Committee on Finance meeting
March 10, 2026, 11:00 AM
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The committee held pre-considered hearings on Res 0353-2026 (designating organizations to receive funding), a Brooklyn land use item for Norgate Plaza (LU 0044-2026), and the Council's proposed operating budget and OTPS lump-sum schedule for Fiscal Year 2027.
What was discussed
- Opening, roll call, and invocation Majority Leader Shaun Abreu gaveled in the March 10, 2026 Stated Meeting; the Council held the Pledge of Allegiance and a roll call. Pastor Jay Gooding of Miracle Revival Fellowship Tabernacle Church delivered an invocation marking Women's History Month, which Council Member Shirley Aldebol moved to
- Speaker Menin's report: security scares, budget forecast, and new senior staff Speaker Julie Menin reported that a suspicious device had been found in Carl Schurz Park and recounted a weekend attempted ISIS-influenced attack near Gracie Mansion, thanking the NYPD; she said two suspects were charged. She previewed the Council's new economic forecast, citing a nearly $400
- Justin Sanchez on Intro. 416-A, requiring concessionaires to clean bus shelters Council Member Justin Sanchez presented Intro. 416-A, 'Litter's Last Stop,' which he said would require the private concessionaires that profit from advertising on bus shelters and transit structures to regularly clean and maintain the area around them. He argued the burden has unfairly fallen on
- Brewer on Intro. 87-A, merging the city's archival review boards Council Member Gale Brewer described Intro. 87-A, which she said would consolidate the Archival Review Board and the Archives Reference and Research Advisory Board into a single Library and Archival Review Advisory Board, expand it to nine members with relevant expertise, and add annual reporting to
- Riley on Intro. 409-A, signage for bus lane restriction hours Council Member Kevin Riley presented Intro. 409-A, which he said would require DOT to post clearly visible signs on each block showing the days and hours bus lane restrictions are in effect and to maintain a searchable online resource with the same information.
- Hudson on the 395 Flatbush Avenue rezoning Council Member Crystal Hudson spoke in favor of the 395 Flatbush Avenue application, saying negotiations secured a new 30% AMI tier for 102 units, more 40% AMI units, elimination of the 100% AMI tier, roughly 347 two- and three-bedroom family units, and a $1 million, 10-year contribution to Fort
- Brooks-Powers on the 14-10 Beach Channel Drive development Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers spoke in favor of the 14-10 Beach Channel Drive proposal in the Rockaways, citing negotiated changes including elimination of studios in favor of two- and three-bedroom units, a one-to-one parking ratio, air-quality monitoring, a 30% MBE and local hiring goal
- Land Use Call-Ups roll call vote The Clerk took a roll call on the day's Land Use Call-Ups, which the Majority Leader announced were adopted.
- General Orders vote: land use items, budget, transparency resolution, and bills The Council took a roll call on the coupled General Orders calendar, adopting the items with member disclosures. Passed items included the FY2027 Council operating budget and OTPS schedule, the transparency resolution on discretionary funding designations, a pre-considered Article XI tax exemption
- Minority Leader Carr honors the NYPD response near Gracie Mansion Minority Leader David Carr condemned the weekend bombing attempt near Gracie Mansion, said violence is never an answer to speech, and praised NYPD officers—citing Chief Aaron Edwards—for running toward danger, warning against cuts to NYPD hiring and the Strategic Response Group.
- Brewer's tribute to former Council Member Ronnie Eldridge Council Member Gale Brewer paid tribute to former Council Member Ronnie Eldridge, who represented the Upper West Side, recalling her advocacy for women in prison, her ties to Bella Abzug and Robert Kennedy, and her long-running CUNY TV show, and noted a memorial service.
- Salaam introduces Intro. 780 on police vehicle speed transparency Council Member Yusef Salaam introduced Intro. 780-2026, which he said would require the NYPD to collect and publish speed data for police vehicles in motion, compare it to speed limits on a public map, and report on every collision involving a police vehicle, framing it as accountability rather than
- Riley introduces housing and child care resolutions Council Member Kevin Riley introduced three resolutions: Reso. 363 backing the state New York Fair Housing Act, Reso. 364 supporting an Affordable Housing Insurance Relief Fund, and Reso. 365 supporting removal of wage-and-hour barriers to child care assistance, citing a statewide shortage of
- Louis introduces a pay-equity legislative package Council Member Farah Louis introduced measures on pay equity and recognition of women in the workforce, highlighting Intro. 744 to require reporting of city-contractor workforce data by pay band, race, ethnicity, and gender; Reso. 357 backing state disclosure of bonuses and other compensation; and
- Maloney's resolution calling for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment Council Member Virginia Maloney introduced a resolution calling on Congress to remove the ERA ratification deadline and enshrine it as the 28th Amendment, noting the amendment has been ratified by 38 states and tying it to New York's history in the women's-rights movement.
- Morano's Reso. 361 to opt New York out of daylight saving time Council Member Frank Morano urged colleagues to co-sponsor Reso. 361, which calls on New York State to opt out of daylight saving time, citing post-time-change increases in heart attacks and accidents and noting two states already do not observe it.
- Farías introduces the DEFIANCE Act resolution and Intro. 729 on self-checkout Council Member Amanda Farías introduced Reso. 352 supporting the federal DEFIANCE Act to give victims of AI-generated non-consensual explicit images a civil cause of action, and Intro. 729, developed with the RWDSU, which she said would require proper staffing and a 15-item limit at self-service
- Epstein on the Animal Rights Caucus and preserving the Merchant's House Museum Council Member Harvey Epstein invited colleagues to join a new Animal Rights Caucus and urged support for preserving the Merchant's House Museum—an Underground Railroad site he said could be threatened by adjacent construction—ahead of a Landmarks Preservation Commission hearing.
- Justin Sanchez introduces Reso. 372 on Puerto Rico's Act 22 Council Member Justin Sanchez introduced Reso. 372, calling on Puerto Rico's Legislative Assembly and Governor to repeal Act 22 and adopt a progressive tax policy to reduce revenue losses, framing it around displacement pressures on Puerto Ricans.
Agenda
5 items
- Res 0353-2026 Resolution approving the new designation and changes in the designation of certain organizations to receive funding in the Expense Budget P-C Item Approved by Comm
- LU 0044-2026 Norgate Plaza: Block 1812, Lot 42, Brooklyn, Community District 3, Council District 36 P-C Item Approved by Committee with Companion Resolution
- M 0048-2026 The Operating Budget of the Council of The City of New York. P-C Item Approved by Committee with Companion Resolution
- M 0049-2026 Schedule detailing the lump sum OTPS Unit of Appropriation of the Operating Budget of the Council of the City of New York P-C Item Approved by Committee with Companion Resolution
- T2026-0004 AND SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY BE NECESSARY