Revitalizing healthcare access, expanding social services and developing affordable housing equitably across the borough were just some of the policy goals Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso touched upon Wednesday during his State of the Borough Address at the New York City College of Technology.
“There is one thing our city gets wrong. Planning. Whether it's housing, education or healthcare…We don’t plan, we zone,” said Reynoso, who recently created a Housing Legaue of pro-housing policitans.
The borough president lamented the lack of city programs that address inequality seen in the city. At a time where the rich seem to get richer right before our eyes, Reynoso said his initiatives, some of which was previously outlined in his comprehensive plan for Brooklyn, will help the working class.
Reynoso also said Borough Hall will become a satellite Asylum Application Help Center, supporting up to 180 undocumented people applying for work authorizations each week. The center will offer assistance by appointment only and will continue to operate through June 30.
“We are a city that does not make excuses. No matter the circumstances we are born into, no matter the challenges we face, we show up for this city and we deliver on the dreams of opportunity from which New York was born,” he said.
Here are some of his agenda highlights:
Healthcare
The borough president said he wanted to reduce healthcare costs and fund maternal health services at Brooklyn’s three public hospitals. He already used every penny of his 2023 fiscal year $45 million budget specifically towards maternal care, which helped the health outcomes specifically for Black women, who die at a disproportionate rate compared to other races during or after pregnancy, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
He lauded the historic contract the New York State Nurses Association fought for that ensured pay parity and safe staffing for nurses employed by the government.
Housing
The borough president also addressed housing as a significant issue to tackle.
“From where I sit, it is code red for housing and homelessness. Housing access has been the worst it has been in the city historically,” said Reynoso. “Instead of landlords competing for tenants, it’s New Yorkers competing for homes.”
The competition for homes is evident through the city’s housing vacancy rate, which is at a historic low 1.4%. Housing for middle- and low-income New Yorkers is especially hard to come by these days, especially with the cost of living increasing every year.
To combat this issue, Reynoso proposed an equitable distribution of building affordable housing across the borough. Although Williamsburg has built up signigicant housing supply, southern and eastern Brooklyn, like Canarsie or Mill Basin, have seen a trickle of new housing, he said.
Prioritization of permanent housing, coupled with social services for those in need, came as part of his “Housing First” model to combat homelessness.
Inequality
He also touched on the disparity between different areas within the borough. Life expectancy between neighborhoods like Park Slope and Carroll Gardens was more than six years higher than neighborhoods like Brownsville, according to Reynoso.
The borough president expressed discontent over the lessening quality and coverage of city social services, including the cash assistance program.
The city saw a 67% increase from four years ago in cash assistance applications, with the average number of households receiving cash aid up by 33% over the same time period. However, denials for these services have also increased dramatically over the last year, he said.
With more and more people living paycheck to paycheck, Reynoso stressed the importance of maintaining a healthy social safety net for Brooklyn and the city as a whole.
“When it comes to this city, I refuse to accept a scarcity mindset.”
This was Reynoso’s second state of the borough address with Attorney General Letitia James, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Comptroller Brad Lander tapped as guest speakers and many other city, state and federal elected officials in attendance for the night.
