“This was the most difficult negotiation in my six years in the Council,” Councilwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers told community leaders and residents at the community budget briefing she hosted at the Rockaway YMCA on Thursday evening, July 16. Despite new hurdles, the councilwoman secured $24 million for District 31 in New York City’s fiscal year 2027 budget.
Brooks-Powers, who had been the Majority Whip during the previous administration, explained that a new mayor and a new city council speaker brought a shift in priorities to the budget. “I was disappointed the mayor’s initial budget did not invest capital dollars in our communities,” she said. In the adopted budget, District 31 received more than $20 million in capital allocations, the largest piece being $10 million for the proposed trauma center in Arverne.
Another challenge is that the mayor and most city council members are renters and live in districts where most constituents are renters. Despite the NYC budget being the largest ever ($125.8 billion), there was a “real threat” of a spike in property taxes. Since the majority of residents in District 31 and District 32 –the rest of Rockaway– are homeowners, new taxes would have been “really harmful to our communities,” said the Councilwoman. “We made sure it was cleared off the table on the front end.”
Beyond the trauma center, the largest capital commitments in District 31 are $5 million for a recreation center in Brookville Park in Springfield Gardens and $3.9 million for improvements at more than 20 schools across the district. The councilwoman was able to get the trauma center commitment by earning the support of the Queens Caucus, who told the Speaker Julie Menin that it is the number two priority in our borough. “My colleagues truly believe we need a trauma center,” Brooks-Powers said.
Community leaders responded positively to the news but Brooks-Powers said, “Don’t clap. Clap when the trauma center opens. Right now, we are in the fight of our life.”
Beyond funding, cooperation from NYCHA is needed to complete acquisition of the plot of land selected for the center on Beach 62nd Street. She said, “We need the chairman of NYCHA to stop stonewalling us” with paperwork.
Another NYCHA-related priority for the councilwoman is the restoration of unused apartments, which was addressed with a $42 million allocation in the citywide budget. According to housing authority data, there are more than 6,000 unoccupied units at NYCHA, many of which are in disrepair. Open NYCHA units attract squatters, including drug dealers and other criminals. It is a key safety and quality of life issue for residents of Rockaway’s five NYCHA facilities.
Two other items in the citywide budget that Brooks-Powers took particular pride in supporting were an increase in eligibility for Fair Fares to 200% of the federal poverty level and a $53 million investment in college savings accounts for kindergartners. Fair Fares provides a 50% discount on subway and eligible bus fares to low-income New Yorkers. The councilwoman noted that the federal poverty income level is meaningless in New York City. For instance, the poverty level for a family of five is just $38,680. Even at $77,000, almost twice that, a head of household in NYC needs help, she said.
As an expansion of the NYC Kids RISE, a nonprofit organization that manages the Save for College Program in partnership with the City, every single public school kindergartner in NYC will automatically receive $1,000 toward a college savings account. Brooks-Powers referred to this as an investment in our future.
The $4 million in discretionary budget allocations for District 31 will fund various expenditures, including financial support for numerous not-for-profits that provide social services in the community. Many of those organizations attended the budget briefing, including Rockaway Neighbors Helping Neighbors, King of Kings, Queens Royal Priest Hood, Flying 360, Perfect Piece of the Puzzle and Donna’s H.O.P.E.
During the Q&A session, a constituent named Valerie asked how the councilwoman determines which school improvements to fund. Brooks-Powers asked each principal to create their top-three wish list. That drove the budgeting process. Each principal ultimately determined what was best for her or his school. Felicia Johnson, district manager of Community Board 14, asked about the impact of salary increases for elected officials. By a margin of 42-6, the Council approved 18.2 percent raises for the mayor, public advocate, comptroller, council members, borough presidents, and district attorneys. Brooks-Powers replied that the increases were recommended by an independent commission. They will help attract new talent. The councilwoman’s time in office will end after 2029. She is term-limited, as is Rockaway’s other councilmember, Joann Ariola.
City Council District 31 encompasses most of Rockaway east of Beach 86th Street as well as the mainland neighborhoods of Brookville, Laurelton, Springfield Gardens and Rosedale.
