Mayor Mamdani Appoints Bharti Sharma Executive Director of the Center for Innovation through Data Intelligence

 

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced the appointment of Bharti Sharma as Executive Director of the Center for Innovation through Data Intelligence (CIDI).  

 

“Bharti Sharma has dedicated her career to using data as a tool to improve people’s lives,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Whether leading our city’s public health response during the global COVID-19 pandemic or building systems to make government more effective, she has shown how responsible, creative use of data can help solve our city's most pressing issues. Her leadership will help City government deliver better services and real results that New Yorkers deserve.” 

 

“Bharti Sharma brings unmatched experience and expertise that will be invaluable as we coordinate comprehensive, citywide solutions for health and social services,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Helen Arteaga. “I am confident that she will be an exceptional leader as we work to provide solutions for all New Yorkers.” 

 

“It is an honor to serve the people of New York City in this role,” said Bharti Sharma, Executive Director, Center for Innovation through Data Intelligence. “CIDI sits at an extraordinary intersection where government, data, and human impact converge and that is precisely where I want to be. I’ve spent my career inside public health systems, seeing firsthand how the right data or the absence of it shapes outcomes for real people. I come ready to listen, to build, and to ensure that the work we do here delivers for every New Yorker.” 

 

Founded in 2011, CIDI conducts interagency research to identify gaps in City services and improve outcomes for New Yorkers. The center works across Health and Human Service (HHS) agencies and other City partners to use data, research and collaboration to inform policy and strengthen service delivery. Sharma most recently served as Senior Director of Data and AI Strategic Enablement and Operations at NYC Health + Hospitals, the nation’s largest municipal health system, which includes more than 70 care locations and 11 acute care hospitals. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she designed and led the systemwide COVID-19 Intelligence Hub, providing executive leadership with real-time data on ICU capacity, emergency department throughput, bed availability, surge planning, ventilator supply and other critical operational metrics. She also led the development of the City’s testing and vaccination wait-time dashboards. 

  

Following the pandemic, Sharma founded and scaled the Data Champion Program to more than 300 embedded champions across every hospital, central office and ambulatory site in the system. She also led the Data Academy, which has trained more than 500 staff members. Together, those programs generated an estimated $4.75 million to $5.5 million in annual cost avoidance while establishing NYC H+H’s enterprise data governance framework as a nationally recognized for responsible data use. 

 

Sharma holds a Bachelor of Dental Surgery, a Master of Health Administration from Hofstra University and a Master of Science in Information Systems Engineering and Management from Harrisburg University. 

 

Mayor Mamdani Expands Emergency Heat Measures to Protect New Yorkers During Historic Holiday Weekend Heat Wave

 

Additional cooling centers, intensified outreach and extended pool hours will help New Yorkers stay safe as temperatures may feel as hot as 112 degrees  

  

New actions build on Monday’s announcement of 21 COOL vans, cooling stations for outdoor workers and expanded protections for workers during extreme heat   

  

Mayor prepares New Yorkers for extreme heat in new PSA released today  

As a historic heat wave begins today and continues into the holiday weekend, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani today released a new video PSA urging every New Yorker to make a heat plan, check on neighbors and loved ones and take advantage of the resources available across all five boroughs.  

  

The Mayor convened leaders across City government yesterday to announce additional emergency measures to protect New Yorkers. Building on Monday’s unprecedented Heat Emergency Plan, the Mamdani administration is expanding cooling centers, extending outdoor pool hours, increasing outreach to vulnerable New Yorkers and taking additional steps to keep people safe in temperatures that may feel as hot as 112 degrees.   

  

Additional actions to provide New Yorkers relief include:  

•   Extending hours at Olympic- and intermediate-sized outdoor pools until 8:30 p.m., even later than prior heat wave extensions.  

•   Opening eight additional City buildings as cooling centers from noon through midnight July 3-5.  

•   Opening 10 additional public library branches as cooling centers through the holiday weekend.  

•   Expanding outreach by adding 150 volunteers, bringing the City’s total street outreach workforce to more than 600 people.   

•   Asking all businesses to set thermostats to 78 degrees and encouraging all New Yorkers to conserve energy during peak demand.  

  

These steps build on Monday’s measures, including:  

•   Mobilizing 21 Cooling Outreach On-Location (COOL) vans to support New Yorkers in need and perform in-home wellness checks on older adults.  

•   Opening additional cooling centers and real-time cooling center wayfinding on thousands of LinkNYC kiosks.  

•  Creating pop-up cooling stations for outdoor workers and large-scale outreach to over 75,000 businesses to ensure workers are safe and protected during the heat.  

  

“I am asking every New Yorker to make a heat plan before the worst of this weather arrives,” said Mayor Mamdani. “The best protection against extreme heat is air conditioning. If you don’t have it at home, know now where you’ll go to stay cool. Check in on your neighbors, especially seniors, and if you see someone outside who appears to be in distress, call 311 so we can get help to them. This administration is using every tool we have to keep New Yorkers safe, but the strongest city is one where neighbors look out for one another.”  

  

“We have deployed every resource this city has, but our most powerful tool isn’t a forecast or a cooling center. It’s a New Yorker,” said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Christina Farrell. “The neighbor who knocks on the door, the family member who calls to check in, the stranger who stops to help. This holiday week, we are asking every New Yorker to look out for one another so that no one faces this heat alone. Visit nyc.gov/beattheheat or call 311 to find a cooling center near you and get the resources you need to beat the heat.”  

  

Activating Cooling Centers and Cool Options  

Today, the City will activate hundreds of cooling centers to provide free, public air-conditioned spaces to New Yorkers. Locations, including accessible and pet-friendly options, can be found at finder.nyc.gov/coolingcenters/ or by calling 311. Service animals are always allowed.  

  

In response to the historic, sustained heat and holiday weekend, Mayor Mamdani is converting additional locations to cooling centers from July 3 through July 5, including:  

•   Four Brooklyn Public Library branches: Central Library; Brighton Beach Library; Saratoga Library; Sunset Park Library.  

•   Three additional New York Public Library branches: Grand Concourse Library in the Bronx; Countee Cullen Library in Manhattan; Port Richmond Library on Staten Island.  

•   Three Queens Public Library branches: Central Library; Jackson Heights; Far Rockaway.  

•   Eight additional DCAS facilities: The David N. Dinkins Municipal Building, 22 Reade Street and 100 Gold Senior Center in Manhattan; Brooklyn Borough Hall and NYCEM Headquarters in Brooklyn; The Bergen Building in the Bronx; Queens Borough Hall in Queens; and Staten Island Borough Hall on Staten Island.  

•   Three Neighborhood Health Action Centers.  

•   The Javits Center.  

  

Mayor Mamdani has also activated more than 2,200 LinkNYC kiosks to display real-time walking directions to the nearest NYC Cooling Center within a 10-minute walk. The initiative builds on the success of last winter’s warming center campaign — the largest public service initiative in LinkNYC’s 10-year history — by adding automated data integration and real-time updates to provide faster, more accurate guidance when New Yorkers need it most.  

  

New Yorkers can find additional relief at outdoor cool options like spray showers by visiting on.nyc.gov/CoolItNYC.   

  

The City’s roughly 50 outdoor pools are free and open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. During the heat emergency, Olympic- and intermediate-sized pools will be open until 8:30 p.m. — a half hour longer than prior heat wave extensions and 1.5 hours later than normal operating days.  

   

Public beaches are free and open daily with lifeguards on duty between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Swimming in restricted areas or when a lifeguard is not on duty is prohibited and very dangerous.  

  

Local firehouses will distribute free spray caps to adults 18 and older to turn fire hydrants into sprinklers.  

   

Deploying COOL Vans & Performing In-Home Wellness Checks for Older Adults  

Mayor Mamdani is launching 21 COOL vans to provide New Yorkers with wellness checks; medical care; resources like electrolytes and sunscreen; meals including vegetarian, kosher and halal options; and transport to cooling centers or healthcare facilities. COOL vans are operated by NYC Health + Hospitals and staffed by medical providers who will also be checking in on older adults in their homes to provide them with relief from the heat.  

  

Intensifying Street Outreach  

The City will intensify street canvassing and outreach under Code Red from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. during all heat advisory days to connect homeless neighbors to shelter, cooling centers and essential supplies.   

  

Using years of data from outreach from 311 and from the HOPE Count, the Department of Social Services (DSS) has broken the city into zones that are walkable or drivable in a shift. For the historic heat wave, DSS has added an additional 150 volunteers for a total of over 600 outreach workers.  

  

Shelter is available system-wide to anyone experiencing homelessness, and walk-ins are welcome.   

  

Anyone who sees a person experiencing homelessness who may need assistance is encouraged to call 311.  

  

Safeguarding Workers’ Health and Safety  

The City is deploying pop-up outdoor cooling stations with water, misting fans and cooling towels for outdoor workers including street vendors, deliveristas and day laborers. The initiative expands last year’s pilot of two pop-up cooling stations to seven through partnerships with community-based organizations.   

  

The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) as well as the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) are contacting more than 75,000 businesses to encourage heat illness plans and remind workers that they can use Protected Time Off for heat-related health issues.  

  

Protecting Energy Grid Reliability  

The City is asking every business and every New Yorker to do their part in protecting energy grid reliability by setting their thermostats to 78 degrees and holding off on running major appliances until early morning or late at night. The City has also worked with the Times Square Alliance to request sign operators to lower energy consumption by reducing brightness.  

  

Health and Safety Guidance  

New Yorkers are urged to stay hydrated, limit outdoor activity during peak heat hours and seek air-conditioned spaces whenever possible.  

  

Residents should check on vulnerable neighbors — especially older adults, people with disabilities and people with chronic illnesses — and loved ones, recognize the warning signs of heat illness and help others who may be at greater risk.   

  

Call 911 immediately if you or someone you know has hot, dry skin, trouble breathing, rapid heartbeat, confusion, disorientation, dizziness, nausea or vomiting.   

  

Never leave children, adults or pets in cars.   

  

Stay informed by signing up for Notify NYC, the City’s free emergency communications program, by texting NOTIFYNYC to 692-692 and visiting nyc.gov/beattheheat for more health and safety guidance.  

  

“Extreme heat is forecasted for this week, which can lead to severe health impacts both outdoors and indoors,” said DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin. “Hot and humid weather is not just uncomfortable but can be deadly. Using air conditioning is the best way to stay safe during hot weather. We also urge New Yorkers to stay hydrated, check on loved ones and take simple steps to conserve energy so we can help keep power flowing across our city. If you don’t have an air conditioner, please utilize a cooling center.”  

  

“As we prepare for this unprecedented heat emergency, we are deploying a robust on-the-ground operation,” said DSS Commissioner Erin Dalton. “Outreach teams, trained volunteers and clinical staff will canvass high-impact areas to ensure block-by-block coverage and connect at-risk individuals to cooling resources, drop-in centers, shelters and medical care. We are using every tool at our disposal to make sure that no New Yorker is overlooked during this period of dangerous weather.”  

  

“Extreme heat is not just uncomfortable; it can be dangerous and life-threatening, especially for the nearly 1.8 million older adults who call New York City home,” said Department for the Aging Commissioner Dr. Lisa Scott-McKenzie. “Heat-related illnesses and deaths are preventable, but protecting our most vulnerable residents requires preparation and a shared community responsibility. Over the coming days when temperatures are expected to reach 100 degrees, we urge older New Yorkers to keep their air conditioning on, stay hydrated and utilize the City’s resources, including the hundreds of cooling centers across the five boroughs, which will be activated to keep you safe, cool and connected.”  

  

“As New York City enters into an unprecedented busy summer, the FDNY is ready to meet the challenges that come with extreme heat and increased activity across the five boroughs,” said Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore. “We are asking New Yorkers to do their part to stay safe. Heat-related emergencies can happen quickly, and taking precautions early can make all the difference.”  

  

“People with disabilities face higher risk in extreme heat,” said Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities Commissioner Nisha Agarwal. “It is essential that New Yorkers with disabilities have access to this critical information to stay safe. Make a heat plan — check in with your support networks, talk to your doctor about heat sensitivity, have a backup power plan, keep essential devices charged and stay cool.”    

  

“Temperatures are rising and we are doing our part to help New Yorkers and city employees stay safe while working in the heat,” said DCAS Commissioner Yume Kitasei. “Our main focus during heat events is providing timely, practical guidance for employees on preventing heat illness, recognizing the warning signs of heat-related emergencies and offering good advice for all New Yorkers — stay hydrated. We will also be opening some of our buildings as cooling centers to aid in efforts to stay cool; visit NYCEM's cooling center page for more information and to find the closest center near you.”  

  

“We urge all New Yorkers to take steps to prepare for extreme heat. NYC Parks provides a variety of ways to help New Yorkers cool off in high temperatures — our free public beaches and outdoor pools are open every day this summer, and New Yorkers can use the Cool It! NYC map on our website to locate drinking fountains and spray showers around the city, as well as places to stay in the shade,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura. “Remember, when visiting our beaches, the safest choice you can make is to only swim where and when lifeguards are on duty and obey all riptide warnings.”  

  

“As we experience more frequent heat waves, ensuring access to safe and affordable cooling options are some of the most effective ways to protect New Yorkers whether they live, work or play,” said NYC Chief Climate Officer Louise Yeung. “From safer homes and cooler neighborhoods to stronger worker protections, we are building a more resilient city for all.”  

  

“With extreme heat in the forecast, drinking NYC’s great‑tasting tap water is the best way to safely stay hydrated,” said DEP Commissioner Lisa F. Garcia. “I also want to remind New Yorkers that illegally opening fire hydrants is dangerous and wastes more than 1,000 gallons of water per minute, reducing pressure needed for homes, businesses and firefighters responding to emergencies. Please request a City‑approved spray cap from your local firehouse and report any open hydrants to 311 — it’s the easiest way to preserve our water supply and keep communities cool.”  

  

“While extreme heat affects all New Yorkers, members of the construction industry who regularly perform strenuous work outdoors are particularly vulnerable,” said Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani. “The heat advisory issued by the Department to contractors, site safety professionals and other industry stakeholders is intended to underscore our shared responsibility to protect workers from the dangers of prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures. At a minimum, all job sites should implement OSHA’s guidelines to prevent heat-related illnesses and employers can look for additional information from our sister agencies NYCEM or DOHMH to help strengthen their existing protocols. This advisory is one component of the Administration’s coordinated, multi-agency response to extreme heat, and we urge all New Yorkers to look out for one another throughout the duration of this weather event.”  

    

AIR QUALITY HEALTH ADVISORY ISSUED FOR NEW YORK CITY METRO AND LONG ISLAND REGIONS

In Effect for July 1, 2026

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton and State Department of Health (DOH) Commissioner Dr. James McDonald issued an Air Quality Health Advisory for Wednesday, July 1, 2026, for ozone for the New York City Metro and Long Island regions. 

The pollutant of concern: Ozone 

The Air Quality Health Advisory regions consist of: New York City Metro, which includes New York City and Rockland and Westchester counties and Long Island, which includes Nassau and Suffolk counties.

DEC and DOH issue Air Quality Health Advisories when DEC meteorologists predict levels of pollution, either ozone or fine particulate matter (PM2.5), are expected to exceed an Air Quality Index (AQI) value of 100. The AQI was created as an easy way to correlate levels of different pollutants to one scale, with a higher AQI value indicating a greater health concern.

People, especially those who have respiratory disease (such as asthma), young children, the elderly, those who exercise outdoors, and those involved in vigorous outdoor work should consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity when ozone levels are the highest (generally afternoon to early evening). When outdoor levels of ozone are elevated, going indoors will usually reduce exposure. Individuals experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, or coughing should consider consulting their personal physician. 

OZONE

Increased heat can lead to the formation of ground-level ozone, a major component of photochemical smog. Automobile exhaust and out-of-state emission sources are the primary sources of ground-level ozone and the most serious air pollution problems in the northeast. This surface pollutant should not be confused with the protective layer of ozone in the upper atmosphere.

Ozone is not directly emitted, instead it is produced when sunlight chemically reacts with nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from automobile exhaust and industrial emissions. High AQI due to ozone is not as visible as PM2.5 because it is a colorless gas but will produce hazy skies and reduce visibility in high concentrations.

Ozone levels generally decrease at night and can be minimized during daylight hours by curtailment of automobile travel and the use of public transportation where available. 

New Yorkers also are urged to take the following energy-saving and pollution-reducing steps: 

• use mass transit or carpool instead of driving, as feasible, as automobile emissions account for about 60 percent of pollution in our cities; 

• conserve fuel and reduce exhaust emissions by combining necessary motor vehicle trips; 

• turn off all lights and electrical appliances in unoccupied areas; 

• use fans to circulate air. If air conditioning is necessary, set thermostats at 78 degrees; 

• close the blinds and shades to limit heat build-up and to preserve cooled air; 

• limit use of household appliances. If necessary, run the appliances at off-peak (after 7 p.m.) hours. These would include dishwashers, dryers, pool pumps and water heaters; 

• set refrigerators and freezers at more efficient temperatures; 

• purchase and install energy efficient lighting and appliances with the Energy Star label; and 

• reduce or eliminate outdoor burning and attempt to minimize indoor sources of PM 2.5 such as smoking. 

Additional information on ozone and PM 2.5 is available on DEC's website and on DOH's website (PM 2.5) / DOH's website (ozone). A new DEC fact sheet about the Air Quality Index is available on DEC’s website or by PDF download.

To stay up-to-date with announcements from DEC, sign up to receive Air Quality Alerts through DEC Delivers: DEC's Premier Email Service. A toll-free Air Quality Hotline (1-800-535-1345) was also established by DEC to keep New Yorkers informed of the latest air quality situation.  

Statement from Mayor Mamdani on Supreme Court Decision to Uphold Birthright Citizenship

 

In response to the Supreme Court’s decision to reaffirm birthright citizenship and strike down the Trump administration’s executive order denying citizenship to children born to immigrant parents without legal status or on temporary visas, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani released the following statement: 

“Today’s Supreme Court ruling affirms a promise that was written into our Constitution more than 150 years ago: if you are born on American soil, you are an American citizen, no matter the color of your skin, where your parents were born, how you worship, or the language you speak at home. This should never have been in doubt. The federal administration sought to rewrite one of the clearest guarantees in our Constitution in an effort to decide who belongs in this country and who does not. Today, the Court rejected that effort. 

“New York City is living proof of the power of birthright citizenship. The children of immigrants are our teachers, nurses, construction workers, small business owners, artists, public servants and neighbors. They are New Yorkers, and they are Americans. 

“So, to every immigrant family across the five boroughs: hear me clearly. You belong here. Your children belong here. No court can erase your humanity. No political agenda will change what we know to be true: this country's diversity is our greatest strength. As long as I am mayor, New York City will defend your rights, protect your dignity and stand shoulder to shoulder with you in the fight for a better America.” 

Detroit Man Pleads Guilty to Leading Role in Huntington-Area Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

 

Joshua Willie McCarver, also known as “TJ,” 28, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. McCarver admitted to a leading role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Huntington area.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 5, 2025, McCarver sold approximately 112 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in exchange for $650 at a Huntington residence. As part of his guilty plea, McCarver admitted that he conducted the transaction, arranged it beforehand by phone with the confidential informant, and directed the confidential informant to the residence where the transaction took place.

McCarver further admitted that between January 2025 and August 2025, he answered phone calls and text message for himself and co-conspirators from drug buyers whom he directed to different co-conspirators to purchase methamphetamine and fentanyl depending on the customers’ prior transactions and location. McCarver also admitted that he received 28 calls during the time period from a confidential informant and completed the sale of drugs to this individual on six occasions in Huntington.

On March 17, 2025, McCarver was traveling in a vehicle from Huntington to Detroit when Ohio law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle. Officers searched the vehicle and found $27,951. Ohio law enforcement officers conducted a separate traffic stop on July 9, 2025, of a vehicle in which McCarver was traveling from Huntington to Detroit and seized approximately $23,453 during a subsequent search of the vehicle. As part of his guilty plea, McCarver admitted that the cash seized during both traffic stops was proceeds from the distribution of fentanyl.

On September 10, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Huntington address and seized approximately 4.29 kilograms of methamphetamine, 337 grams of fentanyl, a loaded .38-caliber pistol, .38-caliber ammunition, and a digital scale. As part of his guilty plea, McCarver admitted that he and other individuals involved in the conspiracy jointly possessed and intended to distribute the seized methamphetamine and fentanyl for money.

McCarver is scheduled to be sentenced on October 13, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10 million. As part of his guilty plea, McCarver admitted to an aggravating role in the drug trafficking conspiracy for sentencing purposes as an organizer, leader, manager, or supervisor of criminal activity.

McCarver is among six defendants who pleaded guilty following their indictment on charges alleging they participated in the DTO while it operated from in or about January 2025 to in or about August 2025. The indictment remains pending against three other defendants. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 

McCarver has a criminal history that includes his prior conviction for distribution of fentanyl in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on December 17, 2018.

“This defendant wasn’t a street-level dealer — he was a leader in a drug trafficking organization that flooded Huntington with methamphetamine while profiting from the addiction and misery of others,” said United States Attorney Moore Capito. “Huntington has already endured more than its share of devastation from the opioid epidemic, and this office will aggressively pursue anyone who thinks they can exploit our communities for a paycheck. We will dismantle drug trafficking organizations from the top down, hold their leaders accountable, and work every day to make our neighborhoods safer.”

Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Cabell County Sheriff's Office, the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, and the Huntington Police Department.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Finney is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. 

Speaker Julie Menin and New York City Council Announce Agreement with Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Fiscal Year 2027 Budget

 

Budget includes historic investment of $1,000 college savings accounts for every public school kindergartner, the largest-ever expansion of Fair Fares, expanded funding for housing vouchers, with investments in parks, libraries, cultural institutions, CUNY, and more

Speaker Menin secures the largest package of capital and expense investments in City Council history

Speaker Julie Menin and the New York City Council today announced an agreement with Mayor Zohran Mamdani on a $125.8 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 budget that makes historic investments to lower the cost of living, expand opportunity, and strengthen essential services for New Yorkers while maintaining responsible fiscal stewardship.

The FY27 budget includes the largest expense budget and capital commitment in Council history, while making significant investments in affordability, educational opportunity, housing stability, parks, libraries, and cultural institutions. The Council also secured $350 million in additional reserves, strengthening New York City’s long-term financial stability.

“With this budget, the Council proved that we could responsibly manage the City’s finances while making transformative investments that lower costs for working families, prevent homelessness, expand opportunity for children, and strengthen the services New Yorkers rely on every day,” said Speaker Julie Menin. “This budget reflects what the Council has believed from the very beginning: New York City does not have to choose between fiscal responsibility and investing in our communities. I want to thank my Council colleagues for their partnership throughout this process and Mayor Mamdani and his administration for working with us to reach an agreement that delivers meaningful results for New Yorkers.”

“Our Administration inherited a budget crisis built on years of undercounting the true cost of running our city. We made a different choice. We balanced this budget without resorting to austerity. We protected the services New Yorkers rely on, while restoring honesty to the City’s finances. We accelerated the affordability agenda by investing in housing, mental health services, parks, libraries, and students of all ages. This agreement proves that fiscal responsibility and public excellence can go hand in hand,” said Mayor Zohran Mamdani. “New Yorkers deserve a government that works as hard as they do – and a government as careful with their money as they are. I want to thank Speaker Julie Menin and the City Council for their partnership in getting this budget across the finish line.”

“Throughout the budget process, the City Council remained steadfast in identifying savings and new revenue opportunities, maintaining a disciplined approach to fiscal management in the face of a budget deficit and an ongoing affordability crisis,” said Council Member Linda Lee, Chair of the Committee on Finance. “As Finance Chair, I have witnessed this Council fight tirelessly to deliver a budget that not only protects the City’s long-term fiscal health but also makes meaningful investments in the cornerstones and lifelines of our communities. Through the restoration of key programs New Yorkers depend on, this budget demonstrates that fiscal responsibility and compassionate governance are not competing priorities. I thank Speaker Menin for her leadership in this budget negotiation process and the advocacy of my colleagues on the Council to help make a difference in the lives of families across our city.”

From the beginning of this year’s budget process, the Council maintained that the City’s budget gap was manageable, and that New York could avoid raising property taxes, raiding reserves, or making unnecessary cuts to essential services. Instead, the Council secured targeted investments that help working families, protect vulnerable New Yorkers, and strengthen the City’s long-term fiscal health.

Among the Council’s signature accomplishments in the FY27 budget are:

Expanding Opportunity and Closing the Wealth Gap

The budget secures funding to start a $1,000 college savings account for every public school kindergartner, an historic tenfold expansion of NYC Kids RISE. In addition to the Council’s initiatives that address the immediate affordability crisis, this $53 million investment helps families build wealth, expand educational opportunity, and increase wages for the next generation.

Expanding Fair Fares and Other Transit Affordability Programs

The Council secured $54 million to fund a major Fair Fares expansion, in addition to the $120.6 million previously allocated. Eligibility will increase to 200% of the federal poverty level, up from 150% — the largest increase since the program began. An additional 340,000 low-income residents will soon have access to half-price subway, bus, and paratransit fares, raising total eligibility to approximately 1.3 million New Yorkers. The budget also includes $700,000 for a pilot program to provide OMNY Cards to CUNY students and additional funding for current programs which provide similar support.

Preventing Homelessness

The agreement includes $175 million in FY27 and $125 million baselined, starting in FY28, to expand access to housing vouchers for New Yorkers facing eviction and experiencing homelessness not currently eligible for CityFHEPS. The Council has long maintained that preventing homelessness is both more humane and more fiscally responsible than managing homelessness after families lose housing. The agreement also settles a lawsuit challenging CityFHEPS reform laws passed by the Council and includes a commitment to pass legislation that creates a housing voucher structure with expanded eligibility criteria and cost-containment controls.

Restoring Funding for Cultural Institutions, Libraries, and Parks

The budget adds $79.1 million to fully restore funding for parks, libraries, and cultural institutions, ensuring New Yorkers continue to have access to the essential facilities that serve as anchors in communities across the five boroughs. This funding includes:

•   Parks Enforcement Patrol, Green Thumb and, Stump Removal: $14.41 million
•   Library Support and Restoration: $34.7 million
•   Cultural Community Support Restoration: $30 million

Protecting Immigrant New Yorkers

The budget fully restores $86.4 million in funding for a range of services to support immigration legal services providers, help cover their loss of federal grants, and maintain the city’s immigration legal services infrastructure that the Council built last year with city agencies.

Delivering Transparency and Accountability Ahead of 25th Anniversary of 9/11

The Council secured $6.25 million for the Department of Investigation (DOI), including $4 million to complete and release its long-awaited report on 9/11 toxins. The funding will help finally deliver transparency and accountability for victims’ families, survivors, first responders, and all those seeking answers on what the City knew and when. Additionally, the Council secured $1 million for 9/11-related field trips for students.

Additional Council Priorities

The agreement also includes significant investments in:

•   Student Support Programs:
  •   Mental Health Continuum
  •   Immigrant Family Engagement
  •   Restorative Justice
  •   Sensory Exploration, Education, and Discovery (SEED)
  •   Student Success Centers
  •   PSAL Athletic Trainers: $360,000
•   City University of New York (CUNY) Programs:
  •   CUNY ASAP: $4.5 million
  •   CUNY Accelerate, Complete, and Engage (ACE): $9.1 million
  •   CUNY Disability Services: $800,000
  •   CUNY Reconnect: $3 million
  •   Early Childcare Workforce Development: $2.5 million
•   Mental Health Program Investments:
  •   Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Expansion: $4.5 million
  •   Intensive Mobile Treatment (IMT) Expansion: $11 million
  •   Crisis Respite Centers: $2.5 million
  •   Mobile Treatment Step Down Program: $4.5 million
•   Older Adult Investments:
  •   Home-Delivered Meals Reimbursement Rate Increase and Expansion: $12 million
  •   Case Management Restoration: $2 million
•   Supportive Housing Repairs: $5.4 million
•   Supportive Housing Preservation: $4.2 million
•   NYCHA Vacant Unit Readiness: $7.5 million
•   Homeowner Support Investments:
  •   Homeowner Help Desk Expansion: $500,000
  •   Homeowner Stabilization Services Initiative, Including Estate Planning Assistance, Foreclosure Prevention, and Deed Theft and Pre-Purchase Counseling: $5.15 million
  •   Heat Pumps in Environmental Justice Communities: $2 million
•   Community Food Connection Program Enhancement: $5 million
•   Wave Makers Program to Provide Free Swimming Instruction: $1.5 million
•   Deliveristas Support Initiative: $2.1 million
•   DSNY Lot Cleaning Staff Expansion: $1.2 million
•   Housing Stability Microgrants for Domestic Violence Survivors: $1.4 million
  •   Increased funding for Domestic Violence and Cybercrimes in Staten Island: $366,000
•   Commission on Racial Equity (CORE) Enhancement: $2.1 million
•   City Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) Enhancement: $1.6 million
•   Pet Food Pantry for Low-Income New Yorkers and Free or Low-Cost Spay and  Neuter Services: $750,000
•   Maternity Infant Reproduction Program Restoration: $583,000
•   DVS Veterans Outreach and Services Expansion: $450,000

The Council will formally adopt the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget at its Stated Meeting on Tuesday, June 30. Additional details on agency funding and budget initiatives will be released following budget adoption.