CPC STATEMENT ON THE NYS FY21 EXECUTIVE BUDGET PROPOSAL

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

Date: 1/22/2020

Press Contacts: Carlyn Cowen, Chief Policy and Public Affairs Officer (ccowen@cpc-nyc.org | 919-637-6866)

CPC STATEMENT ON THE NYS FY21 EXECUTIVE BUDGET PROPOSAL

CPC is concerned that Asian American & Pacific Islanders, communities of color, immigrants, low-income New Yorkers, women, and human services workers are left behind by the proposed New York State budget.

New York, NY -- Governor Cuomo proposed a $178 billion dollar budget for NYS Fiscal Year 2020-21, in the face of a $6 billion budget deficit, largely due to the Medicaid budget gap. CPC is disappointed that the budget does not make good on the State’s promises to be a sanctuary for immigrant New Yorkers and to advance a progressive agenda, leaving out critical investments in services that support Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders, communities of color, immigrants, and low-income New Yorkers.

This session represents an opportunity to pass legislation and build a budget that supports the most marginalized New Yorkers, and the organizations and workers that provide critical services for them. CPC urges the Governor’s Office and State Legislature to take bold action to avoid the same measures that contributed to the budget gap — namely disinvestment in support services and an unwillingness to raise progressive revenue by having individuals and corporations pay their fair share. A progressive New York should invest in the needs of all residents. 

While CPC was pleased to see a commitment to addressing the urgent crisis of climate change, which disproportionately harms communities of color, immigrants and low-income people, we were concerned to see a lack of investment in the core needs of our communities. The proposed budget underfunds healthcare and long term care, education, public housing, and transit. It cuts back social services at a time when they are needed more than ever, and continues to underfund the human services workforce, a workforce primarily staffed by women of color and immigrants. We urge the State to fund the basic systems and services that all New Yorkers need to survive, rather than direct that funding toward policing, school and neighborhood surveillance, incarceration, and other punitive measures that do more to harm, separate, and marginalize Asian American & Pacific Islander families, immigrant communities, and communities of color than keep them safe. 

CPC will be advocating for a State budget that advances the social and economic empowerment of Asian American & Pacific Islander, immigrant and low-income New Yorkers. CPC believes that a strong state is one that supports and invests in communities through: 

• Human services: providing a 3% increase to human services contracts over the next five years and investing in human services infrastructure; investing in the Settlement House Program, Adult Literacy and family literacy programs, senior services and Meals on Wheels; and expanding the State-funded portion of child welfare protective/preventive services (65-35);

• Representation for marginalized communities: passing the Asian American and Pacific Islander and the LGBTQ+ Data Disaggregation Bills; passing Automatic Voter Registration and continuing to expand democracy reforms; restoring rights for New Yorkers on probation and parole as well as incarcerated New Yorkers; establishing a public campaign finance match; and committing to an open, transparent redistricting process;

• Immigrant justice: passing the Access to Representation Act, the Protect Our Courts Act, and charitable bail reform; and expanding funding for the Liberty Defense Fund and the ONA Opportunity Centers;

• Healthcare access: passing the New York Health Act; expanding the essential plan; and protecting against cuts to Medicaid;

• Housing and mobility: passing a Homes Guarantee through the good cause eviction bill and universal rent control; investing in Home Stability Support and senior affordable housing; and developing an open Congestion Pricing implementation process that directs money toward strengthening public transportation rather than investing in fare evasion policing;

• Economic equity: passing the Inclusive Value Ledger; removing the 2% global spending cap; and passing progressive fiscal policies to ensure that individuals and corporations pay their fair share;

 A full agenda can be found here. 

CPC looks forward to continuing to work with the Governor's Office and State Legislature to build a FY20-21 budget and pass legislation that allows all New Yorkers to thrive. 

About CPC
The Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC) is the nation's largest Asian American social services organization. Founded in 1965, CPC aims to promote the social and economic empowerment of Chinese American, immigrant, and low-income communities of New York City.