The NY Food Policy Alliance’s Statement on the NYC Council FY25 Preliminary Budget Response
The NY Food Policy Alliance, which represents 60+ food system nonprofit and community leaders across the city, extends its gratitude to the Speaker and the City Council for articulating a vision for a FY25 budget that ensures all New York City families have access to healthy, affordable food. At a time when 50% of working age New Yorkers are struggling to cover their basic needs, the Council’s focus on making food more healthy, affordable and accessible for working and middle-class families is crucial.
We commend the alignment of the Council's Response with our policy priorities, particularly the investment of $59 million to enhance the Community Food Connections program. We fully support the restoration and baselining of funding for school meals at $60 million and the $7.1 million commitment to community composting programs and GreenThumb, as well as the expansion of funding for NYCBenefits, which connects New Yorkers to underutilized government benefits.
As budget negotiations proceed, we see an opportunity to further refine these proposals. Specifically, we assert that the $17 million allocated for staffing should be recognized distinctly from restored funds, bringing the total proposed funding to $77 million. Additionally, we stress the importance of food and nutrition education in NYC schools to foster healthy dietary habits and introduce students to diverse foods.
The Council’s response, which includes $236 million to expand the Summer Youth Employment Program, is commendable; however, existing barriers at urban agriculture sites limit meaningful youth engagement. We propose the establishment of an urban agriculture youth employment pilot program tailored to the needs of urban agriculture organizations, ensuring they are compensated for hosting and providing impactful experiences for youth. It is equally vital to sustain and critically assess the Groceries to Go Program to verify its effectiveness for New Yorkers facing food insecurity and diet-related illnesses.
Our Alliance calls on the Administration and City Council to enact a FY25 Budget and invests in access to healthy, affordable food, strengthens urban agriculture and supports the next generation of farmers, and fosters long-term resilience and economic opportunity in the City's food system.