Outdoor Dining Reform, the Scoop Act and Insurance Affordability

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Clear the floor. There is no standing in the chambers. For people that are standing in the back on the floor, please find a seat or you can join us upstairs in the

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For your cooperation. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to today's Stated Meeting. At this time, please silence all electronic devices. Silence all electronic devices. There is no food allowed in the chambers. There is no standing room in the back. If you need to join us, you need to find a seat upstairs. There is additional seating upstairs in the balcony. We are

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ready to start. Good afternoon. My apologies. Those are the Sergeant's remarks. Good afternoon and welcome to the Stated Meeting of August 13, 2026. I am Majority Leader Shaun Abreu. I would like to thank you for joining us. If you would like to follow along, the agenda for today's meeting is posted on our website. On behalf of the body, I welcome the members of the public who have joined us today. As a reminder, proper decorum must be maintained at all times. During Stated Meetings, only members of the Council speak. Members of the public shall remain silent. If you wish to express your support for any remarks, you may use the silent approval gesture. Thank you. Please

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join us for the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll call. Aldebol, here. Ariola. Avilés. Banks, here. Brewer, here. Brooks-Powers. Present. Cabán, present. De La Rosa, here. Dinowitz, here. Encarnación, present. Epstein. Farías. Felder, here. Feliz, present. Gennaro. Gutiérrez, present. Hanif. Hankerson. Hanks, present. Hudson, present. Joseph, here. Krishnan, here. Lee. Epstein, here. Louis. Maloney, present. Marte. Narcisse, here. Nurse, here. Ossé. Paladino. Restler, here. Riley, present. Salaam, present. Justin Sanchez, present. Pierina Ana Sanchez. Hanif, here. Gennaro, here. Schulman, here. Stevens, here. Thomas-Henry, present. Ung, present. Vernikov. Williams, present. Wilson. Won, present. Carr, present. Abreu, present. Speaker,

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Menin, present. Thank you. We will now have today's invocation, which will be delivered by Father Eriz Cruz of the Church of St. Anselm & St. Roch, which is located at 685 Tinton Avenue in the Bronx.

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Good afternoon. You inspired centuries ago great words inscribed on the Statue of Liberty in this harbor: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free." Almighty God of Jesus Christ, Abraham and Mohammed, you have woven together men and women of various gifts and talents into a rich tapestry of cultures, languages, creeds and experiences — a living tapestry that gathers beneath this dome and this hall of justice to exercise a sacred calling: public service. They carry the weight of the hopes and aspirations, as well as the needs, concerns and challenges of every person in this City. While the task is great, it is not greater than the grace and power of your Holy Spirit — the spirit of love, compassion and wisdom that will occupy this space and inspire our hearts to walk in your way, the way of justice and peace.

Bless these members of the City Council. Open our eyes and our hearts to see ourselves in one of the least: a homeless grandmother, a jobless and abused migrant, a child thirsting for food, medication and love. Give these members the strength and fortitude to oppose the vast forces of division and oppression. Grant courage and conviction to protect, save and welcome lives from far distant shores that have traveled the trail of tears seeking new life. Grant your mercy and compassion, your guidance, as they discuss, create and strive to pass bills and laws that direct and govern our very lives — to feed the hungry, grant shelter to the homeless and certainly foster humanity and dignity to those in dire need.

These members, your children, in accepting this great task are not in service to themselves. They are in service to truth, justice and true charity. "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free." Lord, you remind us that we are our brother's keeper, our sister's keeper. You remind us of a higher calling, and most particularly to the City Council, the calling of public service — service that they are pleased and willing to accept, raising the honor and dignity of every person in this City, to continue to become and be a light of hope and dreams and new life. Amen. Thank you.

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I would now ask the Council Member to place the invocation on the record.

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Thank you, Majority Leader. I have had the privilege of knowing Father Eriz Cruz through his work across the Bronx and I am grateful for the opportunity to recognize him today following that powerful invocation. Father Cruz has spent his ministry serving the South Bronx, from his early work at Bronx Lebanon Hospital to his pastoral leadership at parishes across our borough. Today, as pastor of the Church of St. Anselm & St. Roch, Father Cruz continues that tradition of service.

We have seen and felt the impact of your work firsthand in District 8. The new St. Anselm apartments on Tinton Avenue have brought hundreds of affordable homes to our community, along with on-site supportive services like case management, legal and medical referrals, counseling and employment assistance. That kind of housing is especially important in a borough where affordable rent is scarce and where too many of our neighbors with disabilities or histories of homelessness are left without a safe place to call home. Together, Catholic Charities, the Archdiocese and Father Cruz saw an opportunity to turn a parking lot into a home for our neighbors, and you did it. This is a powerful example of what is possible when faith-based organizations, government and our communities come together around a shared commitment to housing and dignity. This is exactly the kind of innovative, faith-rooted partnership that the South Bronx needs.

I would like to thank you, Father Eriz Cruz, for being here today and I want to make a motion for unanimous consent to spread the invocation in full upon the record.

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Thank you, Council Member. We will now move on to adoption of minutes.

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I make a motion that the minutes of the Stated Meeting of June 30, 2026 and July 16, 2026 be adopted as printed.

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Messages and papers from the Mayor: M 0087 through M 0089, Mayoral appointments, referred to Rules. Communication from City, County and Borough offices: M 0090, City Clerk transmittal. Received, ordered, printed and filed. Petitions and communications: none. Land use call-ups: none. Thank you. We will now have communication from Speaker Julie Menin.

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Good afternoon, everyone. It has been a very busy recess and I want to start off with some absolutely incredible news. Our amazing City Council employee Rafael Rubio has been granted permanent asylum. This is such an incredible victory. We were involved with his case since he was wrongfully detained by ICE and just knowing now that he finally has permanent asylum is really, really incredible. He can finally breathe a sigh of relief knowing that he can continue to live and work right here where he belongs.

So I do just want to say that the fight for him ended in justice, but he was wrongfully detained and he was put in solitary confinement for two weeks during that detainment. I really want to commend Rafael. He has such an incredible spirit. He was positive throughout this ordeal and we could not be happier that he is home. I do want to say that for many other New Yorkers, they are not getting the same outcome that Rafael did, and that is why we will continue to fight for them. That is why we fought so hard to have close to $82 million allocated in the budget for immigration legal services to support them.

Last week, the Trump administration announced that they would be ending Temporary

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Protected Status for Haitian immigrants, stripping them of work permits and leaving them vulnerable to deportation. This is a tremendous injustice, not only for those whose livelihoods are in limbo, but for their family members and for our entire City, which relies on their countless contributions. I want to say that the Council stands in solidarity with Council Member Rita Joseph, Council Member Farah Louis and Council Member Chi Ossé, who represent our Haitian New York community and who are mobilizing to assist our Haitian neighbors through legal access and know-your-rights campaigns, as is this City Council.

The administration is also abandoning our most vulnerable immigrants — our children — having let federal funding for legal aid expire. But New York will not sit idly by. Yesterday, Governor Hochul announced that the State will provide more than $7 million to legal aid services supporting unaccompanied minors, and I applaud her for the action that she has taken. Every person has a right to representation, including and particularly a child without their parents, and it is unconscionable to think otherwise. The Governor's commitment also bolsters the Council's funding that supports various legal agencies that work with immigrants. So from City Hall to Albany, New York continues to stand by our immigrant neighbors, and we are always a resource for all people in need.

On a different note, another avenue that we are pursuing to protect New Yorkers revolves around predatory marketing practices. After months of examining allegations of these practices across the prediction market industry, I sent letters to four platforms — Kalshi, Polymarket, Coinbase and Gemini — notifying them that the Council is beginning an investigation against them. For any of you that have been on these sites, you can see — and this is what we are alleging — that there are predatory marketing practices that are really focused on minors, luring them into the gambling that is occurring on these platforms. The next generation of New Yorkers is increasingly targeted by the prediction market industry's aggressive advertising tactics. Our letter has 60 questions for these four companies and our goal is to determine whether additional laws, funding or programs are needed to protect them. If the allegations indeed prove to be true, I will just say as a mother that what they are doing is concerning, and as a former Commissioner of the Department of Consumer Affairs, this is something that I think is a really important consumer protection issue that we need to take very seriously. Not only do we have the ability, but I would argue we have an obligation to harness the full weight of this City Council to protect minors from practices that appear to be aimed at them.

Shifting gears towards today's legislation and perhaps on a slightly lighter note, we are so excited to pass the Scoop Back package today. This package of bills will expand access to dog waste bags, launch a pilot program to compost waste collected from dog runs, establish a public education campaign and strengthen our enforcement of these rules. This is about creating safer and cleaner streets and parks for residents and furry friends alike, so whether or not you own a dog, this matters.

One quality-of-life issue that affects all New Yorkers is, of course, affordability, and one factor driving this crisis is rising insurance costs — costs that are some of the highest in the country. Homeowners insurance in New York has been increasing by 26% annually. Liability insurance across all industries in New York has been increasing by 10% annually. If you are a small business in New York, you will be paying four to five times the national average on liability insurance, which is around 52% higher than in other states. These costs pose enormous burdens on New Yorkers and on small businesses in particular, and for many small businesses they are forced to raise their prices or go out of business because of the high cost of insurance. It is no wonder that our City lost 8,000 businesses in the second quarter of 2025 alone.

Our office will investigate why insurance prices are so high so that we can take steps to lower them. We will engage with stakeholders and regulators so we know exactly what actions we need to take moving forward. We are determined to create a livable City for all, and that means an affordable City for all as well.

As summer comes to a close, I am sure the last thing we want on our minds is the winter months, but let us face it — restaurant owners are always looking ahead, and we in the City Council are looking out for them too. We are passing today a package of bills on outdoor dining, which would allow sidewalk cafes to operate 365 days a year. For many restaurants, the ability to serve customers outside all year round would provide vital, vital revenue. As a former restaurant owner myself, I know that every single dollar counts, especially in the midst of an affordability crisis. At the same time, we want to balance the comments and concerns we have heard from communities across our City to ensure that any kind of sidewalk cafe or roadway dining is kept free of debris, trash and rats. A number of bills in this package really address some of those sanitation issues as well, and I think this really strikes a proper balance.

So speaking of happiness and lighter notes, I want to wish a very happy birthday to CM Hankerson, who turned — I just want to say this — he turned 32. Unbelievable. And a happy early birthday to Minority Leader David Carr, who celebrates on the 28th, CM Vernikov on the 30th and CM Darlene Mealy on the 31st.

Throughout the month of August we have many important holidays and events to recognize. August is National Black Business Month. Black New Yorkers own and operate so many important businesses across our City, but they still face long-standing inequities. I am proud of the work that the Council has done to cut red tape for business owners so that everyone can afford to live here, stay here and achieve the American dream. August 26 is Women's Equality Day, commemorating the anniversary of women's suffrage being added to our Constitution 106 years ago. I am thankful for the advocacy of former New York Congresswoman Bella Abzug, who put this day on the calendar, and the countless other women who paved the way for generations of women to come. As a woman-majority Council, we benefit from their efforts each and every day.

There are a lot of independence days to celebrate, so I am going to be announcing a few of them. August 6 was Jamaican Independence Day. August 10 was Ecuadorian Independence Day. August 14 is Pakistani Independence Day. Saturday is Indian Independence Day. August 24 is Ukrainian Independence Day and August 31 is the Independence Day of Trinidad and Tobago.

Finally, I really want to shout out our Parliamentarian, Jeff Campagna, who is sadly leaving the Council. We really just want to thank you for all of your incredible contributions, your professionalism, your dedication, and we wish you well on this next chapter and journey. Thank you, Jeff.

And now we are going to move on to our Stated agenda. We have a long agenda, everyone, so just bear with me. First, we are going to vote on the following land use items. The 47-03 108th Street Rezoning will facilitate the development of two new mixed-use buildings with 190 dwelling units, 51 of which will be permanently affordable under Option One, in CM Thomas-Henry's district. The Council is modifying this application to strike Option 2 and to reduce the rezoning area to preserve existing small homes that are not within the proposed development.

The 63-02 Fresh Pond Road Rezoning will enable the development of a new seven-story mixed-use building with 54 dwelling units, 13 of which

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will be permanently affordable under Option One, in CM Won's district. The Council is modifying this application to strike Option 2. The Queens CD 2 Walk to Park Site Selection will facilitate the site selection and potential acquisition of 31 privately owned properties by the Department of Parks in collaboration with the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, as part of a citywide plan to support a more equitable distribution of open space. These acquisitions will facilitate the creation of new parkland in the districts of CM Krishnan and CM Won. The Flatiron NoMad Major Concessions will improve the expansion of the existing Flatiron District concession area boundaries in the districts of CM Wilson and CM Epstein.

We will also be voting on the following Finance items: a transparency resolution approving new designations and changes of certain organizations receiving funding in the Expense Budget, and a Preconsidered Introduction sponsored by CM Linda Lee to require the Department of Finance Commissioner to establish a temporary program to resolve outstanding judgment penalties.

Today we will also vote on the following pieces of legislation. Res 0218-2026, sponsored by CM Crystal Hudson, to declare August 2 annually as James Baldwin Day in the City of New York, to honor his legacy as a groundbreaking essayist, novelist, playwright, poet and civil rights activist who fought racial and sexual discrimination with candor, sensitivity and lasting influence. Thank you

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to our staff, Juri and Jessica Bullet.

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Introduction 1019, a sponsor, Brad — CM Pierina Sanchez — would make the Certification of No Harassment Pilot Program require the Department of Housing Preservation and Development to report every three years beginning on April 15, 2027. Thank you to Elliot Heisler, Austin Malone, Spencer William EC and Jose Conde. Introduction 1020, a sponsor, Brad — CM Frank Morano — would codify into law the official flag of the Borough of Staten Island as its official flag. Thank you to Djuhari Frazier and Erica Cohen. Resolution 395, sponsored also by CM Frank Morano, would call on the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign S.6356 and A.4188, prohibiting increases in rates of homeowners insurance in excess of 25%. Thank you to Natalie Meltzer.

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Resolution 389, sponsored by CM Eric Dinowitz, calls on the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign the Automobile Insurance Consumer Information Act. Thank you to Natalie Meltzer.

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Resolution 387, sponsored by CM Brewer, recalls on the New York State Legislature and the Governor to pass and the Governor to sign A.07828A, S.07939, A.9015 and A.9016A, to mitigate the rising cost of property insurance for affordable housing. Thank you to Natalie Meltzer. Introduction 0685, sponsored by myself, would establish an Office of Insurance Accountability to support consumers navigating the insurance market and address the rising cost of insurance. Thank you to Sara Swain and Natalie Meltzer.

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Introduction 0872, sponsored by CM Shahana Hanif, would require the Commissioner, in consultation with the Commissioner of Sanitation, to develop and conduct a public education and outreach campaign to inform the public about dog waste removal and the dangers of failing to remove dog waste. Thank you to Declan McPhee and Morgan

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Barrett. Introduction 0864, sponsored by CM Epstein, would require the Commissioner of Parks to establish a pilot program to collect dog waste from dog runs under the Department of Parks jurisdiction for composting. Thank you to Chris Surgrate.

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Introduction 1080, sponsored by CM Won, would require signage at the entrances and exits of parks and certain park facilities stating the rule prohibiting a person from leaving dog waste on the ground and the associated penalties for violations. Thank you to Chris Surgrate.

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Introduction 0857-A would require the Department of Sanitation to install and regularly fill dog waste bag dispensers on or

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next to no less than 1,200 public litter baskets on City streets. Thank you to Morgan Barrett.

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Introduction 0935, sponsored by CM Avilés, would require the NYPD to report on the number of confirmed firearm discharges in the City on a quarterly basis. The NYPD would be required to report the date, time and location of each firearm discharge as well as a description of the circumstances surrounding the discharge. Thank you to Josh Kingsley and Chad Benjamin.

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Introduction 0655, by CM Lincoln Restler, would expand the City's outdoor dining program by removing seasonal restrictions on roadway cafe operation. This Bill would also allow the use of weatherproofing and winterizing materials to facilitate the operation of a roadway cafe year round. Thank you to Rachel Cadre, Sarah Swain and

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Natalie Meltzer. Introduction 0894-A, sponsored by CM Brewer, would allow sidewalk cafe operators

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to enclose their year-round sidewalk cafes annually from November 30 to March 31. This Bill also permits weather protection materials to be used at other times during the year. Thank you to Rachel Cadre, Sarah Swain and Natalie Meltzer. Introduction 1917,

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by CM Justin Sanchez, would require roadway and sidewalk cafe operators to ensure that their outdoor setups are clear of trash, debris, graffiti, vermin, food scraps and unsanitary conditions. Operators who violate this provision will be subject to civil penalties.

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Thank you to Rachel Cadre, Sarah Swain and Natalie Meltzer. And then finally, last but certainly not least, Introduction 0918-A, sponsored by CM Shanel Thomas-Henry, would allow sidewalk and roadway cafe operators to pay their annual revocable consent fees in quarterly installments to reduce upfront costs. Thank you to Rachel Cadre, Sarah Swain and Natalie Meltzer. So thank you for your attention. I am going to turn it back to our Majority

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Leader. Thank you, Speaker Menin. I want to remind folks that because we are voting on transparency resolutions, it would be great if before the vote you can make your disclosure. We will now move into discussion of general orders, beginning with CM Carl Wilson, followed by — thank you.

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Since its genesis 20 years ago, the Flatiron NoMad Partnership has been an excellent steward of the area, now extending from the Flatiron to all of NoMad and 20th Street and Sixth Avenue. The Broadway corridor, one of the most high-traffic areas of the City, grew exponentially in a post-pandemic world as demand for outdoor dining, public space activation and pedestrianized streets amplified. Flatiron NoMad met and exceeded all expectations of what it could do for the neighborhood. So I hope my colleagues will join me today in supporting the Flatiron NoMad's promising next chapter with this major concession agreement. This agreement will significantly expand the ways the BID can generate revenue that will lead to more beautiful public spaces, expanded cleaning services for the district and additional smart compost bins. It also unlocks the future potential for the installation of public bathrooms and water fountains. I am eager to see the ways this agreement transforms our neighborhood for the better. I really want to thank CM Harvey Epstein for his partnership and for taking the lead in getting this process started while the Council seat in District 3 was vacant. Thank you to the BID for all they do to keep our communities beautiful, safe and prosperous. A big thank you to DOT for their collaboration and willingness to think constructively about how we can maximize our

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ability to invest in our public spaces. I also want to shout out the Council Land Use team who was critical during this whole process — Omar, Chelsea, Arthur and Dana, and especially Dana for supporting this effort — and to my Chief of Staff Hannah Moses as well as the rest of my team for their hard work. It is my hope that the partnership can continue its work and remain a meaningful companion in that endeavor. Thank you.

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Thank you, CM Epstein, followed by Thomas-Henry.

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Thank you. I also want to thank CM Carl Wilson for his friendship and partnership during this major concession. I think probably on day two when he started he was like, "Karl, we have to deal with this," so I would deal with it quickly. Really, the Planning and Land Use staff and the Flatiron NoMad Partnership — our staff, Dana and Chelsea — really helped us get through this process. A major concession agreement is really to make sure that the Broadway space managed by this BID also addresses things we care deeply about: sustainability, public access to space, securing commitments around water fountains, public restrooms, compostable bins and waste removal. It is like a comprehensive plan and I am really proud of it.

I also want to thank the Speaker for the Scoop Act. I know this issue came up early in her term. I saw what was happening during the winter and then all the dog waste, and she kind of jumped right on it. We created a package to allow the Animal Caucus to take some leadership in this. I know the bills I am talking about address an issue that is both an environmental issue and a cleanliness issue, and I think this across the board is really, really positive for the future of New York and a plan that we can really be proud of.

Finally, I just want to — I know we are talking about some budget allocations. I do not have conflicts, but I really want to thank the Council for allocating what we did in the budget on pet food pantries. We made some of those allocations today. I think it helps with the affordability crisis we are seeing in New York. I know we could keep talking about affordability and I know with the leadership of the Speaker and this Council, we are actually acting on those issues and moving those issues forward today.

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Thank you. Thank you, CM Thomas-Henry, followed by Pierina

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Sanchez. Thank you, Majority Leader. Our communities are changing. As New York continues to grow, we have to be intentional about making sure the people and businesses that gave our neighborhoods their identity can afford to be part of what comes next. Because when you think about small businesses in New York, you think about the restaurant owner who takes a family recipe and turns it into a neighborhood favorite, the immigrant entrepreneur who opens a storefront and creates a piece of home a thousand miles away, or the New Yorker who saves every dollar they can, takes a chance on themselves, signs a lease, turns on the lights and says, "I am going to make this work." That is the culture of entrepreneurship in New York. Before I ever sat in this chamber, I was a small business owner. So I know there is nothing small about running a business in New York City. It takes courage to bet on yourself. It takes grit to open those doors every morning, make payroll, pay the rent, navigate regulations, serve your customers and take care of your family, and somehow wake up the next morning ready to do it all again.

So when government has an opportunity to make that journey a little easier, we should. Today I am incredibly proud that the Council will vote on Int 0918-A, my first bill to pass this body. The Bill is simple: instead of requiring restaurants participating in outdoor dining to pay revocable consent fees all at once, they will have the flexibility to pay quarterly. Because the difference between one enormous bill and manageable payments throughout the year matters. This is bigger than outdoor dining. It is about asking ourselves who gets to stay, who gets to build and who gets to be a part of the future of New York City. Affordability is not only about what it costs to live here. It is about what it costs to build a life, build a business and chase a dream here. Our entrepreneurs make New York the New York we love. The least we can do is meet them where they are and make it a little easier for them to build their dreams here. I am proud that today this Council is doing exactly that. Thank you.

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Thank you, Councilmember. CM Restler, followed by Narcisse. Thank

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you, Majority Leader. It was about three years ago that the Adams-era reforms to outdoor dining were approved. They nearly broke the outdoor dining program. It led to a 90% decline in restaurants offering outdoor dining across the five boroughs. The number one reason that restaurants stopped offering outdoor dining is because we made it stupidly expensive — stupidly expensive to construct, deconstruct and store outdoor dining structures for small neighborhood restaurants. It just did not work. The most salient benefit, the greatest win in this legislation to restore year-round outdoor dining, is that we anticipate thousands of additional restaurants are going to offer outdoor dining across all of our communities, adding to the vibrancy and dynamism of our neighborhoods and creating jobs. On average, whenever a restaurant adds outdoor dining it creates a new job. So we have the potential of making a significant impact on our local economy. We have also added elements and overhead structures during inclement weather and winter to make it more pleasant to eat outside. We have modified the timing that outdoor dining operators can operate, allowing them to operate a little earlier in the morning for coffee establishments. We have also asked them to close earlier in the evening, so they have to shutter their doors by 11 o'clock and send people inside.

There are also real accountability metrics in this legislation. If you are issued the same violation three times in a two-year period, your outdoor dining license is revoked, which is appropriate. I do recognize that the seasonal program has made enormous strides in improving the cleanliness of outdoor dining. Last year there were just 1,300 complaints for outdoor dining relating to garbage, rats and the like. This is a really good win and I am really grateful to Speaker Menin for championing this. I just want to thank Jonathan, Rachel, Sarah Swain and my Chief of Staff Molly and lots of others. Thank you very much.

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Thank you, CM Restler, followed by Narcisse. Thank you, Majority

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Leader. It was about three years ago that the Adams-era reforms to outdoor dining were approved. They nearly broke the outdoor dining program. It led to a 90% decline in restaurants offering outdoor dining across the five boroughs. The number one reason that restaurants stopped offering outdoor dining is because we made it stupidly expensive — stupidly expensive to construct, deconstruct and store outdoor dining structures for small neighborhood restaurants. It just did not work. The most salient benefit, the greatest win in this legislation to restore year-round outdoor dining, is that we anticipate thousands of additional restaurants are going to offer outdoor dining across all of our communities, adding to the vibrancy and dynamism of our neighborhoods and creating jobs. On average, whenever a restaurant adds outdoor dining it creates a new job. So we have the potential of making a significant impact on our local economy. We have also added elements and overhead structures during inclement weather and winter to make it more pleasant to eat outside. We have modified the timing that outdoor dining operators can operate, allowing them to operate a little earlier in the morning for coffee establishments. We have also asked them to close earlier in the evening, so they have to shutter their doors by 11 o'clock and send people inside.

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You know, for coffee establishments, and we have asked them to close earlier in the evening so they have to shutter their doors by 11 o'clock and send people inside. There are also real accountability metrics in this legislation. If you are issued the same violation three times in a two-year period, your outdoor dining license is revoked, which is appropriate. I do recognize that the seasonal program has made enormous strides in improving the cleanliness of outdoor dining. Last year there were just 1,300 complaints for outdoor dining relating to garbage, rats and the like. This is a really good win and I am really grateful to Speaker Menin for championing this. I just want to thank Jonathan, Rachel, Sarah Swain and my Chief of Staff Molly and lots of others. Thank you very much.

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CM Narcisse, followed by Brewer. Thank you.

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... we are off topic, CM, so off topic during general discussion.

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Please, in my...

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The general orders calendar. We

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appreciate the love. I mean, because he is going to be okay.

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It is going to be well. Anyway, before I get to this — get out of my time, he

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said. I want to take just a minute. Even as I get to the bill on dog waste — rest in peace. That is what I can say. The father of a child, Luis. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Through all this that we have been going on in the park with dog waste, we see it and we are upset about it. It is in my park, we see it every day. The kids are hanging out on the grass, families with strollers, and dog waste that somebody decided is not their problem. Park staff are out there cleaning it up early in the morning. So this bill, Int 1080, would put signs at entrances and playgrounds and other facilities inside the park, in plain language that everyone can understand: pick up after yourself, pick up after your dog. Here is the fine if you do not. The rest of the package comes at the same problems from other angles. Most dog owners already do the right thing. These bills are for the ones counting on nobody seeing them. We know — we see you. Thank you, Madam Speaker, for moving forward with the Scoop Act. It is about time for people to know you have got to clean up after yourself. Pick up after your dog. Thank you.

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Thank you, CM Brewer, followed by

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Morano. I am talking about the bill that has to do with sidewalk cafes that can now be able to put out a cover during the winter. It is one of the other bills that are passing today and the reason I think it is important is that it would enable restaurants to have more staff remain during the entire year. Number two, these restaurants already pay for their outdoor sidewalk cafes and obviously if they are not using them they are losing money. So it is the kind of bill I think that would have repercussions for all of the restaurant industry and it gives clearer standards than what has been in the past. So I do want to thank Andrew Ritchie from the New York City Hospitality Alliance and certainly Rachel Cordarrelle and Sarah Swain from the Speaker's staff. For my office, Schuler Cooter. This is a practical seasonal option that they can now, between November 30 and March 31, have the kind of cover that you might see around some of the front doors when restaurants and grocery stores cover up that door so that it is not a cold entrance when the public is coming and going. Thank you

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very much. Thank you, CM Morano. If there is anyone else signed up for general orders, please let me know.

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Thank you, Majority Leader. I rise today with a great deal of pride in support of this introduction, which will make the Staten Island flag officially codified into City law. Now I know there are people who will say it is just a flag. I respectfully disagree. For Staten Islanders, this is about something much larger. For too long, many people in my borough have felt that when decisions are made in this building at City Hall, Staten Island is somewhere often in the distance, and not just geographically.

Today sends a different message. We see you. City government sees you. Your history matters, your identity matters, you matter, your borough matters. I hope this is part of a new chapter in the relationship between Staten Island and City government. Today we are getting our flag recognized, and tomorrow, hopefully, it is our transportation needs, our infrastructure, our public safety concerns and all the other things Staten Islanders have been rightly yelling about for years. We are very grateful for the flag. We are not going to stop calling 311 with other complaints.

I want to thank Speaker Julie Menin for her support, all of my colleagues in the Council, and especially my partners in the Staten Island Council delegation, Majority Whip Kamillah Hanks, my brother, and Minority Leader David Carr. This was bipartisan because Staten Island pride does not have a party registration. I want to recognize the artist whose beautiful design we have now made an official part of our City's history. This is the first Bill I have prime sponsored to pass this body, and I could not have been luckier — at least I hope it will pass — that my first is a Bill celebrating the borough I love and am so privileged to represent. Today Staten Island is not the forgotten borough. Today Staten Island is seen. Thank you.

33.

Preconsidered - Zoning & Franchises

20.

Preconsidered - Zoning & Franchises

(00:47:35)

Thank you, Councilmember. Anyone else signed up for General Orders not yet called on? All right. Report of Special Committees: none. Report of Standing Committees.

Reported of the Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection: Int 0685-2026-B, Office of Insurance Affordability, amended and coupled on General Orders.

Reported of the Committee on Finance: Preconsidered Int 1002-2026, Environmental Control Board Judgments, coupled on General Orders. Preconsidered Res 0595-2026, Transparency Resolution, coupled.

Reported of the Committee on Governmental Operations, State & Federal Legislation: Int 0320-2026-A, State Flag of Staten Island, amended and coupled on General Orders.

Report of the Committee on Housing and Buildings: Int 0839-2026-A, Certification of No Harassment Pilot Program, amended and coupled on General Orders.

Report of the Committee on Land Use: Res 0611-2026, Queens CD 2 Walk to Park Site Selection/Acquisition, coupled on General Orders. LU 0115-2026, LU 0116-2026, LU 0118-2026 and LU 0119-2026, various applications, approved with modifications and referred to the City Planning Commission pursuant to Section 197 of the New York City Charter. LU 0117-2026 and Res 0612-2026, Flatiron NoMad Major Concessions, coupled on General Orders.

Report of the Committee on Parks and Recreation: Int 0864-2026-A and Int 0880-2026-A, dog waste removal, amended and coupled on General Orders.

Reported of the Committee on Public Safety: Int 0935-2026-A, firearm discharge reporting, amended and coupled on General Orders.

Reported of the Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management: Int 0857-2026-A and Int 0872-2026-A, dog waste removal, amended and coupled on General Orders.

Report of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Int 0655-2026-A, Int 0894-2026-A, Int 0917-2026-A and Int 0918-2026-A, roadway and sidewalk cafes, amended and coupled on General Orders. Preconsidered Res 0592-2026 and Res 0605-2026, New York State Environmental Quality Review Act, coupled on General Orders.

On the General Orders Calendar: LU 0120-2026 and Res 0613-2026, Res 0614-2026, 815 Hutchinson River Parkway Rezoning, coupled on General Orders. LU 0121-2026, LU 0122-2026, LU 0123-2026, Res 0615-2026 and LU 0124-2026, LU 0125-2026, Res 0616-2026, 63-02 Fresh Pond Road Rezoning, coupled.

Resolution appointing various persons Commissioners of Deeds.

(00:49:59)

Coupled on General Orders. And now it is declared to take a roll call vote on all the items coupled on today's General Orders Calendar.

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Paladino. I want to disclose that my brother-in-law works for the Department. Aye on all.

(00:50:28)

Ariola. Avilés.

(00:50:29)

Banks. I want to disclose that my brother works for the New York City Parks Department. Aye. Thank you.

(00:50:36)

Brewer. I teach at CUNY.

(00:50:38)

I am voting aye, except on Int 0864-2026-A, on which I abstain because I do not know how it impacts parks workers and how they are interfacing with the dog runs. Thank you.

(00:50:55)

Thank you. Brooks-Powers. Permission to explain my vote. Permission granted.

(00:51:02)

I would like to disclose that we are funding a music performance arts program and my child is affiliated with the organization. With that, I vote aye. Thank you.

(00:51:22)

Cabán. Aye on all. De La Rosa.

(00:51:28)

I would like to disclose that my daughter attends New York City public schools, which is funded in the transparency resolution, and I will vote aye. Dinowitz.

(00:51:39)

I vote aye. Encarnación. Aye. Epstein. Aye on all. Farías. Farias. Thank you. Felder.

(00:51:56)

I vote yes, except on Int 0655-2026-A and Res 0592-2026 I vote no, and on Int 0864-2026-A and Int 0894-2026-A and accompanying Res 0605-2026.

(00:52:35)

Thank you. Feliz. Permission to explain my vote. Permission granted.

(00:52:39)

I am proud of the many Bills that we are voting on and passing today, and I am especially proud and thankful that we are passing my shots fired Bill. Public safety is one of the most important duties of a city, and we must ensure that the crime-related data that we have provides a clear, accurate and full picture of crime in our city. This is especially true on the issue of gun violence.

Now, the NYPD, as we know, provides a lot of data related to gun violence, including victims and shooting incidents, but the data related to shootings only closes data when someone has been struck, which means that if there is a shooting and no one was struck, we do not have data on that. That data is important. It helps us get a clear picture of gun violence in our city. It also helps us track the progress that we are making on the issue of gun violence, and it also helps us determine whether additional resources are needed in specific precincts and specific neighborhoods.

My Bill will help us get that data by requiring that the NYPD collect and provide data on shots fired incidents, including the date, location, borough, precinct and time. I just want to thank Speaker Menin for making this Bill on the issue of public safety a top priority. I also want to thank my co-prime sponsor CM Joann Ariola for being a strong partner on this issue. Aye on all General Orders.

Gutiérrez. Aye.

(00:54:06)

Hanif. Permission to explain my vote. Permission granted.

(00:54:09)

Thank you. Today I speak in support of the Scoop Act package and Int 0872-2026-A, my legislation to create a citywide multilingual education campaign on dog waste. First, I want to be clear: I love dogs, and because I love dogs and our city, I am proud to support the Scoop Act. We all know New York City has a dog poop problem. We have seen it, smelled it and, unfortunately, many of us have stepped in it. But this is about more than an unpleasant sidewalk experience. Dog waste is a public health and environmental issue. Pet waste can pollute our waterways and carry harmful bacteria and parasites, including E. coli, salmonella and roundworm.

Most New Yorkers know they are supposed to pick up after their dogs, but not everyone understands why it matters or the broader consequences for our neighbors, our streets and our environment when they do not. That is why Int 0872-2026-A focuses on education. It will make sure New Yorkers understand both their legal obligation to clean up after their pets and the public health and environmental impact. Importantly, that information will be available in multiple languages so we can reach dog owners across the entire city.

The Bill also makes sure we can measure whether our efforts are working. It requires an evaluation of the campaign's effectiveness and incorporates 311 data on dog waste complaints. That will give us real information to track progress and understand where additional education and outreach may be needed. Thank you, Speaker Menin, for her leadership and support, and my colleagues for advancing the Scoop Act and the staff who worked with us to get Int 0872-2026-A to the floor today. I am proud to vote yes and I urge my colleagues to do the same. Thank you. And I vote yes.

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Hankerson. Aye. Hanks.

(00:56:00)

Permission to explain my vote. Permission granted.

(00:56:02)

Thank you, Majority Leader. Staten Islanders are proud of who we are, where we come from and the borough we call home. I am voting yes today to officially recognize and protect our borough flag as a symbol of that Staten Island pride. At the heart of Staten Island is a rich mix of communities, cultures and traditions that continue to shape our shared identity, and I am proud to stand with my colleague CM Frank Morano and Minority Leader Carr to make this recognition permanent and celebrate the borough that we are proud to call home. With that, I vote aye on all. Hudson.

(00:56:40)

Permission to explain my vote. Permission granted.

(00:56:42)

I am aye on all and just want to be associated with the remarks of CM Brewer regarding Int 0857-2026-A, on which I am still aye because it is a pilot program, but just want to be associated with her remarks. Thank you. Joseph.

(00:57:07)

Krishnan. Aye. Lee. Aye. Louis. Maloney. Permission to explain my vote. Permission granted.

(00:57:20)

Thank you, Majority Leader. First, I want to disclose that my mother is a teacher at CUNY. I want to congratulate CM Thomas-Henry for her first Bill and her leadership on Int 0918-2026-A, which will help our small businesses make it a little easier to manage costs. And thank Speaker Menin for her leadership on the Scoop Act. With that, I vote aye on all.

(00:57:46)

Marte. Aye on all, except Int 0655-2026-A. Mealy. Aye. Morano.

(00:58:05)

Aye on all, with the exception of Int 0894-2026-A, Int 0839-2026-A, Int 0864-2026-A and Res 0592-2026, on which I vote no. Thank you. Narcisse.

(00:58:38)

Aye. Nurse. Aye. Ossé. Aye. Paladino. Restler. I vote aye on all.

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Riley. I just want to state for the record that my children go to New York City public schools. And I vote aye.

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CM Morano had an amendment.

(00:59:17)

Yes, I actually intended to vote yes on Int 0894-2026-A and would love my vote to be recorded along those lines. Thank you.

(00:59:34)

Thank you. Salaam. Aye. Justin Sanchez.

(00:59:38)

Aye on all, with no exceptions. Pierina Sanchez. I would like to

(00:59:48)

disclose upon the record that my sibling is associated with CUNY, and with that I vote aye on all. Santosuosso. Aye.

(00:59:58)

Thank you. Schulman. Aye. Stevens. Aye. Thomas-

(01:00:13)

Henry. Aye on all. Ung. Aye. Vernikov. Aye on all, with the exception of Int 0655-2026-A and accompanying Res 0592-2026, Int 0894-2026-A and accompanying Res 0605-2026, Int 0839-2026-A, Int 0864-2026-A and Res 0595-2026, on which I vote

(01:01:05)

no. Thank you. Williams. Aye. Wilson. Aye. Won. I vote yes on all, except for Int 0655-2026-A, Int 0894-2026-A, Int 0839-2026-A, Int 1002-2026 and accompanying Res 0592-2026 and Res 0605-2026. Thank you. Thank you. Wong.

(01:02:05)

Aye on all. I want to abstain on Int 0839-2026-A for the record, as my child attends public school. Thank you.

(01:02:26)

Carr. Permission to explain my vote. Permission granted.

(01:02:28)

Thank you, Majority Leader. First, I want to begin by thanking the Speaker for those warm birthday messages. I am going to stay at 39 for at least three more years, so thank you. I also want to congratulate my colleague CM Frank Morano on passing this important codification of Staten Island's flag. The three of us — Kamillah, Frank and I — do battle on behalf of our borough each and every day, along with our other Staten Island colleagues. Now having a common unifying banner under which to do so is incredibly meaningful, as he indicated during his remarks.

(01:02:58)

But I am here today mostly to speak about my opposition to the extension of the roadway dining legislation. My opposition is based on the same reason I voted against it several years ago, back in 2023, when we regularized the post-pandemic program, and that is because it does not have the call-up option that we, at least for the moment, currently have for the sidewalk program. To me, having a member-driven process where community and contextual judgments can be taken into account ensures that all roadway dining cafe applications moving forward would be ones that fit in with the community, and ensures that members have leverage in their engagement with the Department of Transportation and the executive branch to make sure that local opinion is not being ignored.

Unfortunately, we were not able to include it in that legislation several years ago and that is not changing any time soon, because it would be subject to a referendum requirement. So in that vein, I will be opposing this legislation today, because the only real decision maker remains the New York City Department of Transportation. Quite frankly, over the last several years and the last several administrations, that DOT approach to community engagement and stakeholder engagement exudes an established elitism that frankly makes the most exclusive country club board of directors look humble.

So I will be opposing this legislation today. I want to disclose on the record that in the transparency resolution before us today, we are funding the Jewish Community Center of Staten Island, and I am associated with that entity. I am voting no on Int 0655-2026-A with accompanying Res 0592-2026, Int 0894-2026-A with accompanying Res 0605-2026, Int 0839-2026-A, Int 0864-2026-A and Res 0595-2026, and aye on the rest. Thank you.

(01:05:21)

Aye. Int 0894-2026-A, Res 0592-2026. Aye. Just give us one moment.

(01:05:53)

The votes: all items on today's General Orders Calendar were adopted by a vote of 42 in the affirmative, zero in the negative and zero abstentions, with the exception of Int 0864-2026-A, which was adopted by a vote of 37 in the affirmative, four in the negative and one abstention; and Int 0655-2026-A, which was adopted by a vote of 37 in the affirmative, five in the negative and zero abstentions; Int 0839-2026-A, which was adopted by a vote of 36 in the affirmative, five in the negative and one abstention; and Int 0894-2026-A, which was adopted by a vote of 38 in the affirmative, four in the negative and zero abstentions; and Int 1002-2026, which was adopted by a vote of 41 in the affirmative, one in the negative and zero abstentions; and Res 0592-2026, which was adopted by a vote of 38 in the affirmative, four in the negative and zero abstentions; and Res 0595-2026, which was adopted by a vote of 39 in the affirmative, three in the negative and zero abstentions. Introduction and reading of Bills: all those have been referred to committee as indicated on today's agenda. Thank you.

(01:07:52)

We will now move into discussion of resolutions, beginning with CM Hudson, followed by Dinowitz.

(01:08:00)

Thank you so much. Today we are honoring a New Yorker whose words changed the way this country understood itself and challenged us to become something better. James Baldwin was born in Harlem 102 years ago. Throughout his life, he never stopped asking this country to live up to its promises of freedom. He wrote with extraordinary honesty about race, sexuality, love, faith and what it means to find your place in a country that so often tells you that you do not belong. Baldwin's legacy is extraordinary, not only because of what he wrote, but because of how fearlessly he lived and spoke. His truth as a Black gay man in a country that routinely denied both his racial and sexual identity — Baldwin refused to make himself smaller to fit within the limits society placed on him. He understood that telling the truth, especially when that truth makes people uncomfortable, can itself be an act of resistance. He once wrote: "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." That idea is at the heart of Baldwin's work. His belief in our capacity to change is part of what makes Baldwin's legacy so revolutionary. Nearly four decades after his death, his words still resonate. They still challenge us to confront injustice and question the wrongs around us. Thank you.

(01:09:10)

Thank you, Councilmember. Dinowitz.

(01:09:11)

I am voting on a resolution calling upon New York State to pass Senate Bill S.1196, known as the Automobile Insurance Consumer Information Act. The cost of automobile insurance has increased by nearly 35% between 2022 and 2025 nationwide, and in 2025 New York City residents paid an average annual premium of $4,223 — a significant burden for hard-working New Yorkers that is nearly twice the national average. Now, the New York State Department of Financial Services regulates automobile insurance. However, no New York State official or office is charged exclusively with representing consumer interests, and rate information is opaque. This Bill would require the Department of Financial Services to publish automobile insurance premium and complaint information and establish an Office of Insurance Consumer Advocates to represent consumers' interests. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this resolution. Thank you.

(01:10:26)

CM Morano, followed by Brewer.

(01:10:29)

Thank you, Majority Leader. I rise today with a great deal of pride in Resolution 395. This is the first resolution of mine that I hope will pass the New York City Council, and I really could not be prouder that it is one aimed squarely at helping homeowners and making this City a little bit more affordable. Wherever we fall on the political spectrum, affordability is a key word. I want to thank the Speaker for her leadership and support, the committee for advancing this resolution, and the entire Council for supporting it. Since 2020, New York homeowners have seen average insurance premiums rise by more than $1,000. Nearly half a million New York homeowners are completely uninsured, and that is an affordability crisis hiding in plain sight. This resolution simply urges the State to pass a bill which would prohibit homeowner's insurance rates from increasing more than 25% in a single year, except when otherwise agreed to in the policy.

(01:11:29)

Let us put that in perspective. 25% is still a pretty generous definition of relief. If Con Ed announced a 25% increase...

(01:11:37)

Tomorrow we would probably have three hearings and a press conference today. Thank you for your support.

(01:11:43)

CM Brewer, just...

(01:11:44)

Wanted to note that James Baldwin's brother was a bartender at Michel's on 97th and Columbus, and I saw him there many, many nights. Just to give you a little history.

(01:11:55)

Resolution 387 urges the State to address the growing cost of property insurance, which is putting additional financial pressure on affordable housing providers across the State. This resolution supports State legislation to improve transparency, study what is driving these increases, and establish an insurance relief fund — most importantly to help preserve affordable housing. These housing providers cannot continue absorbing steep insurance increases without consequences. Stabilizing these costs is an important part of preserving affordable homes for New Yorkers as a whole. I hope it passes in Albany and here in the City Council. Thank you.

(01:12:40)

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 218 declares August 2 annually as James Baldwin Day in the City of New York, honoring his legacy as a...

(01:13:01)

...groundbreaking essayist, novelist, playwright, poet and civil rights activist who fought racial and sexual discrimination with candor, sensitivity and lasting influence. All those in favor, say aye. All opposed, say nay. Any abstentions? The ayes have it. Resolution 387 calls on the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign Assembly Bill numbers A.07828A, A.9015 and A.9016A, as well as Senate Bill number S.07939, to mitigate the rising cost of property insurance in affordable housing. All those in favor, say aye. All opposed, say nay. The ayes have it. Resolution 389 calls on the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign Senate Bill S.1196 and Assembly Bill A.3893, also known as the Automobile Insurance Consumer Information Act. All those in favor, say aye. All opposed, say nay. Any abstentions? The ayes have it. Resolution 395 calls on the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign Senate Bill S.6356 and Assembly Bill A.4188, prohibiting increases in rates of homeowners insurance in excess of 25% per year. All those in favor, say aye. All opposed, say nay. Any abstentions? The ayes have it. We will now move into general discussion. A reminder that speaking time is two minutes. We have about 15 to 20 colleagues signed up to speak. We will begin with CM Thomas-Henry, followed by Maloney.

(01:14:45)

Thank you, Majority Leader. I would just like to recognize and thank my interns of this summer: Nancy Nunez, Candace Charles, Elijah Anderson and Latroy Glenn. Thank you for your invaluable contribution to the team over the summer. Wishing you much success and safe travels back to school.

(01:15:06)

Thanks. CM Maloney, followed by Wilson.

(01:15:08)

Thank you, Majority Leader. Today I am introducing three bills focused on protecting the health and safety of New Yorkers following the Legionnaires' outbreak that impacted my district and claimed seven lives. I am introducing legislation to strengthen cooling tower cleaning requirements to three times a year, with one of those cleanings required in or around when we know the City regularly experiences temperatures of 90 degrees or higher and the risk is highest. Second, requiring the Department of Health to issue public service announcements during Legionnaires' outbreaks, similar to those we had during COVID, so New Yorkers have clear information about symptoms, prevention and treatment. Lastly, bike accidents are up 28% compared to last year. We need to act now to protect pedestrians, cyclists and drivers, and I look forward to the Council's hearing on this. I am glad to be part of that legislative package to improve prevention, awareness and public safety across our City.

Lastly, as our summer comes to a close, I want to recognize the Team Maloney members here today: Adele's Charlie Branch, Joey Griffith, Jamie Bonsall, Avery Dimming, Taylor Galloway, Tally Bhandari, Lola Gimbal, Nora Rippberger and Bella Evans, who are observing today. I just want to thank them for their hard work, enthusiasm and commitment to public service. Thank you.

(01:16:46)

CM Wilson, followed by Hanks. Thank you, Majority...

(01:16:50)

Leader. I am honored to introduce, in collaboration with Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, a resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign Daniel's Law. Daniel's Law would ensure that every locality in our State has a plan and resources in place for responding to mental health related emergencies in a sensitive, constructive manner informed by modern advances in and understanding of mental health care. When worried families seek support for a loved one undergoing a mental health crisis, they hope that person will be treated with care and dignity. Unfortunately, too often the tragedy deepens from there. According to the Mayor's Office of Community Mental Health, in the past eight years NYPD officers have fatally shot at least 20 individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. There has to be a better, more humane way to respond to our loved ones in crisis. Daniel's Law will ensure compassionate crisis response in every community, as well as a focus on preventative mental health care. Thank you.

(01:17:51)

CM Marte, followed by Narcisse.

(01:17:55)

Thank you. I want to express gratitude for the many everyday New Yorkers who have dedicated themselves to the people of District 39. In our office, we said goodbye to Jackie at the Craig Newmark School of Journalism this fall. This is also the last Stated where we are joined by our brilliant legislative fellow Opal Sullivan. Anisha has gone above and beyond in her role, stepping in to do critical work in our office. She is joining us full time to support participatory budgeting and constituent services. Emmett Tehran, former Progressive Caucus Executive Director, has also joined my team and will serve as senior adviser on legislative and budgetary matters.

Lastly, thank you to our passionate and curious summer interns who joined our team and supported us over the past few months. Sada Afros, Ronan Chatzky, Sotuné, and Ezra McNally were incredibly helpful to our team and covered everything from constituent services and land use to creating social media content and naming bills. Thank you for choosing public service and contributing your talents to the City and its great people. Good luck on your next chapter. Thank you.

(01:19:08)

CM Narcisse, followed by Morano.

(01:19:11)

Thank you, Majority Leader. Today I just want to let everyone know what is going on with the Haitian community. Please do not ignore what is going on right now, because the world turns and things happen. To the Haitian community, all I can say is: be strong. I am not worried about them — they are strong, because they have been through it. They have seen it, they have read the books. But for all my colleagues, everyone that supports the Haitian community, please know that they are going through a tough time in the City of New York. I have to start by saying thank you to Madam Speaker and of course the Mayor for talking about it. Understand that we cannot ignore what is going on around us. There is one hope that remains — that we can do something about it. S.4814 is in the Senate right now. I want to know from our perspective how best we can help the community that is suffering. They are suffering for real, right in our backyard as well.

I am going to continue saying thank you to everyone who understands what is going on when it comes to folks in the United States of America. Sometimes it is not only about immigration reform. Let me tell you honestly: yes, you can make that argument, but those folks were here legally. They were invited. Yes, I am hearing a lot of people say the Temporary Protected Status was supposed to be temporary, but honestly, there are a lot of things in our lives that are supposed to be temporary but are still with us, including all the advantages that we take from Social Security and Medicare and all of that. So having said that, we cannot ignore the folks that are suffering. Children being separated from their families is going to hang over my head for decades to come, so we have to be part of it. Thank you.

(01:21:18)

CM Morano, followed by Hanks.

(01:21:21)

Thank you, Majority Leader. Today I am proud to introduce two bills as we approach the 25th anniversary of September 11. Twenty-five years is a long time, and there are New Yorkers today who know September 11 only as history. But for thousands of first responders, recovery workers, survivors and their families, it is not history. They are still living with the consequences. My first bill requires the Health Department to strengthen outreach about the programs available to those harmed by the attacks and their aftermath, and...

(01:21:54)

...creates a voluntary text notification system for information about benefits, eligibility and important deadlines, because a benefit only helps someone if they know it exists. My second bill establishes an annual 9/11 Week of Service. We will always remember the nearly 3,000 innocent lives taken from us, but we should also remember what New Yorkers did next. Firefighters and police officers ran towards danger, recovery workers labored for months, and ordinary New Yorkers gave blood, brought food, volunteered and helped complete strangers. At one of the darkest moments in our history, this City showed the very best of itself. I can think of no better way to mark the 25th anniversary than to take care of those still living with the consequences of that day and to pass that spirit of service on to the next generation. I hope colleagues from across this body will join me in supporting these bills, and I think it would be particularly meaningful if we could work together to pass them before September 11, the actual 25th anniversary. "Never forget" should not just describe how we remember the past — it should guide what we do today. Jeff, best of luck in your next step, and we are going to miss you. I hope whoever sits in that chair next has a stopwatch that does not work quite so well. He loves rules, for sure.

(01:23:22)

CM Hanks, followed by Banks and then...

(01:23:24)

Thank you, Majority Leader. Today I am introducing Res 0594, calling on the MTA to fix an inequity in the MTA Resident Rebate Program. The MTA already recognizes motorcycles as a lower toll class than passenger vehicles, yet under the Resident Rebate Program motorcycle riders do not receive the same lower effective toll that the MTA recognizes for motorcycles under the regular toll structure. This is simply unfair. We are not asking the MTA to create a new discount — we are asking them to apply their existing toll policy consistently. A resident rebate should reduce a toll, not negate an existing toll benefit. I encourage my colleagues to sign on to this resolution and join me in calling for the MTA to fix this inequity. Thank you so much.

(01:24:13)

Thank you, CM Banks, followed by Carr.

(01:24:15)

Thank you, Majority Leader, and thank you to the Speaker for your leadership. Today I am proud to introduce Int 0991, legislation that will help New York City deliver small capital projects more efficiently and cost-effectively and with less bureaucracy. Too often the City spends valuable time and resources designing similar small-scale structures from scratch, resulting in unnecessary delays, avoidable costs and slower delivery of the services and infrastructure that our communities depend on. This bill would require the City, in consultation with DCAS and other relevant agencies, to establish and maintain a catalog of pre-approved standard designs for small capital structures. By leveraging proven, ready-to-use designs whenever feasible, the City can streamline planning and procurement, reduce design costs and accelerate construction timelines, while still retaining the flexibility needed to address unique site conditions or project requirements.

At a time when every taxpayer dollar must be spent wisely, we should embrace practical solutions that make government more effective. This legislation is about improving efficiency, strengthening accountability and ensuring that public projects move from concept to completion more quickly. Whether it is a comfort station, a maintenance facility, a storage building or other neighborhood infrastructure, New Yorkers deserve projects that are delivered on time, on budget and with minimal administrative burden. This is a common-sense reform that will help modernize the City's capital project process and minimize the impact of limited public resources by reducing redundancies and promoting consistency across projects. We can deliver needed infrastructure faster and better, and serve communities across the five boroughs. I urge my colleagues to support this.

(01:26:23)

Thank you, CM Carr, followed by...

(01:26:29)

Thank you, Majority Leader. You do not have to be in New York City long to know that it is a city alive with noise — filled with loud traffic, blaring sirens, deafening music, booming construction and yelling, chanting people at our public gatherings, by our fellow New Yorkers who are never short on opinions. Hopefully we all have a place to get away and escape all that deafening noise, but our police officers cannot. Many studies, including one recently done by the National Institutes of Health, have found that police officers are particularly at risk of acute or chronic hearing damage. Another study found that 34% of law enforcement officers suffer noise-induced hearing loss or tinnitus, a significantly higher rate than other occupations and more than twice the rate of the general public. That is why the Chair of our Public Safety Committee, CM Feliz, and I are introducing Int 0997, a bill to create a pilot program that would require the NYPD to provide in-ear electronic hearing protection equipment to our officers. These devices would reduce the decibels of excessively loud noise while also allowing officers to hear their surroundings and maintain situational awareness. The bill would also require the NYPD to publish a report on the pilot program's effectiveness and whether it should be made permanent and expanded in the future. This could be a program that is rolled out to other first responders as well.

These devices can not only save thousands of police officers from unnecessary hearing damage and loss, but also save taxpayers from the medical costs of treating these chronic health problems. I urge my colleagues to sign on to this legislation and help us protect the hearing of those brave men and women who protect us all. Thank you.

(01:28:08)

CM Zhuang, followed by Brooks-Powers.

(01:28:12)

Thank you, Majority Leader. I am proud to introduce Int 1019, to require agencies to study which platforms are most frequently used by different groups of older adults and to create a plan to advertise on them. Currently, New York City agencies use many platforms to connect with older adults. However, we do not know whether older adults from different backgrounds use those platforms. For example, many Chinese American older adults use WeChat, on which agencies do not advertise, and I never see them do anything there. I see they have all the beautiful Chinese translation on Facebook, which older adults are not on. Many other older adults do not use digital platforms at all, and we need more data on what non-digital resources they rely on to get information.

Second, I have a resolution to ask the State to authorize the City of New York to provide a full exemption from real estate taxation to homeowners eligible for the Senior Citizen Homeowners' Exemption, so they can stay in their homes and age in place. I also want to give a shout out to three young, wonderful ladies who followed me today. Three of them want to be lawyers, and they are my summer interns. I have Sandy Chang, Sabrina Wu and a third intern here. Tomorrow will be their last day with me, so I wish them the best of luck. I wish all students a wonderful summer and good luck going back to school.

(01:30:06)

Thank you. CM Brooks-Powers, followed by Gennaro.

(01:30:09)

Thank you. I want to begin by acknowledging David, one of my outstanding interns who are with us today. They are up in the balcony. Lisa, thank you for all the work you have done on behalf of the 31st Council District. Next, I am proud to introduce two Bills intending to bring dignity to families in some of their most vulnerable moments. The first Bill, Int 0995-2026, would require the NYPD to train all officers on the laws and policies governing the use of

(01:30:49)

physical restraints on people in custody who are pregnant or postpartum, including the protections of our state's anti-shackling laws. Earlier this year, a woman gave birth in Brooklyn Criminal Court shortly before midnight while restrained on a low-level charge, without adequate medical care, privacy or dignity. This law requires the NYPD to report every year on the officers it has trained on the dignity and basic level of care that should be afforded to mothers in those moments.

The second Bill, Int 0996-2026, amends a 2019 law to require the NYPD to report publicly each quarter on arrests where a child was present: the number and ages of the children and whether each child was left in the care of another adult. When a parent or caregiver is arrested, a child is often there to see it and possibly left without care. Our City collects no data on how often this happens or who these children are. With this, we can more accurately direct support to these families and the organizations that serve them.

(01:32:00)

Thank you. I urge my colleagues to join me. I would also like to just ask folks, if you see my interns on the way out, just speak to them and impart wisdom into them. I love seeing when we have our young people here taking part in civic engagement. Thank you. Thank you, CM... followed by CM Marte. Thank you. Thank you, Majority Leader. I see now that my statement will run over two minutes, so rather than make a statement here, I will put out a public statement so I can get my full message out. But thanks for acknowledging me.

(01:32:38)

Thank you, CM Marte, followed by...

(01:32:40)

CM Epstein. Thank you, Majority Leader. Today I am proud to reintroduce Int 1008-2026, legislation to protect the health care of New York City municipal retirees. For decades, our retirees served this City with the understanding that when they retired, the health care they earned would be there for them. Yet after years of uncertainty, they remain vulnerable to future efforts to privatize their care, restrict which doctors they can see, or impose new co-pays and other out-of-pocket costs. This Bill will make sure that that cannot happen. It prohibits the City from diminishing health care coverage for Medicare-eligible retirees and their dependents, including by forcing them into privatized Medicare plans with limited provider networks or increasing what they have to pay for care.

I want to be very clear: this legislation does not undermine collective bargaining. The Bill explicitly preserves the right of unions to negotiate terms and conditions of employment, including future retirement benefits for the employees they represent. As we work towards the larger goal of universal health care, where nobody's access to a doctor depends on their employer, income or insurance company, we cannot allow health care people already have to be taken away. Progress cannot mean moving backwards for our retirees. The Medicare Advantage proposal must be off the table. Retirees should not have to spend the rest of their lives worrying whether the health care they depend on will be taken away by the next administration. The Council has a responsibility to provide that certainty. Sign on to Int 1008-2026, stand with our retirees and protect the health care that they earned through decades of service to this City. Thank you.

(01:34:33)

CM Epstein, followed by CM Schulman. Thank you.

(01:34:37)

I want to really talk about something we have seen over the last month across CM Maloney's district, the Speaker's district and my district, around Legionnaires' disease. I really want to applaud the Speaker for her leadership on this and for having a hearing to talk about it. We unfortunately have a development where over a thousand residents are deeply concerned about the impact it is having on their health. I am joining in the introduction of Int 0999-2026, which is about making sure we set up clinics at locations where people can get tested to understand what is going on. We have people who are living in fear and they do not know what to do. We have unfortunately lost seven New Yorkers and we can do better. We know Legionnaires' disease is an issue that continues. I look forward to the Council having this hearing and legislating in a way that helps New Yorkers.

I am also proud to reintroduce Int 0998-2026, called the Lights Out legislation. People know that about 250,000 migratory birds die annually in New York City, partly due to confusion related to buildings that are lit at night. It is a bird crisis but it is also an environmental issue. We are lighting buildings that need not be lit. It also has a human impact. It is a catastrophe going on. When birds fall into the environment, people with allergies are affected. There is a serious human impact as well as the environmental impact on animals. With these issues together, I hope we will be able to see this Bill come to a hearing this year and look forward to its swift passage. This is something we have been working on since Donovan Richards, the Queens Borough President, introduced it over ten years ago. I look forward to passing it when we get the opportunity. Thank you.

(01:36:14)

CM Schulman, followed by CM Gutiérrez.

(01:36:16)

Thank you. I want to start out by acknowledging our intern, Scarlett Perez, who is in the balcony today. It is her last day. She is a constituent and a student at Yale. I also had an intern who left recently from the Orthodox Jewish Center Foundation, Newton Mayor Field, so I want to acknowledge him as well.

I want to start by thanking Speaker Menin for her tireless leadership on public health this summer and for the seriousness with which she has approached the Legionnaires' disease outbreak on the Upper East Side. During the outbreak this summer, too many New Yorkers did not know where to turn, who to call, what symptoms to watch for, or how to get connected to care. That kind of uncertainty during a public health emergency only adds to people's fear and can slow down our response. That is why I am introducing Int 1016-2026 today, to require the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to establish and maintain a Legionnaires' disease hotline during the summer months and whenever outbreaks occur. This hotline will be staffed with health care providers who can answer questions and connect callers to medical guidance, resources and care. Public health information should never be hard to find. In a moment of crisis, New Yorkers will know exactly where to turn. I look forward to chairing the oversight hearing and working with my colleagues to advance this and other legislation and improve our City's response to public health emergencies. Thank you.

(01:37:40)

Thank you, CM Gutiérrez, followed by CM...

(01:37:42)

Thank you. I want to just quickly say thank you wholeheartedly to my four wonderful interns whose last day is today: Amelia, Rezone, Chen and Camille. Thank you so much. I think they are somewhere over here. Maybe they left. But thank you so much for giving District 34 a great summer.

I also want to take a second to speak about what occurred this past Monday in Colombia, which experienced a 7.4 magnitude earthquake. I want to share my condolences to every single Colombian who lost a loved one. The state of Chocó and cities like Bahía Solano have had buildings, churches and hospitals collapse, and the death toll continues to rise and thousands are still missing. I have had to take breaks myself from the news because the images of people being pulled from rubble are truly, truly jarring. However, the coverage of everyday Colombians joining in to recover those bodies, to demand silence at these sites just to see if they can hear if any survivors are still speaking, is a reminder of how united and how resilient we are under a crisis, which we

(01:38:47)

are not into. While those impacted wait for a newly inaugurated right-wing administration to take action, neighbors are stepping up to help, and Colombians in New York City are doing the same by leading collection drives. I want to thank all of those businesses, organizations and friends in government who are leading their own efforts, my district office included. I also want to recognize the people here, the Council staff and City Hall staff with families in Colombia who are sharing in this grief. My prayers to your families.

En español: el terremoto que azotó a Colombia nos ha dejado a todos con el corazón partido. Quiero agradecer a todos los negocios que están organizando esfuerzos de ayuda. And to say that, while we are just weeks away from Hispanic Heritage Month, Colombia had an earthquake, Venezuela had an earthquake, Puerto Rico is in a water shortage. I hope that we can do more than celebrate music and food, because our countries cannot do that without clean water and emergency supplies.

(01:39:50)

Thank you so much. Thank you, Counselor, for your remarks. CM Nurse, followed by CM Pierina.

(01:39:59)

Thank you, Majority Leader. I will be short. I just want to also recognize two of our interns from the summer, Lynn Leilani Davis Warner and Afan Chowdhury. They were excellent. Our team is so proud to have had them and they did a lot of work in our office. We are really excited to see them off into the world and also have them come back and visit us in the future. You all were great. Thank you so much for all your support this summer. And thank you, Majority Leader.

(01:40:30)

Thank you, CM Nurse. CM Pierina, followed by CM Brewer. Thank you, Majority

(01:40:36)

Leader. I also want to acknowledge my legislative fellow Dylan Campos, whose last day is with us. You have been amazing. My whole team is here from the district, so what up, team. But on a more serious note, I want to talk a little bit about the insane, movie-style level of violence that is happening in my district and also in CM Feliz's district. Just yesterday we had allegations of a terrible fire: four businesses lost on 183rd Street, and there are allegations that it was arson and that some of those businesses were not legitimate, that they were just fronts. Someone almost lost his life. Thank God he did not. And just as the news crews were out there, we had open-air drug sales. We just had people dealing drugs in front of New York One, in front of Telemundo, in front of Fox Five, in front of the NYPD. The level of violence that is happening in our district with respect to the illegal drug trade... I am crying out for help. I think my colleagues, I thank the Speaker for visiting, but we need so, so, so much more than we have and I cannot do it alone. I am literally crying, figuratively. We need help. If we do not get it, more people are going to die. A 15-year-old died last night due to gun violence. I just cannot do it alone. Help! Mayor, help! Governor, help! All of the leaders.

(01:42:15)

I am introducing legislation today to fix up properties. I will not talk too much about it. It is an as-of-right tax incentive. Senator Cavanaugh passed it in the Assembly and the Senate passed it earlier this year. We are going to be reauthorizing it. Please join me, colleagues, so that our buildings can get fixed up with this tax incentive. And that is all I can say. Thank you, Majority Leader.

(01:42:40)

All right, we have got two more to go: CM Brewer and CM Hankerson.

(01:42:44)

Thank you very much. I do want to thank the amazing interns during the summer: Phoebe Adler, James Bloom, who is an Alvin Fellow and going off to Taiwan, Rebecca Chin, Gregorio, Julia, Arian, Alvarez, Sofia and many more. Make sure you pick up the most recent City and State, which is called "Gale's Interns Are on the Case." It is a fabulous article about the work that they have been doing. I cannot thank them enough.

On pedicabs: Int 0992-2026, which I hope you will support, would strengthen the current pedicab law. It would require City-approved meters, signs and things that they do not have now, like scannable codes on the registration plates. Int 0993-2026 would make a bigger change, moving the pedicab from the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection to the Taxi and Limousine Commission, where they would have the same oversight as taxis, which I think is really important. There are not 850 pedicab plates but maybe 1,500 operating in 2024, many of them having bogus credentials. There were 172 complaints recently and they need to have a better-regulated industry, and that is what this legislation calls for. Int 0994-2026 requires that they have insurance. It is a complicated Bill but you should look at it and I hope you will support it.

There are many people who should be credited, certainly Judge Wang, who is with the Midtown Community Justice Center, everyone at the Central Park Conservancy, the Times Square Alliance and most importantly the New York City Council legislative team: Elliot Heisler, Margaret... Wealthy Jones and Nell Beckman, and from my office, Shula, and former staffer Sam Goldsmith. I hope this legislation passes because it will help make an industry more responsive but also help tourists see Central Park in a way that they can, if the horses disappear. Thank you very much.

(01:44:52)

Thank you. CM Hankerson. Has anyone else who would like to speak in general discussion not yet spoken? All right, CM Hankerson. Thank

(01:45:01)

you. I will be very, very quick since I am last, so we can go. I wanted to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for my summer interns who are in the balcony. Our interns do so much to assist our constituents in their lives. Many of my interns are here today, so I wanted to quickly shout them all out. First, my TAPP interns: Madison, who was a rising junior at Morgan State University; Scalia, who was about to start her freshman year at York College; Quinn, who recently transferred from Kean University and is exploring going back to school; Constance, who just graduated from New York Career and Business School; Hamad, who was a rising senior at Hunter College; and Russell, who is a master's student graduating from Philip Arson Science. I have deep respect for all of the interns who have worked to serve the great 28th District and I wish them the best in their futures and hope that they come back to serve in other capacities at some point. Congratulations to you all. Thank you for serving our district.

(01:46:02)

Thank you. I will now call on Speaker Julie Menin to close today's Stated Meeting.

(01:46:06)

Okay. Thank you. Just a couple of quick announcements. First of all, I want to extend our deepest condolences to CM Farah Louis on the passing of her father, Andre Louis. We have been in touch with the Council Member. She has just transmitted to us the details about the arrangements, so we will be sending that out this afternoon for any member that can join. I know we all join in extending to the Council Member our deepest condolences for this loss.

One other matter: I just wanted to build upon what CM Epstein and CM Maloney talked about with Legionnaires' disease. There were seven deaths in my district and CM Maloney's district due to Legionnaires' disease. We have five residents still in critical condition in the hospital. This is a very, very difficult situation. I know CM Epstein also has the situation in his district. So we are having a hearing on September 2 and I really urge everyone to attend. We have a number of really great Bill ideas to try to fix the gaps in what is happening.

(01:47:18)

Because, sadly, the Council passed some legislation but many of the building owners were not complying with the legislation. There were a ton of vacancies that were not filled in the Health Department for inspectors and water ecologists. So we have a lot of questions and a lot of good Bills in the package we are looking at. If you have Bill ideas on Legionnaires' disease that you want us to look at, please send them to the legislative division. I urge everyone to join the hearing on September 2. With that, that closes the Stated Meeting.