[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6561650,"mediaKeyId","3288407-c6d96c08ec46001e5066d4290ea5b2d6","parentId",3288407,"title","Council and advocates press for baselined funding as Parks faces staffing losses and one-shot restorations","audioSeconds",5947,"startMs",11075000,"endMs",17022000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3288407-c6d96c08ec46001e5066d4290ea5b2d6&start=11075&end=17022","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3288407-c6d96c08ec46001e5066d4290ea5b2d6/thumbnail_11075000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6561650/New-York/Council-and-advocates-press-for-baselined-funding-as-Parks-faces-staffing-losses-and-one-shot-restorations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6561650-a1dea4fed91d202669aee95fcf5be302/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147659&Signature=BS5uplKmAoHMEKinuI0SJKWbUMzbofvysCvgPg~zDV2cs9nc~RtsXdf5MXYKWW5l4brrkc8gEAVHplljckwHhAOAJc0EFu8vg1ZcdCaQIm8arpDv8-urbDwC6jvDq4jEj~JiianrLcHMXcMTuBavVpqren3aKjvBmNwgxPDWhbLS5hskRpnBhmfVK3fmxj2sPs5Pf~tcDyilx-9pRKoDFqoe87q6Nnh0bzMFa81Bw3GZNl3IC1azhMebdefYeaQBJXHBwkXu74gQBGzpA2XrEyL17k0pWFfP7sqY3vRit2BQpac0RpgFoxqEISSRNB0TBXCrK5grx535yNGZgI53gg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of New York, NY","date","2025-05-13T20:54:17Z","article","Council members and parks advocates used the FY26 executive budget hearing to press the administration to restore permanent funding for parks staff and programs after years of cuts.

What happened: Commissioner Sue Donahue and senior Parks staff summarized the Department of Parks and Recreation's FY26 executive plan, which the agency described as an operating budget of roughly $667.3 million and a 10-year capital plan of about $10.4 billion. Commissioner Donahue highlighted new baseline funding for fleet repair staff and baseline OTPS funding for an Office of Marine Debris Disposal. She also described a series of capital investments such as a Prospect Park garage reconstruction and pool and playground projects that have moved forward.

But much of the hearing focused on staffing and the use of \"one-shot\" (temporary) budget lines. Committee leaders and advocates repeatedly asked why programs that deliver ongoing services ' such as urban park rangers, park enforcement (PEP), forestry and lifeguards ' are still funded on short-term lines that must be renewed each year. Council Member Shekhar Krishnan said many roles are treated as temporary even though the work is clearly recurring and essential.

Urban park rangers and PEP: The parks commissioner told the committee DPR has a budgeted headcount of 89 ranger positions with an active headcount of 92; DOT/Parks operations staff said 50 of the ranger lines in FY25 were funded with one-shot dollars and asked the council to support baselining. PEP officers (park enforcement patrol) were budgeted at 369 tax-levy headcount with about 344 active PEP officers; committee members said the effective coverage per borough leaves many parks with only a handful of PEPs and asked how the agency prioritizes deployment. Parks described the PEP deployment as a combination of borough-level equity and a roving response team.

Lifeguards and water safety: Parks described progress on recruiting lifeguards, adding that roughly 930 lifeguards participated last season and that the agency needs about 1,000 to fully open pools and beaches. The commissioner said a 1,400 corps would allow an expanded second shift and additional programming such as senior swim. Parks described expanded training sites across four boroughs and retention bonuses for returning lifeguards; council members asked for continued work on recruitment and retention.

Natural areas and trees: Advocates and the Natural Areas Conservancy told the committee that elimination of forest-management staff in recent budgets reduced the city's capacity to manage invasive vines and other threats to regenerating urban forests. The administration added a $3 million one-shot allocation for natural areas in the executive plan; advocates asked the council to baseline that funding and to prioritize a citywide urban forest plan.

One-shots versus baseline: The hearing repeatedly returned to the same point: several essential functions ' second-shift park maintenance, urban park rangers, PEP enforcement, forestry and pool staffing ' are supported by one-shot lines. Council members and union representatives argued these must be baselined to provide job security and operational continuity. Parks acknowledged the value of permanent lines but noted that OMB controls baselining decisions and that some recent additions were one-shots intended to address critical shortfalls while broader budget negotiations continue.

Capital and bathrooms: Members also discussed a multi-year restroom initiative and other capital projects, and asked the agency for timelines for projects such as the Baywater Park pedestrian access and the 70 Ninth Street boat basin reconstruction. Parks affirmed a multi-year capital pipeline, including mayoral funding for restroom renovations and a $51 million allocation for a major Manhattan pool, but warned that large projects require multiple agency permits and complex design and procurement steps.

Ending: Committee chairs and advocates pressed for baselining of recurring staff and maintenance funding and asked Parks and OMB to return with strategies and budgets that ensure stable staffing for lifeguards, PEP, rangers and forestry crews. The commissioner said she will continue to press for baselining and for program stability while honoring the council's questions and requests.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","🔴 LIVE: Finance/Parks & Recreation/Transportation & Infrastructure FY26 Executive Budget Hearing","oneSentenceSummary","Council members and parks advocates used the FY26 executive budget hearing to press the administration to restore permanent funding for parks staff and programs after years of cuts.","taxTitle","New York City Council, New York City, New York County, New York","taxId",77593,"location","New York","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6561655,"Drivers, advocates press council to keep medallion-relief program open and fund WAV transition",2149,10832000,12981000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3288407-c6d96c08ec46001e5066d4290ea5b2d6&start=10832&end=12981","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3288407-c6d96c08ec46001e5066d4290ea5b2d6/thumbnail_10832000.jpg","/articles/6561655/New-York/Drivers-advocates-press-council-to-keep-medallion-relief-program-open-and-fund-WAV-transition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6561655-68b4e4b44ba3cf6c46982d6c03f4bed6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147659&Signature=KGuoMdqn4aH3TF4AHG8Sb6mUFSj2Y8ey6ix~KkvtHbIC-aCbL2Sp118ZJ87GApBgNBR5i3NRT0Wcy1uJyU2eRsMUoOadXOqxZfACCUyw-cMMN4iZU6kGkYn8nqeqWU2y0sWR6nS19dM7QBkIb0-q3Fq~wUIQb9LwVx~QrEZ3gzWjipgjjUsUf7-6AVgRl4WPBYcQh9C52P4fb7J4C~W65LtTOtPFHUV13yIvMYuOEbwYj4f3l2oiR5D882A09-B30M7GT4Rrcew4saDI~KLlGZQ3cdeB1K9HhC1fGZ-bsYkjwZJrRJymE~mnfw9ZY9qGZEHYxxjnAhinplvGWYb62w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A coalition of taxi drivers, taxi-worker advocates and community members urged city officials and council members at the DOT/Parks executive hearing and the public testimony period to extend city programs that helped restructure medallion debt and to fund the continued transition to wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

What drivers said: Multiple speakers representing the New York Taxi Workers Alliance and individual drivers described how city-backed programs and loan restructurings since 2021 have helped many drivers but left several hundred owner-drivers still facing unaffordable payments. Richard Chow, Wayne Chin, and others asked the city to \"keep the MRP program open\" and to provide the $30,000 grant used in the medallion refinancing program so remaining lenders can be persuaded to accept settlements. One owner-operator described a monthly medallion loan payment falling from about $2,670 to $1,234 after debt relief measures earlier in the decade. Several drivers said they remain unable to participate because individual lenders refused to negotiate or because they needed more time.

Why this matters: The medallion debt crisis has been a long-running financial and mental-health emergency for many drivers. Drivers said remaining loan restructurings are relatively few (drivers and advocates estimated a couple hundred loans) but require time and either additional city guarantees or cooperation from lenders. The Taxi Workers Alliance said a modest time extension for program eligibility would allow lenders willing to accept settlements to finish deals that restructure remaining loans with the city's guaranty and the previously promised $30,000 grant.

Wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAV) transition: Dozens of witnesses also urged the city to reinforce funding and incentive mechanisms to meet the city's WAV requirement and to ensure drivers can adopt WAVs without incurring crushing up-front costs. WAVs are significantly more expensive than conventional taxi vehicles. Witnesses asked the council to restore or supplement the Taxi Improvement Fund (TIF) and to restore a previously collected $1-per-trip driver supplement (which DOT and TLC restructured while increasing immediate TIF benefits) to help operating drivers cover fuel and maintenance costs tied to wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Advocates said restoring a modest per-trip allocation and rethinking TIF funding would prevent smaller owner-drivers from being forced out of the market.

City response and next steps: Committee members and DOT/TLC staff discussed the agency-level constraints and the need for discussions with state officials on financing, data sharing, and WAV policy implementation. The Taxi Workers Alliance asked the council to press the administration to keep the medallion relief program open until every eligible loan is restructured and to pursue TIF stabilization so WAV adoption is practical for owner-drivers.

Ending: Drivers asked the council to marshal whatever authority and funding are necessary to finish restructuring the remaining loans and to ensure WAV transition funding and policy settings do not shift costs onto current owner-drivers who lack access to low-cost capital.","Taxi drivers and advocates urged the council to keep the Medallion Relief Program open to complete the refinancing and debt settlements for the last remaining loans, and asked for sustained support for the taxi improvement fund and for measures to help drivers purchase wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVs).",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6561660,"DOT tells council it selected vendor for next generation automated enforcement; members press on fake plates and data sharing",1608,2089000,3697000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3288407-c6d96c08ec46001e5066d4290ea5b2d6&start=2089&end=3697","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3288407-c6d96c08ec46001e5066d4290ea5b2d6/thumbnail_2089000.jpg","/articles/6561660/New-York/DOT-tells-council-it-selected-vendor-for-next-generation-automated-enforcement-members-press-on-fake-plates-and-data-sharing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6561660-738aa810ae58a010e5deec0ac3fde700/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147659&Signature=Nc65mObUqBaaFZcnXl-sx2YzNY9NEBNV-HOH~sMUxMa588FtM7NSiFmffLKSZvFlrKvQPE046Rxdzn8mkuBsVfqSUoq4Z-eivkGnPwpC4Zz6YDYHwoA9orkwnzwooyC5J2tUNhjjV8CgCaaUMfq3sTHHFs1jWpf7IOkmK2kRyZMrKwMBuwlOTp15oGFk~h0ZZFYq7pBHHb9HWhqb9~-yip5capnGb64I8x6uVP~JpNnw1PN67wfblGeXEZw3k-2xIZTQ8ayELpse-pwhQyBWaFiOwlvrpImDXEwDCkdKnNKSrNPonDXb-IZprvFNwsOaaCsynX2xrWtM0wDY4CsC5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Council members pressed Department of Transportation officials over automated enforcement technology, camera placement and legal limits on how images and other vehicle data may be used.

What happened: DOT told the council it has identified a top-ranked vendor for its first-ever competitive procurement of automated enforcement services. The agency said the contract was structured to be technology-flexible so DOT could adopt newer systems over time. DOT officials said the current vendor selection scored highest during the evaluation and the agency is negotiating contract details, including several operational and procurement safeguards.

Council members raised two operational concerns. First, they asked whether DOT's automated enforcement program can adapt to problems caused by obscured, obscured or fake license plates, which an audit by the Comptroller cited as reducing fine revenue. Commissioner Danis Rodriguez said DOT had recently adopted a rule empowering NYPD to issue tickets for obstructed license plates on parked vehicles, and the agency's general counsel is studying additional enforcement avenues. DOT staff also said the state authorizations for city camera programs restrict how imagery may be used, and that expanding use would require changes at the state level or additional data-sharing arrangements.

Second, the council asked about geographic deployment and public notice. DOT said existing fixed red light cameras would not be moved; new cameras would be sited based on crash data and priorities where they can most reduce injuries. Regarding public notice, DOT said it generally does not publicize the siting of automated enforcement cameras because the policy objective is citywide behavior change rather than short-term shifts in driving patterns around a known camera.

Speed camera reauthorization and expanded enforcement: DOT said it is working with New York State to reauthorize and expand speed-camera authority at the state level; the agency described a pending home-rule message and legislative work to reauthorize a life-saving speed-camera program set to expire in July. DOT also said, by working with Albany, it had secured an expansion that allows its red light camera inventory to grow (the law authorizes expansion from 150 camera locations to 600). DOT told the committee it had not expanded to all 600 locations at the time of the hearing but was in the process of negotiating vendor details and planning installations.

Technology and telematics: Council members asked whether the city could use vehicle telematics (GPS/ISA-type devices) or other connected-vehicle data to identify vehicles with unreadable plates or to target worst offenders. DOT's intergovernmental staff said the agency supports state measures to allow greater information sharing and amendment to city enabling legislation. DOT also said it is exploring Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA) telematics as part of a multi-pronged enforcement and education strategy, and staff indicated there may be a home-rule message and state bills under discussion tied to telematics for the most serious repeat offenders.

Ending: DOT said the new contracted automated enforcement program is intended to be more technology-flexible than past contracts, and the agency pledged to continue working with the council on statutory changes necessary to expand data-sharing and enforcement options. Council members asked DOT to return with details on vendor capabilities, the proposed contract's data use limits, and the siting schedule for expanded cameras.","DOT told the council it has identified a top vendor for an automated enforcement contract and is negotiating terms. Council members pressed DOT about fake/obscured license plates, authority limits, camera siting, and whether new technology can use telematics/GPS to identify vehicles when license plates are unreadable.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6561665,"Council questions DOT budget as resurfacing targets fall and vacancies persist",8962,1071000,10033000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3288407-c6d96c08ec46001e5066d4290ea5b2d6&start=1071&end=10033","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3288407-c6d96c08ec46001e5066d4290ea5b2d6/thumbnail_1071000.jpg","/articles/6561665/New-York/Council-questions-DOT-budget-as-resurfacing-targets-fall-and-vacancies-persist","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6561665-fccad2725c9c9d50401a4cf9f251e1c0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147659&Signature=DGyj4zhlHG~9xj6REb-Dwhy7NCPc9COH1NDtOqg6vaWoKqPxQtS43GNDY0noZjKEJ9H0zqSb32s59vSJ8EJx5KIcz0-Fii0OCxHC4VqSsrAjWCFeLDOf-J-lCLLCWjopaX3PkXyB2QxD0oq3BivwCjL3~IkoRx~jC8LfblI9~FXfwUL0FRG~V9ghR6qMx4ziX-j07YMirYgSJf1lvUIlAYJv-MeAZzagYKSiZ3mGJZ0IyxpTnF~pjMJOfcO0oUjOG8rAYvAhJpH5mSiVdogx85TxXNALZjR90mW94LQCZAhwvb-9zTFyLBPPnSBo2KMArg-D-Bf9ILP~cqPvDqpGfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members pressed Department of Transportation officials at a joint Finance and Transportation executive budget hearing over whether the agency has enough staff and funding to keep the city's streets and safety programs on track.

The hearing opened with Council Member Justin Brannan, chair of the Finance Committee, flagging two headline figures in the administration's FY26 executive financial plan: a $115.1 billion citywide total and a $1.5 billion operating budget for DOT. \"As of March, DOT still had about 630 vacancies,\" Brannan said. \"That's hundreds of jobs unfilled, projects delayed, streets that go unrepaired, and New Yorkers that have to deal with unsafe conditions.\" He and other council members urged stronger action so resurfacing and safety work do not fall further behind.

Why this matters: DOT told the council the administration's executive plan keeps resurfacing at 1,100 lane miles annually, below a previously stated target of 1,300 lane miles. Council members said the lower number will mean more potholes and longer waits for repairs in neighborhoods that already report chronic pavement problems.

DOT Commissioner Annie Danis Rodriguez and senior staff said the executive plan increases DOT's operating budget slightly from the preliminary plan and adds $34.6 million in new needs for FY26, but the department's capital commitment plan for FY25''29 is $1.67 billion smaller than the preliminary capital commitment plan. Commissioner Danis Rodriguez told the committee that capital numbers are frequently shifted among fiscal years to match project schedules and do not necessarily indicate program cuts. \"We move money around,\" she said. \"If a project is funded in fiscal '27 and we need to move the money up to fiscal '25, we do that all the time.\"

On resurfacing specifically, DOT first deputy Margaret Fortuny said the FY26 resurfacing budget was increased by $7.9 million. Fortuny also told members that DOT has historically met its lane-mile targets and that resurfacing is often cyclical and weather dependent. Council members pressed for a dollar figure that would be needed to restore the 1,300 lane-mile target; DOT did not provide a specific restored-total figure at the hearing but agreed to follow up with more details.

Staffing and vacancies: Council members repeatedly returned to the same operational challenge: hiring and retaining the necessary DOT workforce. DOT said it is subject to citywide hiring controls (including a 2-for-1 replacement policy for some non-engineering positions) and that engineering positions had been exempted from the hiring freeze in recent budget talks. DOT described recruitment partnerships (including agreements with local engineering programs and internship pipelines) and reliance on seasonal and contractor capacity to deliver work.

Capital plan and project timing: Members warned that large slippages and multi-year delivery delays were occurring. DOT described ongoing capital \"stretch\" exercises used to keep bonding and schedules aligned and said the agency coordinates with DDC, DEP, and OMB to align project schedules before shifting funds across years. For specific projects mentioned by council members, DOT said design or permitting schedules and DDC bidding cycles sometimes push start dates and that the agency will move funds to align with construction timing.

Streets Plan mandates: Committee members raised the city's statutory Streets Plan mandates. DOT acknowledged it missed several annual benchmarks in 2024: 13.5 miles of protected bus lanes (compared with a 30-mile benchmark), 766 transit signal priority installations (compared with a 1,000-intersection annual target), and about 29 miles of protected bike lanes (below a 50-mile benchmark). Commissioner Danis Rodriguez said the agency counts some enforcement measures together with new construction for certain compliance calculations and noted community opposition in some neighborhoods can slow implementation of protected lanes.

What the council asked for next: Members asked DOT to provide: (1) a detailed, line-item estimate of how much additional capital and operating funding would be required to return to the 1,300 lane-mile resurfacing target; (2) a clearer breakdown of the 630 vacancies by job title and borough and a timetable for filling engineering and operations roles; and (3) a timeline and explanation for the capital-plan decreases and which projects were moved.

Outlook: DOT told the committee the agency was \"full steam ahead\" on its capital program and cited targeted new fleet replacement money and baseline funding for bridges, sidewalks, and ferry operations. The council said it will press OMB and the administration in negotiations to baseline positions that DOT currently funds on temporary lines and to restore or increase resurfacing and maintenance funding where needed.

Ending: The committee asked DOT to return with supplemental materials and promised follow-up sessions to examine the capital plan, resurfacing cost-per-lane-mile trends, and vacancy reductions in greater detail.","At a joint Finance and Transportation hearing on the Department of Transportation's (DOT) fiscal 2026 executive budget, council members pressed DOT officials about reduced resurfacing lane-mile targets, 630 reported vacancies, a smaller capital commitment plan, and the agency’s ability to meet requirements in the city''s Streets Plan.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council and advocates press for baselined funding as Parks faces staffing losses and one-shot restorations

Drivers, advocates press council to keep medallion-relief program open and fund WAV transition

DOT tells council it selected vendor for next generation automated enforcement; members press on fake plates and data sharing

Council questions DOT budget as resurfacing targets fall and vacancies persist