The recent legislative session in New York State brought both victories and disappointments for the Equity Budget Coalition, a group advocating for fair and equitable funding for marginalized communities. One of the highlights was the $30 million restoration into AAPI community-based organizations to provide linguistically and culturally competent services. Additionally, a $4 million allocation for the Settlement House Program and $20 million for afterschool programs were significant wins for the community.
However, while these investments were crucial, there were also shortcomings in the budget. The 2.84% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for specific human services workers was a step in the right direction, but the absence of a full 3.2% COLA for all human service workers was a missed opportunity to ensure fair and livable compensation for all. Sammy’s Law, which lowered the speed limit in the city to 20 miles per hour, was a positive development for public safety.
One of the most significant investments was the $2.4 billion allocated to address New York City’s asylum seeker humanitarian crisis, showing a commitment to supporting vulnerable communities. However, initiatives like Coverage for All and SNAP for All, which aimed to expand essential services to undocumented New Yorkers and increase SNAP eligibility, ultimately failed to pass, highlighting the ongoing challenges in providing comprehensive support to all residents.
Despite some positive outcomes, there were concerning developments in the budget. The proposal to consolidate to one single CDPAP Fiscal Intermediary (FI) could have detrimental effects on clients and workers, leading to job losses and reduced care. Additionally, critical home care bills, such as splitting 24-hour shifts and increasing home care wages, did not pass, exacerbating the existing home care crisis.
Furthermore, important climate measures like the NY HEAT Act and the Climate Change Superfund Act did not pass, missing an opportunity to make significant investments in environmental justice and racial equity. The failure to pass bills that would include all human services workers in a cost of living adjustment and establish a Human Services Wage Board to address wage inequities across the sector was also disappointing.
In conclusion, while there were some positive developments in the recent legislative session, there is still work to be done to ensure fair and equitable funding for all communities in New York State. The Equity Budget Coalition will continue to advocate for meaningful investments and policy reforms to address the root causes of housing issues, caregiver shortages, and other pressing challenges facing marginalized communities.