NYC Council Identifies Funding Gaps in Mayor’s Fiscal Year 2026 Executive Budget for Children and Youth Programs during Monday Hearing

 

During the City Council’s Executive Budget hearing by its Committee on Children and Youth and the Committee on Finance, the Council identified missing or insufficient funding in the Mayor’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Executive Budget for services provided by the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) and Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) that support children, youth, and families.

The FY 2026 Executive Budget includes $2.9 billion for ACS, up $83.4 million from the Preliminary Budget and $122.6 million from the FY 2025 adopted budget. It includes $25 million to continue Promise NYC at its current level in FY 2026. While this critical investment was advocated for by the Council, other key programs like foster care and childcare vouchers remain without funding. In its Preliminary Budget Response, the Council called for the Administration to fully fund foster care payments to families at $134.1 million and the Executive Budget fails to invest any of this funding for Fiscal Year 2026. Currently, ACS faces a funding deficit for its administration of the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) that could lead to 4,000-7,000 families a month losing access to care. The recently passed state budget allocated $350 million towards this program and requires New York City to match it with at least $328 million in funds. No funding for this purpose was included in the Executive Budget.

The Mayor’s Executive Budget includes $1.3 billion for DYCD for FY 2026, which is an addition of $77.8 million from the Preliminary Budget and $88.4 million less than the adopted FY 2025 budget. It includes a baseline funding increase of $18.9 million for the Summer Youth Employment Program and $10 million in one-time funding to restore adult literacy programs – both have been Council priorities, with this latter amount funded entirely by the Council in the FY 2025 budget. The Executive Budget includes an additional $21.3 million in FY 2026 for after-school programs, as well as $297.4 million in FY 2027, and $331.4 million beginning in FY 2028. While these investments purport to expand the Comprehensive After School System of New York City (COMPASS) seats, with 5,000 added in FY 2026 and a gradual increase to 20,000 in future years, they do not address the currently inadequate rate that underfunds providers to administer the program. This per-student rate has forced many providers to reduce services, including lowering headcount, and decrease salaries that threatens staff hiring. Additionally, housing and services for LGBTQIA+ youth, and contract extensions and support staff for runaway and homeless youth programs were omitted from the Executive Budget.

The following programs were outlined in the Council’s Preliminary Budget Response, but were left out of the Mayor’s FY 2026 Executive Budget:

COMPASS System Funding to Achieve Per Participant Funding Rates

The Comprehensive After-School System of New York City (COMPASS) for school-aged children is comprised of several different models, the largest being COMPASS Elementary and Schools Out NYC (SONYC) Middle School programs. The existing contracts for COMPASS and SONYC have not been updated since 2011 and 2015 and do not reflect the growing needs of program providers, particularly their increased costs. In January 2025, the Department of Youth and Community Development’s providers received notification that their contracts would be extended through 2028. But this extension did not reflect any increase in the current per-student rate: $2,800 – $3,200 for COMPASS and $3,200 for SONYC.

To ensure seats are fully funded, the Council proposed that the Administration provide the necessary funding to increase the current COMPASS contract in FY2026 to a rate of $4,900 for COMPASS (Elementary) and $4,150 for SONYC (Middle School). This rate increase would cost an additional $154.3 million in FY 2026 Funding higher base rates for after-school programs will provide financial stability for providers and allow for the appropriate continuation of the City’s after-school system. However, the Executive Budget did not address the deficit in this rate, while claiming to increase the overall number of seats and leaving a significant gap.

Runaway and Homeless Youth Contract Extension

The recent contract extension provided by DYCD to runaway and homeless youth (RHY) service providers does not reflect any increase in the cost per bed, set at approximately $47,000 – $55,000. This falls short of covering the true cost of running the programs and does not address providers’ deficits to operation the program. With the number of youth requiring shelter continuing to increase, the Council proposed that the Administration initiate a Request for Proposals (RFP) that would allow for changes to the existing contracts and provide a baselined addition of $16.6 million for this program starting in FY 2026, in order to increase the per bed rate for all current RHY contracts within the Department to $70,000. This additional funding would address the increased operational costs of running the programs, yet it was not included in the Mayor’s Executive Budget.

LGBTQIA+ Youth and Young Adult Housing and Related Services

While the Preliminary Budget included $6 million for 100 new beds for the RHY program, a large portion of the cohort of RHY identify as LGBTQIA+ and often have a distinct set of needs. In order to meet the specific needs of LGBTQIA+ youth, the Council proposed an addition of $10 million in baseline funding, beginning in FY2026, for moving LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults from the streets to permanent housing and supporting non-profits that specialize in LGBTQIA+ youth housing and services, including operators of LGBTQIA+ youth shelters. The funding would also be used to enhance LGBTQIA+ youth respite services and to hire more housing navigators and peer navigators.

Peer Navigators Runaway and Homeless Youth

The Council has pushed for the Administration to expand shelter services and capacity for young people experiencing homelessness in the Department of Youth and Community Development’s youth shelter system. There remains a significant need for age-appropriate support strategies to prevent youth homelessness, and the Council proposed the Administration include $1.6 million in FY 2026 for RHY Peer Navigators at City-funded Drop-in-Centers. Peer Navigators provide support to some of the most vulnerable runaway and homeless youth and young adults in the shelter system, build connections with young people that assist in the assessment of their needs and supporting their advocacy and problem solving. The peer mentorship and its associated services, including financial tools and support, help youth get on the path to more stable lives.

Runaway and Homeless Youth Funding Restoration-Housing Navigators

Housing Navigators assist those entering RHY drop-in-centers to find permanent safe housing options. In FY 2025, $1.6 million was added to fund 16 Housing Navigators in the Department of Youth and Community Development. These funds were not baselined past the current fiscal year. In recent years, the City’s homeless youth shelter system’s capacity has been severely strained. Housing Navigators are a necessary part of the RHY shelter system, providing relief for the strained system by offering youth the means to discontinue their reliance on the system. There is a critical need to restore funding for Housing Navigators. The Council proposes the Administration restore and baseline $1.6 million for 16 Housing Navigator positions to assist and connect the homeless youth of New York City to safe housing.

Foster Care Payments Funding

In successive financial plans, mayoral administrations have not adequately budgeted for the true spending costs of vital programs that serve New Yorkers. Instead, the Administration will allocate a minimum amount at the start of the Fiscal Year and add funding throughout the year for major programs. In the Preliminary Budget Response, the Council urged the Administration to allocate $134.1 million to fully fund payments to foster care families and end continued underbudgeting.

Childcare Comprehensive Reform

In the past few fiscal years, the Council has secured funding and reforms of the early childhood education system, including extended day and extended year seats in the 3-K system and re-established outreach and marketing efforts, and supported access to childcare for all children. The City provides Pre-K and 3-K throughout the city in either schools or Family Child Care services providers. For infants and toddlers (ages 0-2), the City operates a childcare voucher system through the State Child Care Assistance Program. The Administration has made significant strides in growing this service, which the Council has supported. The Council has also been instrumental in the creation of Promise NYC to fund greater access to early childhood education programs for New York City families.

State and federal funding guidelines only exclude families from accessing childcare vouchers because they are just above the income eligibility parameters. The Council believes that the City needs to take the first step in a multi-pronged approach for the eventual implementation of a universal, needs blind, low-cost, early childhood education system for children ages 0-5, providing a seat for every family that wants one. For the first step, the Council proposed increasing the income eligibility for infant and toddler childcare vouchers to 100 percent of SMI.

The Council has also proposed re-envisioning Promise NYC to focus more intentionally on infants and toddlers, removing income and documentation requirements, taking its first steps in providing a universal childcare system that covers all families. The Executive Plan includes $25.0 million in City funding in Fiscal 2026 only to continue approximately 1,000 slots in the Promise NYC programs. Since its inception in Fiscal 2023, funding for Promise NYC has been added on a year-to-year basis and has not been baselined. The Council called for funding for Promise NYC to be baselined in the Fiscal 2026 Preliminary Budget Response.

Council- Funded Initiatives for Children and Youth

The Council’s funding initiatives address gaps in children and youth services that offer vital programs and support to young people across the city. The approximately $15.7 million for various city-wide youth services support programs like the Citywide Young Adult Entrepreneurship Program Initiative, YouthBuild, a comprehensive education, training, service and leadership development program for young adults who have left high school without a diploma, and Sports Training and Role-models for Success Initiative (STARS), which provides afterschool programming that promotes physical activity, healthy living, and wellness for elementary, middle, and high school girls.

Council funding also closes gaps in community development programs, with approximately $42.7 million for various initiatives that support increased language access, AAPI communities, LGBTQIA+ and trans equity programs, and nonprofit organizations serving communities of color. It is critical that this funding, left out of the Mayor’s Executive Budget, is included in the final budget through a continued full commitment towards Council discretionary funding.     

DHS Hits Back at Tim Walz’s Dangerous Rhetoric Comparing ICE to Gestapo

 

While politicians like Gov. Walz fight to protect criminal illegal aliens, ICE officers will continue risking their lives to arrest murderers, kidnappers, and pedophiles  

Following Governor Tim Walz’s sickening rhetoric calling Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents “Trump’s modern-day Gestapo,” the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is setting the facts straight on the bravery of our ICE enforcement agents. Every day they risk their lives to arrest vicious criminal illegal aliens let into our country by the previous administration.  

“Governor Walz’s comments comparing ICE agents to the Gestapo is sickening. This type of rhetoric and demonization of ICE officers has led to our officers facing a 413% increase in assaults,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “While politicians like Walz fight to protect criminal illegal aliens, our ICE officers will continue putting their lives and safety on the line to arrest murderers, kidnappers, and pedophiles that were let into our country by the previous administration’s open border policies.” 

Below are just a few examples of violent criminal aliens ICE has arrested in Tim Walz’s Minnesota: 

On May 1, 2025, ICE arrested Abdirashid Elmi, a 50-year-old illegal alien from Somalia. His criminal history includes convictions for murder, driving while intoxicated, and disorderly conduct. 

On April 24th, ICE announced the arrest of Erick Martinez Mondragon, a 25-year-old illegal alien from Mexico and a member of the 18th Street gang. He served time for robbery and possession of a firearm. 

On April 25, ICE announced the arrest of Marco Quizhpi Granda, an illegal criminal alien from Ecuador. He was previously convicted for criminal sexual conduct with a child. 

On January 26, 2025, ICE arrested Octavio Juarez-Bonilla, an illegal alien from Mexico. He previously possessed child pornography on a work computer. 

On February 19, 2025, ICE arrested Thailand Oh, a 25-year-old illegal alien from Laos. Oh’s criminal history includes convictions for domestic assault and weapons charges. Oh has had a final order of removal since April 5, 2024.

On May 9, 2025, ICE arrested Jorge Padilla Mendez, an illegal alien from Ecuador. He was previously arrested for robbery. Padilla was ordered removed by an immigration judge on August 28, 2024. 

On May 9th, ICE announced the arrest of Abymahel Torres-Arriaga, a 36-year-old illegal alien from Mexico. He has a conviction for selling heroin/meth/fentanyl from the Goodhue County District Court in Red Wing, MN. 

On May 8th ICE announced the arrest of Edgar David Felipe-Mendez, an illegal alien from Guatemala. He has a previous conviction of conspiracy to sell heroin/meth/fentanyl from the Goodhue County District Court in Red Wing, MN,  

On April 30, 2025, ICE arrested Blong Yang, His past criminal convictions include carrying a concealed weapon and fourth degree sexual assault. Yang has had a final order of removal since April 19, 2023.  

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Governor Hochul Announces Launch of 2025 Regional Economic Development Council Initiative

New ACHIEVE Competition Will Award $150 Million To Support High-Impact Transformational Regional Initiatives

Governor Hochul Appoints New Chair of the Regional Economic Development Councils

New York State Consolidated Funding Application Open Now Through July 31 With Available Funding From More Than 20 Programs

2025 REDC Initiative Guidebook Available Here

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the launch of the 2025 Regional Economic Development Council Initiative (REDC). Since 2011, the REDC has been the cornerstone of a bottom-up approach to economic development that allows the State's 10 Regional Councils to support projects that advance strategic regional and statewide priorities. New in 2025 is the Governor’s $150 million Advancing Collaboration for High-impact Initiatives for Economic Visions & Expansion competition — ACHIEVE — aimed at empowering the REDCs to advance catalytic economic development projects backed by enhanced implementation funding to jump-start regional growth. Additionally, the Governor today announced the appointment of New York Secretary of State, Walter T. Mosley, as Chair of the REDC Initiative.

“The dedicated work of the Regional Economic Development Councils, focused on encouraging public-private partnerships, has had a transformational impact across New York State,” Governor Hochul said. “The regionally designed plans will support the goals of the new ACHIEVE competition, creating investment opportunities that will help to build a more sustainable, successful future for all New Yorkers.”

ACHIEVE Competition

The ACHIEVE competition will invite each REDC to present a transformational regional initiative, with the strongest proposals receiving up to $50 million in implementation funding to advance anchor projects. REDCs can also choose to partner on a joint multi-regional proposal for up to $75 million in funding. Regions will collaborate with local stakeholders to develop an actionable roadmap featuring high-impact, shovel-ready projects and regional partnerships to guide implementation. The ACHIEVE submissions will be presented to a Strategic Implementation Assessment Team comprised of members of the Governor's Cabinet that identifies the winning regions for 2025.

Regional Council Capital Funds

Up to $60 million in Regional Council Capital Funds will be made available in the 2025 Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) to facilitate projects that advance each region’s strategic plan and state priorities. The $60 million available includes up to $8 million in capital funding for tourism-related projects, previously offered through the Market New York Capital Grant program, intended to support capital investments that will strengthen the State’s tourism initiatives.

Consolidated Funding Application

The CFA portal is now open for the 2025 programs. For programs subject to the deadline, applications must be submitted by Thursday, July 31 at 4 p.m. Open enrollment programs are not subject to the July 31 deadline and will continue to accept applications on an ongoing basis until funds are exhausted. The 2025 REDC Guidebook, the 2025 Resources Available, and other key documents are available here.

The Regional Councils will score projects submitted through the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA), the State's streamlined application for State resources which includes programs from numerous agencies. This year, the CFA includes grant funds and tax credits available through more than 20 programs administered by eight State agencies and authorities. Regional Councils will review projects and provide scores that reflect how well a project aligns with a region's goals and strategies.

CFA Workshops will be held throughout the State for applicants to attend and learn about programs offered through the REDC initiative and other State programs. A full schedule of workshops can be found here.

The REDC process continues to support and empower regional stakeholders in developing strategic plans and funding priorities that meet local economic needs. To date, through the REDC Initiative, more than $8 billion has been awarded to more than 10,000 job creation and community development projects consistent with each region's strategic plan. 

Attorney General James’ Office of Special Investigation Releases Report on Death of Kent Edwards

 

New York Attorney General Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation (OSI) released its report on the death of Kent Edwards, who died on December 14, 2023 following an encounter with the New York City Police Department (NYPD) in Manhattan. After a thorough investigation, which included review of footage from body-worn cameras, interviews with involved officers and witnesses, and comprehensive legal analysis, OSI concluded that a prosecutor would not be able to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that the officer’s actions were justified under New York law. 

On the afternoon of December 14, NYPD officers with the Manhattan Warrant Section went to a residence on Manhattan’s Lower East Side to apprehend Mr. Edwards. Mr. Edwards was a suspect in an October 18, 2023 shooting that left one person injured. When officers arrived at the apartment, a woman opened the door and informed officers that Mr. Edwards was in the apartment and had a gun. The woman and a second woman left the apartment, and officers attempted to engage in dialogue with Mr. Edwards from the threshold of the open apartment door. 

For two hours, officers attempted to get Mr. Edwards to come out of the apartment but failed. Officers then moved a few feet further into the apartment, and Mr. Edwards emerged from the end of the small hallway and shot at the officers four times. An officer discharged his service weapon, striking Mr. Edwards. Mr. Edwards was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. 

Under New York’s justification law, a police officer may use deadly physical force when the officer reasonably believes it to be necessary to defend against the use of deadly physical force by another. In this case, officers arrived at the apartment to apprehend Mr. Edwards for a previous shooting incident in which he was a suspect. When officers arrived, they were informed Mr. Edwards had a gun. Officers attempted to negotiate with Mr. Edwards, but when they eventually entered the apartment, Mr. Edwards fired at them. Under these circumstances, given the law and the evidence, a prosecutor would not be able to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that the officer’s use of deadly physical force against Mr. Edwards was justified, and therefore OSI determined that criminal charges would not be pursued in this matter.

MAYOR ADAMS, CITY PLANNING KICK OFF PUBLIC REVIEW ON MTA PROJECT TO CREATE NEARLY 700 HOMES ABOVE FUTURE 125TH STREET SUBWAY STOP

 

Proposal Will Deliver Over 150 Permanently-Affordable and Income-Restricted Homes Above Future Subway Station in East Harlem 

  

Announcement Marks First Non-City Application to Utilize New Zoning Tools from “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity” to Deliver More Housing 

  

Proposal Will Help Fulfill Mayor Adams’ “Manhattan Plan” to Build 100,000 New Homes Across Borough Over Next Decade 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of City Planning (DCP) Director and City Planning Commission (CPC) Chair Dan Garodnick announced the start of the public review process on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) 125th and Lexington Rezoning application, an MTA proposal to transform a vacant lot at the corner of East 125th Street and Lexington Avenue in East Harlem into a mixed-use tower with nearly 700 new homes, including over 150 affordable homes. The proposal — which marks the first non-city led land use application to begin public review using the new, high-density zoning districts enabled by Mayor Adams’ “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity” plan — will sit above the future terminus of the Second Avenue Subway. Finally, the proposal will help achieve Mayor Adams’ “Manhattan Plan,” first announced in his fourth State of the City address earlier this year, to review zoning across the whole of Manhattan, unlock potential housing sites for development, and add 100,000 new homes to the borough. 

  

“From our historic ‘City of Yes’ plan to our sweeping neighborhood rezonings, this is the most pro-housing administration in New York City history — full stop,” said Mayor Adams. “These generational initiatives are already making a difference in our city, with proposals like this one in East Harlem taking advantage of ‘City of Yes’ to bring hundreds of homes to the neighborhood. Thank you to the MTA for submitting this ambitious idea that will bring together housing and transit, and for working with the city to deliver the homes that New Yorkers need.” 

  

“With great access to transportation and a thriving commercial corridor, this corner of East Harlem is exactly the right place to build high-destiny, mixed-income housing, and retail opportunities,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Adolfo Carrión, Jr. “This kind of development is possible through the changes our administration has secured through ‘City of Yes,’ and I commend the MTA for being a partner with us to transform this site into a place of high-quality homes and business opportunity.” 

  

“The new zoning districts we created through ‘City of Yes’ to allow more housing are designed for central, transit-rich locations — and there’s no place closer to transit than directly above a subway station,” said DCP Director and CPC Chair Garodnick. “I look forward to the City Planning Commission’s review of this proposal, which has the potential to transform a vacant site in the heart of Harlem into hundreds of urgently needed homes.” 

  

“Access to transit makes living in New York more convenient and affordable, and this area has all kinds of subway, bus, and commuter rail access,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “With the coming Second Avenue Subway extension, this area continues to become even more attractive.” 

  

Located directly above the site of the future East 125th Street Q train station, the proposed building would rise to 38 stories high and include approximately 680 new homes, with roughly 150 permanently affordable and income-restricted units. 

  

This centrally located site has sat undeveloped since the closure of the Pathmark supermarket in 2015, saddled with lower-density zoning that did not fully reflect the site’s location on the iconic and transit-rich 125th Street. By shifting to a C6-11 zoning district with a residential Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 15, the proposal takes advantage of new zoning districts created through “City of Yes” and new tools from Albany to lift the outdated “FAR cap,” opening the door to more housing units on the location. Following successful advocacy in Albany, New York City created new, higher-density zoning districts like this one, which require Mandatory Inclusionary Housing and are powerful tools to create urgently-needed homes for New Yorkers at a wide range of income levels. 

  

This certification by the CPC marks the beginning of the roughly seven-month public review process for the proposal, which will include reviews by Manhattan Community Board 11 and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, followed by hearings and binding votes at the CPC and the New York City Council. 

  

Proposals like the one at East 125th Street and Lexington Avenue that take advantage of new zoning tools will be crucial to realizing Mayor Adams’ Manhattan Plan that will add 100,000 new homes to the borough over the next decade. Additionally, Mayor Adams’ Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan would map new, higher-density zoning districts across 42 Manhattan blocks where housing today is largely not permitted, creating around 9,700 homes — including up to 2,800 of them income-restricted and permanently affordable — in Midtown and helping fulfill Mayor Adams’ Manhattan Plan goals. 

  

Since entering office, Mayor Adams has made historic investments toward creating affordable housing and ensuring more New Yorkers have a place to call home. DCP is advancing several robust neighborhood plans that, if adopted, would deliver more than 40,000 units over the next 15 years, including plans in Midtown South in Manhattan, and both Jamaica and Long Island City in Queens. Earlier this month, the New York City Council Land Use and Zoning Committees unanimously voted in favor of the Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan, while, last year, the City Council approved the Bronx-Metro North Station Area Plan, which will create approximately 7,000 homes and 10,000 permanent jobs in the East Bronx.   

  

Moreover, last December, Mayor Adams celebrated the passage of City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, the most pro-housing proposal in city history that will build 80,000 new homes over 15 years. Last month, Mayor Adams announced that New York City will invest $24.7 billion in housing as part of its 10-Year Capital Strategy — including $1 billion as part of City of Yes — as well as make new investments to create and preserve nearly 6,000 units of supportive housing, renovate thousands of New York City Housing Authority units, provide legal services for tenants, and more. Mayor Adams celebrated back-to-back record breaking fiscal years, as well as back-to-back calendar years in both creating and connecting New Yorkers to affordable housing. Last spring, the city celebrated the largest 100 percent affordable housing project in 40 years with the Willets Point transformation.  

  

Further, the Adams administration is using every tool available to address the city's housing crisis. Mayor Adams announced multiple new tools, including a $4 million state grant, to help New York City homeowners create accessory dwelling units that will not only help older adults afford to remain in the communities they call home but also help build generational wealth.  

 

In addition to creating more housing opportunities, the Adams administration is actively working to strengthen tenant protections and support homeowners. The Partners in Preservation Program was expanded citywide in 2024 through an $11 million investment in local organizations to support tenant organizing and combat harassment in rent-regulated housing. The Homeowner Help Desk, a trusted one-stop shop for low-income homeowners to receive financial and legal counseling from local organizations, was also expanded citywide in 2024 with a $9.85 million funding commitment. 

  

Finally, Mayor Adams and members of his administration successfully advocated for new tools in the 2024 New York state budget that will spur the creation of urgently needed housing. These tools include a new tax incentive for multifamily rental construction, a tax incentive program to encourage office conversions to create more affordable units, lifting the arbitrary “floor-to-area ratio” cap that held back affordable housing production in certain high-demand areas of the city, and the ability to create a pilot program to legalize and make safe basement apartments.