Gov. Andrew Cuomo released his 2019 legislative priorities

Gov. Andrew Cuomo speakers on Dec. 17 in Manhattan.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo speakers on Dec. 17 in Manhattan. Office of the Governor

By Zach Williams

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There will be a Twitterstorm today about the 2020 Census. The Chinese-American Planning Council will be discussing efforts to ensure an accurate census at 2 p.m. today under the hashtag #CompleteCount. The virtual event will be held with the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, Advancing Justice, and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. It is a response in part to efforts by the Trump administration to include a citizenship question in the upcoming census – an inclusion that could discourage some immigrants, particularly those who are undocumented, from participating, which, in turn would affect federal funding for social services in New York.

 

Union Settlement Association has won a $1.05 million contract from the New York City Administration for Children’s Services. The money will fund a community partnership program, according to the City Record. ACS has also awarded a $1.71 million contract to Zion Day Care Center to deliver Early Learn services. The Department for the Aging has negotiated a $1.42 million, 18-month extension for Lenox Hill Neighborhood House to deliver senior services on through June 2020. Selfhelp Community Services also got an 18-month contract extension from the department, a $1.9 million deal to deliver senior services through June 2020.

There is also some contract action at the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene: Resources for Children With Special Needs got a $206,938 contract, and Heartshare Human Services Of New York got a $128,540 contract to deliver medical and mental health services for children.

 

Governor Andrew Cuomo has outlined his legislative agenda for 2019. The governor spoke in Manhattan on Dec. 17 and called for the legalization of marijuana within the first 100 days after lawmakers returned to Albany next year. Other proposals include efforts to codify some provisions of Obamacare in state law, protecting LGBTQ rights, expanding affordable housing, and other items on Democrats legislative wishlist. Read details here, or watch his speech below:

 

A new policy brief outlines the role NYCHA plays in housing New York City’s poorest people. More than 60 percent of the 174,000 households that live in the city’s public housing system make about $28,600 per year, according to the brief released by the NYU Furman Center. The city has just over one month to show the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development why it should retain control of NYCHA housing, following a year when several high-profile scandals added more pressure to the beleaguered housing agency.

“Preserving the deeply affordable housing NYCHA provides is essential for maintaining the economic and racial diversity of New York’s neighborhoods,” said Ingrid Gould Ellen, faculty director of the NYU Furman Center. “Putting NYCHA on sound financial and structural footing should be a top priority for federal, state, and local policymakers.”

Read the report below:

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