're passing a package of legislation that seeks to combat disinformation and create a safer and healthier city for all New Yorkers. Looking back to earlier this week, on Tuesday, the mayor and I announced that the City Council reached an agreement to move the budget deadline for his executive budget from May 1st to May 12th. That adjustment reflects a very simple reality. We will not have the necessary clarity to complete the executive budget until New York State has finalized theirs. We in the City Council are taking a prudent approach to this budget process and ensuring that our fiscal stewardship is responsible by continuing to find savings that will close our budget shortfall. We also took the opportunity to reiterate our prior calls on Albany to deliver its fair share for New York City, because despite being the economic engine of the state, the city contributes much more to the state's revenues than we receive back. That imbalance undermines our capacity to keep the city affordable and to invest in long-term stability. With that said, we appreciate what the state government has been able to do for New York City. They're an essential part of the solution, and we're all committed to delivering a budget that meets the needs of every New Yorker. Yesterday, I was deeply disappointed by yesterday's Supreme Court decision to strike down a Louisa congressional Louisiana congressional map. In 1965, the Voting Rights Act brought our country closer to fulfilling the ideals of democracy. 61 years later, the Supreme Court has brought us further apart from them. We cannot allow our hard-fought voting protections to be lost, and we must always defend fair representation. And finally, yesterday morning, the Council's Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection held a hearing to discuss a bill I introduced that would establish an Office of Insurance Accountability, modeled after our Office of Health Care Accountability. It aims to perform the vital role of promoting transparency and equity in the insurance industry. The cost of insurance has gotten completely out of control. If you're a small business owner in New York City, and let's remember we lost 5,000 small businesses last year, you are paying four to five times the national average on liability insurance. We know that this insurance high cost of insurance is affecting renters, it's affecting homeowners, it's affecting patients who need health care insurance across the board, whether it's health insurance, homeowners insurance, or liability insurance for small businesses, everyone is affected, and New Yorkers are putting the bill, which is why we need this office to give the city the tools to understand what's driving these costs so we can get smarter and better and lower skyrocketing insurance costs. Switching gears. Yesterday was Denim Day, a day dedicated to standing in solidarity with survivors of sexual violence. As a council, we are deeply committed to supporting survivors with the trauma-informed care and recovery services they need. Tomorrow is Israel's Independence Day, and May 5th is Cinco de Mayo. May 6th is National Nurses Day, and we are so grateful to our essential frontline health care workers who keep our communities healthy and safe every single day. May 6th is also National Teachers Day, observed on the first Tuesday of May. On this day, we pay tribute to the unsung heroes of our classroom, to the very people who educate our students across the five boroughs. And uh, really, as someone who taught myself, I as a former professor at Columbia, I want to thank all of our dedicated and hard-working teachers. Finally, I want to call attention to Sasha Seeley, who has been employed by the City Council for 7 years. Sasha. Where's Sasha? >> [applause] >> Sasha started as an intern in our Community Engagement Division, culminating as a senior community liaison. She's now graduating from New York Law School. And we wish her the best as she takes the bar exam. Now, let's move on to our stated agenda. First, we'll vote on the following land use item, St. Francis Prep commercial overlay. We'll bring into compliance an existing illuminated sign posted at the entrance of St. Francis Preparatory School in Council Member Linda Lee's district. Next, we'll vote on the following finance items, a pre-considered introduction, also sponsored by Council Member Lee, which would extend certain dates related to the executive budget for fiscal year 2027. Introduction 791, sponsored by Council Member Lee, would amend the district plan of the Fulton Street bid to change the method of assessment upon which the district charges based. Three pre-considered resolutions, sponsored by Council Member Lee, would establish two partial 40-year Article 11 tax exemptions and a partial 9-month Article 5 tax exemption for four buildings in Majority Leader Abreu's district. A pre-considered resolution, sponsored by Council Member Lee, would establish a full 50-year Article 11 tax exemption for one building in Council Member Nurse's district. And a pre-considered resolution, sponsored by Council Member Lee, would establish a full 40-year Article 11 tax exemption for two buildings in Council Member Ossé's district. Today, we'll vote on the following resolutions. Resolution 183A, sponsored by Council Member Farías, would call on the state legislature to pass and the governor to sign S7638B, A8091B, providing that certain contracts to purchase food can be awarded to a qualified bidder who complies with certain standards when such bid is not more than 10% higher than the lowest responsible bidder. Thank you to our staff Alex Jahari Fraser, and Alex Yablon. Resolution 396, sponsored by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who's here with us today and I want to thank you for being here and for your very eloquent words at the pre-stated before on this topic. This resolution would declare May 15th through June 15th as Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month and June 7th as Tourette Syndrome Awareness Day in the City of New York. Thank you to our staff, Chloe Rivera, for their help on it. Next, we're voting on a package of bills related to improving the response to code blue emergencies. Introduction 798A, sponsored by Council Member Joseph, would require the Department of Social Services, in a collaboration with New York City Emergency Management, to submit annual reports on warming centers in New York City and post them online. Introduction 778A, sponsored by Council Member Restler, would require the Department of Homeless Services to create a platform, accessible via mobile devices and available to all DHS staff and contractors that do street outreach work, that allows for real-time tracking and reporting of all engagement with street homeless individuals. Introduction 727A, sponsored by Majority Leader Abreu, would require the Commissioner of Homeless Services to make best efforts to coordinate with hospitals to make available supplies to patients experiencing homelessness upon their discharge from hospitals. And Introduction 726A, also sponsored by Majority Leader Abreu, would require the Commissioner of Homeless Services, in consultation with relevant city agencies, to develop informational materials directed to hospitals pertaining to a code blue or code red alert and provide them to hospitals to distribute to patients. The Commissioner must also make best efforts to coordinate with hospitals during these alerts to identify discharged patients experiencing homelessness, assess what DHS resources they need and make the resources available to them. Thank you to Amanita Killowan, Justin Campos, and Tristan Monteith. Uh next, we'll vote on a package of legislation to expand public education on the importance of vaccinations to combat misinformation and disinformation and improve public health. Resolution 273A, sponsored by Council Member Schulman, would call on the state to enact legislation authorizing dentists to administer influenza vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines, HPV vaccines, or vaccine related to a public health emergency. Resolution 425, also sponsored by Council Member Schulman, would call on the state to enact legislation requiring vaccines to be regulated, recommended, administered, and insured based on the recommendations of various nationally and internationally recognized health care organizations alongside the Federal Advisory Committee on immunization practices. And a pre-considered resolution, also sponsored by Council Member Schulman, would call on the state to enact S5 852, A3839, requiring insurance to reimburse the total direct and indirect practice expenses associated with vaccinations. Introduction 693A, sponsored by Council Member Dinowitz, would require DOHMH, in collaboration with relevant agencies, to develop and implement a plan by January 1st, 2027 to educate the public regarding the benefits and importance of childhood and adolescent vaccines for individuals 18 years old or younger. Finally, Introduction 260A, sponsored by Council Member Krishnan, would require DOHMH, in collaboration with DOE, to develop informational materials about vaccines. The DOE would also be required to distribute the materials to parents of all New York City public school students, including those enrolled in early childhood programs such as 3K and pre-K. Thank you to Joshua Newman, Elizabeth Arts, and Christopher Pepe. Okay, thank you for your attention to that. I'm going to turn it back over to our Majority Leader. Thank you, Speaker Menin. We'll now move into discussion of general orders, beginning with Council Member Hanif, followed by Dinowitz and Restler. Wait, I want I need to speak at the the last portion, sorry. No problem. Council Member Dinowitz, followed by Restler. Thank you, Majority Leader. Uh today, we're voting on my bill, Intro 693. Uh this bill bill will bring public awareness to settled medical consensus in a world full of misinformation pushed by grifting health gurus and conspiracy theorists in the White House. New Yorkers should be properly informed through the advice of medical professionals when making decisions about their health and not by sensational podcasters. Intro 693 would would require the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to develop and implement a plan to educate the public regarding the benefits and importance of childhood and adolescent vaccines as informed by recommendations from well-respected major medical organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and American College of Physicians. This legislation is vital as the federal government has become negligent in its duty to keep its citizens safe and healthy. The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services has embarked on an ideological crusade to undo over a century of scientific and medical progress by sowing the seeds of doubt in life-saving vaccines. By removing several vaccines from the recommended childhood schedule, the federal government has directly contributed to a growing perception in the public that not only are childhood vaccines unnecessary, but that they could potentially pose a risk to a child's health, and we have seen the results. Increases in measles outbreaks, increases in childhood hospitalizations, and more, all predominantly from low vaccination rates and all preventable. By undermining the recommendations of the medical community, the federal government has not only fostered an environment of fear within our country, but also subverted major medical advances contributing to the revival of diseases previously thought extinct. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this essential piece of legislation and the entire vaccine package so that we can keep New Yorkers safe, informed, and healthy. Thank you, Council Member Restler, followed by Krishnan. Thank you, Majority Leader. Uh I'm proud that we have Intro 778A on the agenda today. Uh you know, there are varying estimates on the number of street homeless New Yorkers 4,000 5,000 6,000 uh but a significant number of people who are struggling on the streets and in our subways every single day. And we spend a phenomenal amount of resources trying to connect them to services. Uh street outreach contracts, safe haven shelters, mental health services, and yet we don't have good data on the engagements with street homeless New Yorkers and the outcomes that we're delivering. Uh and that's what our legislation will help address. Uh we will create a mobile platform that every street outreach worker that's contracted with the Department of Homeless Services has access to to track their engagements, their placements of individuals into housing, into substance use and mental health services. Um we will now, finally, have clear, crisp data to understand how effective our investments are and to shift our policies as necessary to make sure that we're connecting people to the housing and the health care that they desperately need. Uh this legislation was inspired by an audit by Controller Lander from 2023 that revealed that we really do not have comprehensive data systems in place to track our engagement with street homeless individuals. And in addition to the street outreach organizations uh that engage with homeless New Yorkers every day, we this legislation allow makes this information accessible to other city agencies that provide mental health treatment and health care to uh street homeless New Yorkers like Health and Hospitals, like the State Office of Mental Health. Uh and so, we really believe this is going to help us do a better job of connecting street homeless New Yorkers to the treatment, the care, and ultim- most of all, the housing that they desperately need. Thank you very much, and thank you to Speaker Menin and to Chair Hudson for helping me advance this legislation. Thank you, Council member. Council member Krishnan, followed by Joseph. Thank you, Majority Leader. Our federal government is attacking our health care. The information on what is healthy, the institutions that study the science behind vaccinations, and our ability to afford care. I'm thankful to Speaker Menin, Chair of the Health Committee Lynn Schulman, and Council Member Eric Dinowitz for their leadership on combating vaccine misinformation. Together, we are passing an aggressive package of bills to combat disinformation, false information around vaccinations, and to make them more accessible for New Yorkers, and to make sure they get their critical vaccinations. The federal government, from Donald Trump to his health secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., have been spreading false claims about vaccines, gutting our access to health care, and undermining the public institutions that keep us healthy and informed. It's a one-two punch to our public health system. They are intentionally confusing our families and making it harder to access health care. But our City Council will not stand by and allow the federal government to intervene when it comes to our families' health. My legislation, Intro 260, would require the DOE to develop and distribute materials around vaccines to parents of all New York City public schools, including those in world and early childhood education programs, such as 3K and pre-K. These materials would give parents and educators clear information on vaccines, how they work, their public health benefits, their safety, and where to access vaccines that are required for school attendance. It would directly combat the dangerous claim the federal government is making about science, and ensure our families know where to turn to for access. Today, with the support of our Council Speaker Julie Menin, we are doing the work that Donald Trump and RFK Jr. refuse to do. And that is to give New Yorkers clear health information, and ensure they can keep their families healthy. Thank you. Thank you, Council member. Council member Joseph. Thank you, Majority Leader. Good afternoon. Today, we take an important step forward in New York City's New York City protects its most vulnerable residents during the coldest years of days of the year. I'm proud to support and celebrate the passage of this legislation requiring greater transparency and accountability in our warming centers. For many New Yorkers, our seniors, families experiencing homelessness, and individuals living with disabilities, warming centers are not optional. They are essential. They are the difference between safety and serious risk. And yet, far too long, we have lacked a clear, comprehensive picture of how these centers are operating, where gaps exist, and whether we are truly meeting the needs across every neighborhood. Intro 798 changes that by requiring Department of Social Services, in partnership with Office of Emergency Management, to produce an annual, publicly available report. We are committing to data-driven leadership. We will know where warming centers are located, when they're open, how they are staffed, and critically, whether they are accessible and reaching the people who need them the most. This is about more than reporting. It's about equity. It's about ensuring that no community is left behind when temperatures drop. And it's about building a system that is responsive, coordinated, and rooted in dignity. As a Council member, and as someone who's deeply committed to protecting our communities, I believe this legislation strengthen our ability to plan, to respond, and to save lives. Today, we are reaffirming that every New Yorker deserve warm, safety, and care. Want to thank Speaker Menin, and thank you, Chair Hudson. Thank you, Council member. All right, seeing no one else signed up for general orders, we'll now move to report of special committees. None. Reports of standing committees. Report of the Committee on Finance. Intro 791, Fulton Street bid. Coupled on general orders. Preconsidered Intro 873, budget extender. Coupled on general orders with a message of necessity. Preconsidered LU 59 and Reso 452 through preconsidered LU 63 and Reso 456, tax exemptions. Coupled on general orders with a message of necessity. Report of the Committee on General Welfare, Intro 726A, hospital materials. Amended and coupled on general orders. Intro 727A and 778A, services to homeless patients. Amended and coupled. Intro 790A, warming centers. Amended and coupled. Report of the Committee on Health, Intros 260A and 693A, vaccinations. Amended and coupled on general orders. Report of the Committee on Land Use, LU 51 and Reso 457, St. Francis Prep commercial overlay. Coupled on general orders. LUs 52 through 55, various applications. Approved with modifications and referred to the City Planning Commission pursuant to Section 197D of the New York City Charter. On the general orders calendar, resolution appointing various persons Commissioner of Deeds. Coupled on general orders. I'd now ask that the clerk take a roll call vote on all the items coupled on today's general orders calendar. Alibole. I. Ariola. I on all with the exception of 260 and 693A, for which I am a no. Thank you. Aviles. I on all. Banks. I on all. Brewer. Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Brooks-Powers. I vote I on all. Caban. Caban. I on all. Thank you. Dinowitz. I on all. Encarnación. I vote I on all. Epstein. Yes on all. Farias. I vote I on all. Felder. Yes. Thank you. Feliz. I on all. Gennaro. I vote I on all with the exception of Intro 260A and Intro 693A, on which I vote no. Thank you, Council member. Gutierrez. I on all. Hanif. I on all. Hankerson. I on all. Hanks. I on all. Hudson. I. Joseph. I on all. Krishnan. I. Lee. I on all. Louis. I. Maloney. I on all. Mealy. I. Morano. I on all with the exception of Intro 260 and 693A. On those bills, I'll vote no. Thank Narcisse. I vote I. Nurse. I vote I. Ousmane. I vote I. Paladino. I vote I on all except on uh Hold on a minute. We're on Intro 260 and 693A, of which I am a no. Thank you, Council member. Rostler. I. Riley. I. Salam. I vote I. Justin Sanchez. Okay, we'll come back. Pierina Sanchez. Uh permission to explain my vote? Permission granted. I just want to commend colleagues on the vaccine package, uh especially Council Member Dinowitz. Um as a mother of young children, it's so important to keep our littles safe. Uh with that, I vote I on all. Thank you. Justin Sanchez. I on all. Santos-Suosso. I on all. Thank you. Schulman. I on all. Stevens. I. Thomas Henry. I. Ung. I on all. Vernikov. I on all with the exception of Intro 260 and 693A, of which I vote no. Williams. I vote I. Won. I. Wong. I vote I on all except for Intro 693, in which I vote no. Thank you. Zhu Ang. I. Carr. I vote no on Introductions 260 and 693A, and I on the rest. Abreu. I. Speaker Menin. I. All items on today's general order calendar are adopted by a vote of 50 in the affirmative, and zero in the negative, and zero abstentions, with the exception of Intro 4 Sorry. With the exception of Intro 260A, which was adopted by a vote of 44 in the affirmative, six in the negative, and zero abstentions. And Intro 693A, which was adopted by a vote of 43 in the affirmative, seven in the negative, and zero abstentions. Introduction and reading of bills. All bills have been referred to committee as indicated in today's agenda. Thank you. We will now move into the discussion of resolutions beginning with our public advocate, Jumaane Williams. I thank you very much. Um My objective at this third time of reading these remarks is try to get through it uh without so many pauses. Uh but I do want to acknowledge Emma O'Connell and Jason Kaplan from the Tourette Syndrome Association who are with us today. Uh so there are several people in the audience with Tourette Syndrome. And just to let everyone know that can get interesting. Uh so just want folks to know. Um afternoon again. My name is Jumaane Williams. I'm public advocate of the city of New York. Want to thank uh Speaker Menin and Chair Hanif and the members of the committee and this council for holding this vote. Uh like to thank the advocates in the audience for attending today's steady meeting. The CDC estimates that about 1.4 million people in the US have Tourette Syndrome or persistent tic disorder. I am one of those people and I am believed to be the first person with Tourette's in the country to be elected in public office. People with Tourette's experience tics, involuntary sudden brief intermittent, repetitive movements or noises. It can significantly impact a person's day-to-day or even minute-to-minute life and can either be temporary uh minute-to-minute or life. And can either be temporary or something a person lives with for the rest of their life. People with Tourette's also are more likely to have other comorbid disabilities such as learning disabilities, autism, and depression. I myself have also been diagnosed with ADHD. While Tourette Syndrome itself can make day-to-day life difficult, so too does a lack of awareness about it. People have never Many people have never heard of Tourette's or have heard misinformation. >> [sighs] >> And may react negatively and may react negatively, even violently, to a person's tics. I myself lived with Tourette's for a time not knowing what it was. And in fact, first learned about Tourette's from a 2020 special, not from a doctor. Tourette's is too often viewed as a moral failing. >> [clears throat and snorts] >> Tourette's is too often viewed as a moral failing as if a person is refusing to stop a tic rather than being unable to. Especially so when a tic is obscene language or a slur, coprolalia, something I have struggled with. >> [clears throat] >> Stigma and discrimination can make getting and keeping a job more difficult or lead to increased contact with the criminal legal system. Many people with Tourette's retreat from public life, >> [clears throat] >> isolating themselves from other people due to shame or fear, and may avoid seeking treatment. >> [clears throat] >> Recently at the BAFTA Awards where John Davidson, an activist who educates people about Tourette Syndrome, shouted the N-word as two black actors were presenting awards, setting off a firestorm of media attention and outrage. Tics that include offensive language and slurs can cause real hurt even if the person saying it does not even if the person saying it not only does not intend harm, but is deeply regretful and embarrassed by it. As a black man who also tics the N-word, I know no matter the reason, that word has power and does real damage. And we can't minimize it. I think we can recognize that even involuntary impact devoid of intent can't be ignored. To that, it too often the burden of empathy is placed primarily on the black community. At the same time and to the importance of this resolution, we have to allow we have to also make space for compassion and grace for the person with Tourette's and take this opportunity to educate people about the disability. The situation at the BAFTA's never should have happened, but it did. So let's learn from it. At that moment, BAFTA had a responsibility to prepare the attendees for the possibility that they may have had this language directed at them. They also had the ability not to air it. Now we have an opportunity to inform people more broadly. Education and awareness have proven to be effective in combining and combating stigma against disabilities and other disorders. Today we're voting on resolution I introduced declaring May 15th through June 15th as Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month and June 7th as Tourette Syndrome Awareness Day in New York City. Knowing a person with a disability reduces stigma, underscoring the need for raising awareness, representation, and open dialogue about Tourette's and other tic disorders. >> [clears throat] >> I hope that young people living with the disorders can see their own per- >> [clears throat] >> I hope that young people living with tic disorders can see their own potential in me. I hope everyone will join me in celebrating this newly recognized month and day. I was the first elected official in the country known to have Tourette Syndrome and I'm proud to say I am no longer the only one. And I want young people like me out there to know that your condition is a part of you, but you are not defined by it. And doesn't have to limit what you do. Only change how you do it. By more broadly recognizing Tourette Syndrome Association Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month, I hope we can reach others with that message. Want to thank my staff, Gwen Safren, senior policy and legislative associate, >> [snorts] >> Veronica Eavis, deputy public advocate for policy, Rosie Mendez, director of policy and legislation, Elizabeth Kenny, deputy public advocate for education opportunity, Lupe Hernandez, community organizer, >> [clears throat] >> and the Tourette Association of America for their work on this resolution. Want to shout out Justin Farmer from Connecticut who ran for office and won after he saw me. It was an amazing moment of pride. Uh Cameron Jackson whose grandmother was in uh the committee hearing earlier, who stopped me at an event to tell me he had Tourette Syndrome. Happy to be able to invite him to my office. And happy to bring him here to City Hall as well. I have never hid my Tourette Syndrome. I never planned to. I never leaned into it intentionally and I'm trying to do that more. I'm also trying to honor the experience of my younger self. So I thank you all for voting for this and helping me live the motto, be who you needed when you were younger. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Public Advocate. Wow. Council Member Schulman. I don't have to. Um thank you, Majority Leader. Um today's vaccine package is very timely. Um I just learned it's World Immunization Week. Um as part of today's package, I am proud to sponsor three resolutions being voted on today. Each one a direct response to the growing threats to vaccine access and public health in our city and state. None of this would be possible without the speaker's commitment to making New York City a leader on public health. The first resolution 273A calls on New York State to authorize dentists to administer vaccines. Dentists were on the front lines of our COVID response. They showed up. They were qualified and they saved lives. It's time to make that permanent. Every additional access point means more New Yorkers are protected. The second resolution 425 calls on New York State to require vaccine policy be grounded in the recommendations of reputable nationally and internationally recognized health care organizations, not solely a CDC that has become increasingly politicized. The federal government is eroding public trust in vaccines and putting lives at risk. New York will not follow them down that road. And finally, pre-considered resolution 448 calls on New York State to require insurers to fully reimburse pediatric practices for the cost of providing vaccines. Pediatric offices are the backbone of our childhood immun- immunization system and we must make sure they can afford to stay there. When Washington steps back, the City Council steps up. Thank you. Thank you, Council Member. Seeing no one else signed up for resolutions, we will now have a voice vote on today's resolutions. If you wish to vote against or abstain from any of today's resolutions, please notify the Legislative Documents Unit by email or by approaching the dais. I will now read today's resolutions into the record. Resolution 183A calls on the state legislature to pass and the governor to sign Senate Bill number 7638B and Assembly Bill number 8091B providing that certain contracts to purchase food can be awarded to a qualified bidder who complies with certain standards when such bid is not more than 10% higher than the lowest responsible bidder. All those in favor say I. All opposed say nay. Any abstentions? The eyes have it. Resolution 273A calls on the New York State Assembly to pass Bill number 3892, the New York State Legislature to pass Senate Bill 6744A and Assembly Bill 3894A, and the governor to sign Senate bills 4548 and 6744A and Assembly bills 3892 and 3894A, legislation authorizing dentists to administer influenza vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines, human papillomavirus vaccines, or a vaccine related to a public health emergency. All those in favor say I. All opposed say nay. Any abstentions? The eyes have it. Resolution 396 declares May 15th through June 15th as Tourette's Syndrome Awareness Month and June 7th as Tourette's Syndrome Awareness Day in the City of New York. All those in favor say I. All opposed say nay. Any abstentions? Mr. Public Advocate, the eyes have it. Resolution 425 calls on New York State Assembly to pass bill numbers AA24A, 9648, and 960C and for the governor to sign Senate bills A334A, 8853, and A496 and Assembly bills 8824A, 9648, and 960C, legislation requiring vaccines to be regulated recommended administered and insured based on the recommendations of various nationally and internationally recognized health healthcare organizations alongside the Federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. All those in favor say I. All opposed say nay. Any abstentions? The eyes have it. Finally, pre-considered resolution 448 calls on the New York State Assembly to pass bill number 3839 and the governor to sign Senate bill 5852 and Assembly bill 3839 requiring insurance to reimburse the total direct and indirect practice expenses associated with vaccinations. All those in favor say I. All opposed say nay. Any abstentions? The eyes have it. We will now move into general discussion. First beginning with Council Member Hanks followed by Narcisse. Thank you, Majority Leader. First I want to say how proud I was I am to support our Public Advocate's resos on Tourette's Syndrome Awareness. Thank you for your advocacy. I know what it's like. I raised a stepdaughter for 20 years with Tourette's and what you're what you said was absolutely moving and thank you very much. Heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death in New York City and across New York State. It affects families in every borough, every community, and every neighborhood. Reso 442 calls on New York State to require insurance coverage for coronary artery calcium testing so that more New Yorkers can benefit from this important preventative tool. It is a common sense step that can help save lives, reduce long-term healthcare costs, and give families a chance to act before a medical emergency occurs. Coronary artery calcium testing is simple, non-invasive screening tools that can help identify plaque build-up in arteries and give patients and doctors a clearer picture of heart disease at risk. For many people, it could be the early warning that leads to lifestyle changes, medication, further testing, and ultimately life-saving care. I would not be telling families Excuse me. For too many New Yorkers, the test is out of reach because it's not covered by insurance. That means prevention becomes a question of whether someone can afford to pay out of pocket, and that is not how our healthcare system should work. Not long ago, my partner's life was changed because of early detection through coronary artery calcium testing. It revealed a serious risk that would never have been known otherwise, and he had no warning signs and nothing that would tell us something was wrong. No family should have to learn too late that there was a tool available that could have helped them detect a problem earlier. I call on my my colleagues to support this this resolution. Thank you, Mr. Majority Leader. Council Member Narcisse followed by Wong. Thank you, Majority Leader, and thank you, Public Advocate, for this bill is needed in our city so we can be sensitive to each other and understand disease process, whatever we going through. So thank you for sharing. I'm proud to introduce two bills and thank to Speaker Menin, this bills very important. First one is a dog waste. I know for some is not a big deal. This is a quality of life issue. Every New Yorker knows too well. You walk out your front door, you have to dodge you have to dodge your sidewalk from stepping on poops all over. Your kids are stepping in the staying on them in the park. There are 600,000 dogs in the city. 311 complaints are up to 81% and sanitation issues just two summons in all of 2025. The law exists, but nobody is being held to it. This bill puts signs where the problem is worse in the park sidewalks and neighborhoods calling the 311 over and over to to to get a relief. That's all we need looking for. So people, the rules can apply. We can end this. This is happening too often. So I'm asking my colleagues to look into this and support. I'm also introduced today the Homeowner Stability and Protection Act intro 879. Local Law 18 was supposed to lower costs and expand housing, but years later, rents are still skyrocketing and the vacancy rate has not budge. What it what it does, it takes away the ability of homeowners to earn income from their own homes. In my district and in working-class neighborhoods across the city, homeowners are losing their homes. Deed thefts have nearly tripled since 2023. We have seen over 1800 foreclosures across the 10 majority black communities around the city. This is too much. The seniors are losing their home. It is time for us to step up. This bill lets homeowner have their home while they're traveling raising raising the guest cap from the two to four family can actually stay together. This is important and thank you, Majority. So let's look into it. Council Member Wong followed by Hankerson. Thank you, Majority Leader. Today I introduce six pieces of legislation that will improve the safety, equity, and quality of life in the city. My first focus is on improving community awareness of their schools. To accomplish this, intro 885 will require the Department of Education to create an online portal to facilitate the comparison of funding and spending across schools. Two of my other bills would increase the safety of our neighborhoods. Intro 889 would prohibit the parking of commercial vehicles owned or operated by gas or oil heat suppliers between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Intro 887 would make it an immediate hazardous violation to sell beverages without a valid place of assembly certificate of operation. Additionally, two other bills would greatly increase our knowledge of what is happening behind the scenes. Intro 886 would require the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to publicly issue monthly reports on animal shelters that are under contract with the City of New York. Intro 888 would require the Department of Health to report how many times city agencies and hospitals submit referrals for individuals to assisted outpatient treatment programs. My final bill, intro 890, would improve the city's relationship with the environment and save us money by creating a pilot program to study increasing the minimum percentage of reclaimed asphalt pavement pavement. All of these bills have different focuses, but they are common sense measures that will meaningfully improve the safety and quality of life of all New Yorkers. Thank you. Thank you, Council Member. I also like to recognize that we have been joined by former Council Members now state legislators Eric Boucher, our Senator Eric Boucher, and Keith Powers from the Assembly. >> [applause] >> Uh Council Member Hankerson followed by Brooks-Powers. Thank you, Majority Leader. I just want to take a moment to recognize the young people from the Learning to Work program who have joined us in the balcony today. For nearly 20 Absolutely. For nearly 20 years, Learning to Work has kept young people on track to graduate. It serves more than 16,000 students across the city. These are students who fell behind and are working to catch up. My little brother was one of them. This program provided the support, positivity, and mentorship he needed. But he isn't the only one. Thousands of young people across the City of New York have benefited from this program. If we are serious about investing in our youth, we must keep we must keep them engaged by ways by programs that work. If we are serious about decreasing unemployment, we must prepare them for work. If we are serious about the economy, we must be intentional about valuing their voices and harnessing their creativity. Students in this program have counselors who stay with them. They recover credits and move toward a diploma. They step into paid internships and build real work experience. Students in this program graduate at higher rates. Interns graduate at rates near 97% from the program. Right now, this program is not guaranteed to continue at full strength. Support has shifted to short-term fixes that create instability. That instability reaches students and staff. If this program shrinks, thousands of young people lose support. More students will leave school without a diploma. We will feel that in our workforce and in our communities. If we are serious about decreasing youth crime, we protect what keeps young people on track. If we are serious about decreasing unemployment, we protect what prepares them for work. If we are serious about the economy, we protect the systems that build it. Thank you to the learn learning to work students that are here with us today. Thank you, Council member. Counselor >> [applause] >> Council member Brooks-Powers, followed by Brewer. Thank you. Today, I'm proud to introduce two pieces of legislation aimed at expanding access to affordable homeownership across our city. Homeownership remains one of the most effective tools we have to build generational wealth and stabilize communities. Yet, for too many New Yorkers, especially working families, that pathway remains out of reach. The first bill I'm introducing, intro 862, would strengthen the city's Home First Down Payment Assistance Program by requiring HPD to assist at least 600 first-time home buyers each year. This program provides up to $100,000 in support for down payments and closing costs, but it is currently underutilized. In fiscal year 2025, only 126 households were assisted. While the agency is working to scale up to 300 loans annually, this bill works to expand affordable homeownership opportunities by doubling that number to 600 households per year. The second bill, intro 861, focuses on awareness and access. It would require HPD to conduct a targeted outreach campaign to inform New York residents about the Section 8 Homeownership Program, which allows eligible families to use their vouchers towards purchasing a home. Shout-out to my Assembly member Khalil Anderson on this one. >> [snorts] >> Together, these bills can move us closer to realizing the dream of homeownership for thousands more New Yorkers. Additionally, I'm introducing reso 439 in support of state legislation restoring 20-year service retirement for uniform correction officers and sanitation workers. At a time when our correctional system is facing significant staffing challenges, restoring parity in benefits is a critical step towards improving conditions for both staff and those in custody. I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance these efforts. Thank you. Thank you, Council member Brewer, followed by Maloney. Thank you. I just want to say we need an exterminator cuz we had a water bug over here, and I know what a water bug looks like cuz I got them in my house. I just want to let you know. So, intro 859 intro 859, twice a year the Keep keep it down. Let's Let's let the Council member speak. Thank you. I brought up the problem. Twice a year the City Council honors New Yorkers with street co-namings. I think many of us have done this mostly uh people we know. For instance, I just honored salsa pianist Larry Harlow on West 86th Street. To familiarize more New Yorkers with those who came before us, the Council passed my local law 104 in 2023, and Darris, which is the records, created a searchable map. In 202 and 2003, local laws named 400-plus streets for first responders killed in 9/11, but many of those streets lacked biographical information. Under the guidance of Commissioner Pauline O'Toole of Darris, her staff compiled the stories of these individuals lost on that terrible day and found them all. And intro 859 allows Darris to update the map the map accordingly. Intro 860 authorized HPD and the Fire Department to inspect buildings for required physical street numbers during their routine inspections of buildings. For over 100 years, all buildings in New York City must display their street numbers, so first responders don't law lose critical time to help people in need. And yet, compliance has been a problem. An article in The New York Times from 1929 noted the lack of building numbers and how it impact delivery people and telegraph messengers. I passed local law 26 in 2017 with Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, if he remembers, and the Fire Department supported increase of fines. Intro 860 would empower HPD and the Fire Department to respond to 311 complaints and also add street numbers to their regular inspections. If you ever wandered around and can't find a street number, now you'll be able to find it. Thank you very much. Thank you, Council member Maloney, followed by Morano. Thank you, Majority Leader. >> [snorts] >> Today, I'm introducing three pieces of legislation and a resolution focused on supporting small businesses and keeping our streets safe. The first is intro 197, which supports the legacy businesses that have shaped the character of our communities. The corner bakery, the family hardware store, or your local diner. This bill would establish a legacy business registry to formally recognize those legacy businesses that have operated for 20-plus years. And it would create a preservation fund that would provide grants to those businesses and to property owners who commit to keeping them in place. The second is a res resolution, which calls on Albany to pass legislation allowing mobile barber shops. I want to thank Assembly member Jordan Wright, who is championing that bill in Albany, for being here. Not everyone can go to a barber shop. Seniors and people with disabilities deserve access to professional services just like everyone else. And mobile barber shops meet people where they are, support small business entrepreneurship, and fill a gap in our communities. Third is intro 372, which makes government work better and faster. The legislation would require every city agency that issues permits to publish clear timelines so applicants know what to expect. It provides real-time tracking so that they can follow their application every step of the way and establishes accountability measures to make sure agencies actually meet the timelines that they set. And lastly, intro 1312 to address a safety issue that has become impossible to ignore, e-bikes going too fast on our streets and on our sidewalks. This legislation would enshrine the speed limit for electric assist bicycles at 15 mph in city law. And I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass these. Thank you. Council member Morano, followed by Pierina Sanchez. Thank you. Uh colleagues, before we leave today, I just want to say a word about what happened in Washington last Saturday. Uh thank God the president is safe. Thank goodness there were no fatalities. And thank God for the men and women in law enforcement who acted in seconds uh when it mattered most. But let's be honest with ourselves. Uh this was the third time a president has had to contend with something like this in the last 2 and 1/2 years. And that means something is really wrong. And I don't say that to point fingers. I I say it because I think the responsibility falls on us, the people in this room, to set a different tone. Uh we argue, we disagree, sometimes loudly, sometimes on television, sometimes on radio. But the people that we disagree with are not enemies to be destroyed. Uh they're colleagues, they're neighbors. In some cases, they've become friends. Uh for instance, Council member Ossé and I did a video recently on something about as controversial as it gets, changing the clocks. Uh I caught a little heat for it. I'm sure he did, too. But you know what? People saw two members who don't agree on everything most days we don't agree on anything actually working together on something. And after what we just witnessed, I am more committed than ever to that approach. I think the more we disagree, the more important it is that we do work together because the public needs to see that it's still possible. I always try to have a a democratic prime sponsor on my bills unless the idea is truly crazy, which I assure you today's bill with Council member Wong is not. And I think that's what the Common Sense Caucus is all about, and it's something I'm proud to be a part of. We can debate hard without dehumanizing each other. We can fight for our ideas without fearing for our safety. And if we get that right here, maybe just maybe it catches on out there among the public, among a population that may be mentally unstable and in some cases just waiting to repeat the rhetoric of cable news in order to do something crazy. So, I'm more committed than ever to work with the people I disagree with most on as many issues as possible. Thank you. Council member Pierina Sanchez, followed by Council member Mealy. Thank you, Majority Leader. 10. 10 shots were fired outside my office on Monday night. This is the reality in my community, the instability. Here's what else is true. Our median income is about $25,000 per year for a worker who works full-time. Only 16% of our children have access to after-school programs, and 70% of our families are one income shock away from losing their home. But we're resilient. We're diamonds made in the rough. I grew up here and so many others who are fighting each day. When I asked my resilient neighbors what we need the most, the answer is unanimous, a stable home. That's the foundation for stabilizing a community and for giving folks the breathing room they need to get ahead in life and be safe. That's why in 2023 this council passed an expansion to the city FEPs program. So families don't have to become homeless to get help or languish in shelter because even today 2/3 of families in shelter are ineligible for a voucher and cannot get out. We expanded FEPs eligibility because homelessness has devastating impacts. Many studies show worse health outcomes, more emergency room visits, increased intrafamily violence, disruptions in children's education. In New York City, 150,000 New York City students are in shelter. 63% of them chronically absent. So the cost of inaction is real. 42,000 families have been evicted since we passed these bills in 2023. 25,000 of those could have been prevented and it is cheaper. It is cheaper to keep people in their homes not because of just because of all of the impacts that I've described, but because shelter, which houses 44,000 households, is costing us $4 billion where we're housing more people with FEPs today for a fourth of that price at 1.2 billion. So we gather today to call on the mayor to drop his suit. Thank you, Speaker Adams, for your support keeping vulnerable New Yorkers at the forefront of this negotiation. Thank you. All right, we have three more to go and then we will be done soon. Council Member Mealy followed by Hanif and then Shuai. Thank you, Madam Speaker, for all the leadership you have bringing and the awareness that you have brought to this city with Denim Day. Today's press conference of Denim Day raised awareness and making it clear that survivors' voices must be heard. Denim Day began after a rape of a victim was overturned due to the claim that tight jeans implied consent. Outraged people worldwide adopted jeans as a symbol of protest against harmful myths about sexual assault. I want to encourage two organizations today that did their press conference working in all of our communities, Sisters in Purple and Woman Divine. Today was all about everyone advocating to make sure that survivors' voices are never looked or silenced. And I want to again thank my school in my district, Principal Lina Gates of Dr. Ronald E. McNair PS5 school has been named the two 2026 Blue Ribbon Lighthouse School national assessment for all the nine category categories of learning needs that they are doing a big press conference and event today and I want to thank them all for doing that. And I want to thank Camber and Brevoort Senior Center for having their spades tournament that happens from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at night and thank my team, the Baddies. We won second place. So thank you to senior the senior centers in all our district and make sure our seniors are at the forefront of everything we do in this city. Thank you. Thank you. Now we have Council Member Hanif followed by Shuai. Thank you, Majority Leader. With the rain coming down today, things are feeling a little dreary and honestly a bit crappy. On my walk to the train this morning, I was greeted by a common sight, a familiar New York hazard, a pile of dog poop on the sidewalk. And as many of you remember, when the winter storm froze our streets earlier this week, it also uncovered a not-so-hidden reality. Far too many New Yorkers are still not picking up after their dogs. That's why today I'm proud to introduce legislation creating a citywide public education campaign to make sure New Yorkers know how to properly dispose of dog waste and understand the real public health risks when they don't. Because being a good neighbor means doing your civic duty. So to all New Yorkers, scoop the poop. Thank you. Council Member Shuai. Thank you, Majority Leader, and also I want to thank Chair Sanchez to advocate for all New Yorkers. A lot of time only when we expand city FEPs program, we able to address the homelessness issue in our city. So we don't have to give more money to greedy and the corrupted developer to build unincentive shelters everywhere in the city. As a mother, I care deeply about education for our city's children and I know how important it is be taught how to engage with government. A lot of time younger generation doesn't get civic engagement. The mayor knows how important civic engagement too, as know by his launch his morning of organizing Organize NYC. As a result, I'm introducing Resolution 451 calling on New York State Legislature to pass and the governor to sign A9298 and the which could enact the next gen civic act provides hands-on project-based on civic education to students in grade grade 9 to 12. Actually, this bill idea is from one of our interns from our office. We'd like to encourage more younger people to civic engagement. So that's very important to get our colleagues to sign on this resolution and to support our interns, children in our district and everywhere in New York City to know how government works in a way that will encourage and excited them. Thank you. Thank you, Council Member. I'll now call on Speaker Julie Menin to close today's stated meeting. Great, thank you. Before I do so, I also want to acknowledge our former colleagues who are here, Assembly Member Keith Powers, State Senator Eric Botcher. So great to have you back in the chambers. We miss you, but it's great to see you both. >> [laughter] >> Thank you, I heard that. We're counting on you. Okay, so the stated meeting of April 30th, 2026 is hereby adjourned. Thank you everyone. >> Mhm.