Board perfects Bloomberg-funded youth climate grant after concerns about routing through president’s office

The Board of Aldermen on July 10 perfected Board Bill 32, an ordinance authorizing acceptance of a Bloomberg Philanthropies subaward for a Youth Climate Action Fund to be administered through the aldermanic president’s office.

The alderman from the 3rd, sponsor of the bill, said the funds would support microgrants to the city’s youth council and noted the award had been vetted and approved by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment. “This is the first time that we’re accepting this grant award…and it is a one-time award at this point,” the sponsor said.

The alderwoman from the 12th challenged the decision to place the award in the president’s office, saying she had not seen independent written legal advice and calling the arrangement inappropriate. “This looks very political to me and is not the correct way to be doing things,” she said, and added she would vote no on the perfection motion because she believed the grant should be administered by a city department.

In response, the sponsor said the president’s office was the applicant and that certain functions, such as administration of the youth council and honorary designations, have historically run out of that office. He also said the bill had been reviewed by the city clerk’s office and Board of Estimate and Apportionment.

After discussion, the clerk called a roll on the motion to perfect Board Bill 32; the clerk recorded 13 ayes, 1 no and 1 present, and the motion carried.

Next steps: the board’s action moved the bill forward in the legislative process; the ordinance’s final appropriation and implementation details will be governed by the terms of the subaward and any required administrative setup in the president’s office or a delegated department.