Committee on Children and Youth meeting
January 30, 2026, 1:00 PM
The Committee on Children and Youth held a hearing on Int 0448-2026, which would amend the City Charter to restructure the responsibilities of the youth board.
What was discussed
- Call to order The Sergeant-at-Arms ran a mic check and opened the January 30, 2026 hearing of the Committee on Children and Youth.
- Chair Althea V. Stevens opens the hearing on restructuring the Youth Board Council Member Althea V. Stevens, Chair of the Committee on Children and Youth, opened the hearing on Int 0448-2026, which would amend the City Charter to restructure the responsibilities and membership of the Youth Board.
- DYCD witnesses sworn in The Committee Counsel administered the affirmation to the Department of Youth and Community Development witnesses, Assistant Commissioner Andrew Miller and Senior Director Sarah Marks.
- DYCD testifies on the Youth Board restructuring bill Andrew Miller, DYCD Assistant Commissioner for External Relations, joined by Senior Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Sarah Marks, delivered the department's testimony on Int 0448-2026.
- What role does the Youth Board play, and how would a mandatory written-response requirement change practice? Chair Stevens asked about the Youth Board's current role and the bill's requirement that DYCD respond in writing to the board's annual recommendations; Assistant Commissioner Miller said board members have been front and center in shaping new program models and RFPs—including the recent afterschool
- Would cutting the Youth Board from 28 to 18 seats hurt quorum? Chair Stevens asked how the current 28-member board functions and whether reducing it to 18 would help; Assistant Commissioner Miller said meetings are well attended and quorum has never been an issue, and while DYCD sees the benefit of a smaller board for more robust conversation, it wants to
- How does DYCD recruit and support youth members aged 16 to 24? Chair Stevens asked how DYCD recruits the required young members; Assistant Commissioner Miller praised the value of youth perspectives and thanked the Council for codifying the requirement, and Senior Director Marks said the current young members came through the My Brother's and Sister's Keeper
- How should the bill's new term limits be structured, and what implementation concerns exist? Chair Stevens asked DYCD's view on imposing a four-year term limit (renewable once); Assistant Commissioner Miller said term limits can bring fresh perspectives but that valuable institutional knowledge—he noted Council Member Alexa Avilés once chaired the Youth Board—could be lost, and suggested
- DYCD panel excused; public testimony opens Chair Stevens thanked and excused the DYCD panel and opened the hearing to public testimony.
- Girl Vow urges more youth voices on the board Josh Mosby, who coordinates a sexual violence prevention program at the gender-focused mentoring nonprofit Girl Vow, testified that centering youth voices is essential and offered access to young people willing to participate; Chair Stevens welcomed continued collaboration and possible Youth Board
Agenda
1 item
- Int 0448-2026 A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to the structure and responsibilities of the youth board Hearing Held by Committee