[applause] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2023]

>> i want to say thank you. years ago, i was sworn in as your mayor, we have climbed the -- a lot of mountains since that day. [applause] i want to pause for a moment and ask my senior team to stand. just stand. [applause] [laughter] [applause]

let me say this from the onset. i love these men and women so much. they love me, and most importantly they love the city. we've cried together, we laugh together, we faced crisis together, and as i sat in the foxhole of crises, i would not be in the foxhole with any other group of people then these men and women that serve the people of the city of new york. [applause] when you think about it, one year ago we were facing crises after crises. covid, crime, economy and freefall. i was morning my mother,

transition before she can see me , her son becomes new york city's second black mayor. adrian, i know you lost your mommy during that same time. people tell us over and over again it has been over a year. we need to get past, but we cannot. i think about her every day. as i stand on the stage, i feel her presence all around me. all around me. [applause] there was something amazing about mom. she never rested when there was work to do. neither did new york city. we hit the ground running, we got stuff done. one year later our city is on the pathway to being safer, our economy is recovering, and our stores, subways and hotels are full. our children are back in school with their teachers and friends.

our theaters are thriving, our restaurants are booked, and new yorkers are back to work. i am proud of our achievements this year. i want to thank all of you who worked so hard to get us to this moment. today, i stand before you hear at the queens theater in the borough where i grew up, home to international working community to say to you, my fellow new yorkers, the state of our city is a strong. his strong. [applause] as strong as the police officers and first responders who made the city safer. as strong as the leaders of city workers who laid the groundwork for the future. above all, as strong as the

working people of the city who make it possible. your early morning, late nights when i see some of you. [laughter] double shifts keep us moving, keep us healthy, keep us safe. especially over the last few years. you have done everything for us, and to the city must do more for you. today i want to outline a working people is it -- working people's agenda based on the four pillars that uphold a strong and sustainable society. jobs, safety, housing, and care. these are the things our administration is working for every day. every new yorker needs a good paying job. we are investing in a new generation of apprenticeships, community hiring and job training.

every new yorker -- [applause] needs a safe and welcoming neighborhood. we are getting new york city's most wanted off our streets and investing millions to make our city cleaner and greener. [applause] every new yorker needs and affordable place to live. we are working to ask 500,000 more homes across all five boroughs. and everyone -- [applause] everyone of us needs care. not just in crisis, but throughout our lives. that is why we are expanding the social safety net, making it easier to access public benefits health care, no matter who you are or where you live. [applause] we are changing how we get things done for new yorkers. melding the success of the source.

solving problems upstream instead of reacting to crisis downstream. moving beyond recovery into a new era of abundance and equity. it starts now, it starts with thoughts. we are getting things done for the people of new york, and we are not doing it alone. it will take everyone in this room working together. i want you to recognize my colleagues in government who are here. the amazing attorney general patricia jane, nobody doesn't like you. [applause] he watches our money -- [applause] i do not know -- if he was able to make it. i know he was under the weather, but my assembly member speaker carl hasting, city controller. the forever advocate jabari

williams. [applause] my system atoms and atoms inc., adrian adams. [applause] the five men and women who prosecute and protect, and think differently about going upstream and public safety. our da's alton bragg, melinda, and once you are a president you are always one. vanessa gibson, mark, and terry, and donovan, give them a hand. [applause] last but not least, our government. our government. [applause]

you see her on stage. you see her delivering prevention and address. you are going to see real leadership in this government. this governor is the study hand we need at the wheel right now. i may be the pilot for the city, but she is the pilot for the state. you say over and over again we are all passengers. do not pray for her to crash, pray for her to land this plane. you are passengers on this also. thank you governor for what you do every day. [applause] and her presence here today is not only a testament to our incredible partnership, but to her commitment to the people of new york and the state.

i am grateful to have her here as our lieutenant governor. she is fighting for us. they are fighting for us in office. [applause] hours -- our working people agenda starts with jobs. not inside hustles, site hustles or gigs. but jobs with good pay and benefits. jobs that can support yourself and family. jobs you can build a life around. new york city has cited more than 200,000 new jobs over the last year, and our employment growth has outpaced the state and nation. [applause] hidden in that celebratory energy is the unemployment rate for black new yorkers is three times as high as white new yorkers.

this error of inequality must end. we are going to make sure that all new yorkers have access to good jobs. we are -- we will reimagine our workforce and develop the system from the bottom up. improving education, expanding job creating and creating employment on ramps at every stage of the process so new yorkers from all walks of life can get benefits from this recovery. people used to move -- [applause] where the jobs where. in today's economy, jobs come to where the talent is. we are going to bolster, build and diversify that talent. creating the best educated, as prepared workforce anywhere in this nation. today i'm proud to announce we will connect 30,000 new yorkers to apprenticeships by 2030. [applause]

this is in thanks to our new oppression -- a friendship. this is on-the-job experience with an opportunity for permanent employment in high demand careers. it will ensure employers can get the talent they need. we will expand the tech program to small campuses. including community colleges and focused on institutions serving first-generation college students and communities of color. [applause] we are also investing in the jobs of the future. last year the governor and i announced a new life sciences hub in kips bay. which will create 10,000 jobs and $25 billion in economic impact. this year, they will kickstart a new effort to become the global

center for sustainable biotech. will start by opening a first in the nation incubator at the brooklyn navy yard where biochar -- biotech startups will transform the way we eat, build and protect our environment. [applause] as we work to create more jobs, we will also help new yorkers trained for jobs that are in high demand here. jobs in tech, renewable energy in nursing. our name and country are facing a nursing shortage. the federal government estimates we will need 275,000 more nurses nationally by 2030. i am proud to announce a new nursing education initiative in partnership with junie that will help new yorkers in the nursing workforce stay in that profession. [applause]

we wanted them to climb the career ladder. we will support 30,000 current and aspiring nurses over the next five years with everything from additional training to mentorship and clinical placement. new york city needs our nurses. it is such an incredible work during the pandemic. [applause] nurses are the hands, heart and soul of our health care system. we will never forget you, and we will continue to supply you with the resources you need. we need to help more new yorkers with disabilities into the workforce. [applause] think about this for a moment. right now, only one in three are employed. our city will launch the new center for workforce and workplace assess ability --

accessibility and inclusion. which will connect 2500 people with disabilities to jobs. we will continue the mission -- [applause] of helping new yorkers living with disabilities thrive in the workplace and every other aspect of city life. we are looking for new ways to address injustice. including supporting the largest legal cannabis industry in the nation. [applause] we want to take our hat off to my state lawmakers for pushing through this legislation to make sure it is done fairly incorrectly. this year we will launch a new low fund to help more new yorkers, who are impacted by the war on drugs, to start new businesses. at the same time we will increase enforcement against unlicensed cannabis shops. we are not going to let bad

actors undermine the promises we made to new yorkers who were impacted by marijuana criminalization. [applause] i want to thank you, sharon miranda and chief matt murray for the combined effort on these issues. [applause] let me be clear to those who think you are going to come into our communities without a license, put our kids at risk, steal jobs away from people trying to do it the right way, let's be clear you must be smoking something because that will not happen. [applause] we're are also going to make sure more of the many hours city spends goes towards creating jobs for new yorkers. here home. that means working with our partners in albany to give new york city the power to require companies that benefit from city contracts to hire local community members. [applause]

if we continue to promote community hiring, this would allows to keep 36,000 economically disadvantaged workers connected to good jobs every year. we want to make sure even more city dollars go to minorities and women owned businesses. [applause] we recently hit our and wbe spending calls three years ahead of schedule. and today, i am announcing a more ambitious commitment. working with speaker items and to the city council, we are committed to awarding $25 billion in contracts by fiscal year 2026. [applause]

all of my men and women part of the city council, i cannot thank you enough for your partnership and this initiative. we will increase that number to 60 billion by 2030, more than doubling our current rate. [applause] the support for small businesses does not end there. this week, we announced a small business opportunity fund. $75 million loan fund that would be the largest in new york 60 -- new york city's history. the commissioner and his team, i want to thank him for what he accomplished. [applause] first korean american to hold the position when you diversify your commissioner ship, you diversify the opportunity to the diversity that we live in.

you commissioner kim. -- thank you commissioner kim. while our tourism and hospitality industries have recovered substantially since our shutdown, you cannot take that progress for granted. we will show the world that new york city is open and ready for visitors. attracting major events, like the 2020 six fifa world cup, and we hope the next democratic national convention. [applause] we will continue to invest in our creative sectors across the board, from iconic museums and arts organizations, to our legendary film and television production industries. as i said before, talent is at the center of our job strategy. we know it starts with education. i could not be more proud of my friends and chancellor, david

bates. [applause] two visionaries. understand what our children need. he and i are united in our vision of giving all our children a right start and pulled future. because three fundamental commitments to our young people. one. every child will get the support they need to become a strong leader. at or above grade level. [applause] two, we will establish a whole child approach to education. factor in social emotional learning and other supportive services. three, every student who graduates from a new york city high school will have a clear pathway to the future. whether that is a job, job training or continuing education. [applause]

let's start with reading. the foundational skill every child needs to succeed. we make sure every elementary school was supplied with a phonics-based curriculum based on science of reading. going forward, every school leader will be trained to improve c instruction so they can support teachers and implement the curriculum. next year, every school will have at least one staff member trained in intervention available so every student can access the support they need. we will launch the first district school in the city's history dedicated to supporting students with dyslexia. [applause]

while continue to expand new dyslexia programs citywide. before i took office, there was no consistent dyslexia specific screening across our schools. as of this year, we rolled out new in 200 schools. by next year, they will be available in every public school in the city. [applause] why is that important? it is important because families likes anaya. three of her sons were diagnosed with dyslexia. until recently, our schools did not have enough support for students facing those challenges. she worked two jobs to get them the extra tutoring and her

oldest son has earned a full scholarship to university. [applause] we are inspired by this family, but no parent should have to work two jobs to provide a basic education for the child. [applause] we are proud to be working to ensure your youngest son and children like him to get all the services they need in the school and neighborhood. [applause] because children with dyslexia should not have to walk in the classroom and see dumb student written on the chair. they should not believe that it is better to stand on the street corner instead of getting in the education they need.

they should not be part of the 30 in 40% in rikers island. they should know they learn differently, and if we give them the tools they need, they will go from despair, they will go from uncertainty, and they will rise up to be the mayor of the city of new york. [applause] second, academic success is important. we must also take a whole child approach to education. supporting our children with healthy food, physical education , social emotional working and mental health services. this year we are rolling out the biggest student mental health program in the country. [applause]

we will provide our high school students with telehealth care to community-based counseling based on their individual needs. [applause] we will initiate a new program to focus on a daily reading exercises and mindfulness exercises. [applause] we will continue to expand nutrition education standards and plan power menus in our schools. our children may hate me today, but they will love me tomorrow. [applause] this year they will make long overdue updates to our fair student funding formula. [applause] we directed $90 million to supporting students in hired housing and schools with a concentration of high needs students. good job chancellor fay.

[applause] nothing brings me to my third promise. every student will be ready for what comes after high school. it is not just about connecting them to jobs. it is about planning for the future all along the way. starting this summer up to 35,000 middle school students will receive career exposure, field trips and college visits. [applause] we are enhancing and diversifying our largest summit youth and program -- summer youth program. [applause] to my colleagues you fought for this along time, no one hurt you. we heard you. we did the largest in the nation, and we will continue to do every year. [applause]

this year we will empower our lgbt to -- initiatives that place is students in support of work opportunity. [applause] our city is determined to make sure our students graduate from high school with skills, strategy and purpose. that is why we are expanding our future ready n.y.c. program 290 schools and 7000 -- to 90 students and 7000 students. when you get your hard earned, you get more than a handshake. you will get support, direction and past opportunity. [applause]

our children must be educated. they must be safe too. [applause] yesterday i spoke to a mother of young young man who was stabbed in coney island. it broke my heart. i have one son, and i loved him. i do not know how many times the police commissioner and i will go to hospitals and spoken to parents, it is devastating when you hear parents on the other end of that phone. it breaks your heart when you have to sit inside the hospital room and you do not have much say in condolences. these young people need help, and we are committed and dedicated to doing that. our administration came into the city hall the mission and mandate. reducing gun violence, we

already made real progress, shootings are down, murders are down, but it means nothing to the mothers who lost their child. [applause] we no major crimes were down last corner for the first time in six quarters. new yorkers can finally see safer days ahead after several years of rising crime. i want to thank everyone who effort. especially you governor. we so you are committed, and i want to thank you for that. i want to thank president biden, who was our leading voice around this national epidemic of violence. they understand the fight against illegal guns is a top priority for our city. we will work with all of our colleagues and governments to combat gun violence in new york city across the nation. that means advocating for common sense gun reform at every level. [applause]

in just a few weeks into the new year, and already this country has seen multiple mass shootings. americans have had enough. new yorkers would have had enough. we must get this done. and in gun violence means stopping it before it starts. especially when it comes to our use -- youth. by the time a young person gets a gun in their hand, the system has already abandoned and betrayed them. [applause] we cannot allow them to keep happening in our cities. we are going to use proven methods, and intensive community support to keep guns -- gun culture from taking root and taking over. that means more neighborhood safety teams in more places. more violence prevention programs and neighborhoods with highest concentration of violent

crime. a new neighborhood safety alliance and partnership between local precincts, service providers and community leaders in many of the same neighborhoods. [applause] i always say this is my judge, but i was heading home runs when i took the police commissioner to lead the police department. [applause] powerful, powerful presence. took on the awesome responsibility of leading this department. a true leader. [applause] i just want to thank her for all her work keeping new yorkers

safe this year. she has saved the lives and supported the apartment -- department through a tough year. this year we will build on that work. we will increase our efforts to protect new yorkers from robberies, burglaries and other crimes. the crime prevention unit will expand its focus on retail theft. and work with business owners and business improvement districts and other solutions to prevent shoplifting. we will expand the community response to keys, to operate at the borough level. we will make it or use of our most powerful tool to fight against crime in our communities. let me be clear on this. we are not going to criminalize -- criminalize poverty. we will partner with the da's, and if a person is stealing

because they do not have something to eat, we will show them how to get food. if they're stealing because of a drug problem, we will show them work drug treatment is. the goal is to go after organized crime. we are going to set the standard. this is not going to be a city were anarchy will run. this will be a city that is going to be safe for justice. [applause] we do that by bringing the community closer, with the committee -- commissioner is doing is bringing at community level. these are the meetings with local precincts that nypd brass go through how to address crime block by block. we will give new yorkers direct access to a version of these meetings for the first time so they can interact directly with local and citywide nypd leaders. [applause] if new yorkers do not feel like

they can engage with nypd, we will never be able to fully serve them and keep them safe. we will break down those barriers, and we will be -- this will be a big step in the right direction. the other day, the commanding officer in the precinct put out a wonderful video showing a dray concert. we started from the bottom, and now we are here. [applause] people critique to that. they attacked him for having the community engagement. they attacked him for showing how the police must be interacting with the police. let's stop starting off hating each other and start embracing each other. this is what we want to do. [applause] we will also roll out new and expanded efforts to fight everything from property crime to traffic violence and quality-of-life issues.

many of these problems are rooted in the continued crisis of recidivism. time after time, we see crime after crime that will make a core group of repeated offenders. roughly 1700 known offenders are responsible for a disproportionate amount of violent crime in our city. these are new yorkers most wanted by new yorkers. we know who they are, and we need to get them off our streets. [applause] this year we're going to work with our partners in albany to find reasonable, evidence-based solution to this recidivism crisis. we agreed nobody should be in jail because they cannot afford to post bail. we should also agree we cannot allow a small number of violent individuals to continue

terrorizing our neighborhoods over and over again. [applause] i look forward to working with the governor, lawmakers who make the right decisions so we can ensure defenders are provided with a speedy trial that our constitution guarantees and our victims and families are provided justice in a timely manner. discovery is a process that could change in legal information before the trial begins. it has become so complex that it

is jamming up the entire system. this must change. justice delayed is justice denied. our legal system must ensure dangerous people are cap not the streets, -- capped off the streets, innocent people are not consumed by bureaucracy in victims can obtain resolution. [applause] this is something we can agree on. let's get it done in 2023. our city is going to escalate our campaign to end another deadly crime that kills far too many innocent people. that is traffic violence could 23 is when we turn this -- the screws on reckless drivers. holden -- them accountable for their actions. we must treat traffic routes the same way we treat other dangerous crimes. -- traffic violence the same way we treat other dangerous crimes.

it stands for moving offenders and progressive -- removing offenders and aggressive drivers from our streets. this will increase penalties for crashers, red lights and drivers. including revoking the privilege to drive on our streets. we will continue to save lives by expanding protected bike lanes, cracked on illegal parking abuse and ensure swift and serious consequences for those who drive with suspended and revoked licenses. [applause] we had enough of gridlock going forward we are going to deploy more nypd tow trucks on our streets. we will ticket and to cars and that block traffic and visibility. this is going to help to keep our delivery zone, bus lanes and bike lanes clear.

it will make driving, biking and walking easier and safer for everyone. new yorkers should not have to deal with the -- risk their lives every time the street. zero means exactly that. zero fatalities. that is a girl cannot take seriously. it is quality of life across the board. for far too long, new yorkers were asked to accept things that should be unacceptable. crimes, rats, trash, traffic. we have quality-of-life to deteriorate as working-class class new yorkers that suffer the most. it is economic recovery, last year we made significant improvement to 75 commercial corridors and all five boroughs.

we will build upon that verdict especially when it comes to rats. [applause] most people do not know this about me. i hate rates -- rats. pretty soon, commissioner tish will hate me -- they will hate me. i will be our new czar. it is just the beginning of a new era in delivering the best in public service and public spaces. we are going to get stuff cleaner by launching the country's largest curbside composting program. [applause] by the end of 2024 all 8.5 new yorkers will have the solution that been waiting for it two decades. in three months, a pilot composting program in queens kept nearly 13 million pounds of

kitchen and yard waste out of our landfills. commissioner tish, i know you're out there somewhere, good job, good job. [applause] that is more than the weight of 300 city buses, and imagine how much we will accomplish when every family in the city is participating. a lot of people have talked about this issue, but this administration we are getting it done. [applause] quality-of-life improvements will not stop there. we are going to replace unsightly construction sheds. [applause] requiring all buildings to use newly designed structures that preserve the vibrancy of our streets and increase enforcement against those who leave those sheds up for years at a time, blocking sidewalks and windows. speaking of sheds, it is time to

retire those covid cabins and replace them with something better. [applause] let's not kid ourselves. the open restaurant program was a massive success that says saved so many of our restaurants, bars and cafes during the pandemic. the governor did with allowing them to ask -- expand continue to boost our economy. it is time to figure out how new yorkers can enjoy outdoor dining with a permanent version that works for business and residence. i know new yorkers support this vision. i look forward to working with councilwomen marjorie velasquez and his city council to achieve this. we will get this done. we will get this done. [applause] open space is important. the pandemic highlighted the critical role of parks,

playgrounds and waterfronts and improving the physical and mental health of new yorkers. filling on the commitments, governor hochul and i announced in our new york plants, we will create extraordinary public spaces in every borough in the city. we will invest more than 375 million dollars in new parks, plazas, white and sidewalks, safer intersections, expand bike lanes and invited landscape. you will have money in these parks. [applause] i hope it is not lost on you how many times i say the name governor hochul. the real synergy and partnership in the space. we will build the success in open street programs by creating community spaces where people can gather and enjoy culture in

wellness and programs. accounts meant or commissioner rodriguez has talked about it for years. i know he is in the audience number. great job commissioner. [applause] our director will ensure our public space is citywide. coordinating city agencies and community groups to deliver results for all new yorkers. public safety means more protecting our streets, their environment, the air we breathe and what we breathe for generations to come. our working class neighborhoods have borne the betty of highways and heavy industry, leading to polluted air and to the highest asthma rate in the nation. this environmental injustice is not acceptable. it is something my friend and current president has talked about antoni. with this issue for years.

the good work must move forward on this. [applause] it is really wrong when the technology we need to change is already here. that is why we are committed to reducing building emissions to creating a healthy and sustainable city. we are electrifying hours city vehicle fleet. we're going to go further in requiring four vehicles to do the same. we are announcing today that uber and lift will be required to have a zero admission fleet by 2030. that is zero emissions over a hundred thousand vehicles in our streets. the best way to do it is to listen to my friend danna. take the subway. metro card your way through the city. [applause] please both companies are

embracing this shift, and we look forward to work with them to get it done. we are encouraging new yorkers to drive to make the switch to electric vehicles. we are going to add charging stations in all five boroughs. our commitment to improving the environment and flooding climate change means reinventing our energy sector across the board. newark will lead the way to our clean energy future by becoming the wind power hub of the eastern seaboard. the marine terminal will become one of the largest wind port facilities in the nation. [applause] this will create -- this will all be great unless we don't create a pipeline to employment to those who have been denied, and we are going to do this. we will create jobs and help new york city the our goal of 100%

clean, electric, electricity by 2040. we will be unveiling even more of our sustainability agenda this april and our updated plan, which will include new data on how our food choices impact our environment. we will be launching a new climate budgeting process, that puts sustainability front and center going forward. the first question we will ask about new programs and investments is, will this help me -- meet our climate goals. [applause] the future of our city will be cleaner, greener and healthier for all. including our wildlife in marine life like dolphins we recently -- who recently visit us in the bronx river. [applause] that is the future of our city.

more dolphins, fewer rats. [applause] this is the greatest city in the world, and more people want to come here, procure and part of that new york city story. new york city must be made in the city were everyday people can find an affordable place to live. young people, immigrant families and retired folks need a place to call their own. we continue to support public housing every step of the way. it is our affordable housing stop and a pathway out of property -- poverty. public housing was funded by the federal government. last year we made renovations to more than 8500 apartments. we committed a historic 23 billion dollars for housing,

including money for the pairs to buildings. -- repairs to buildings. we got the trust path, unlocking billions of dollars for overdue renovations. we have never gotten it done if we did not have tenant leaders like barbara leading the way. [applause] she helped neighbors along with so many other night shift rags -- residence. they took the long ride to albany and spent day after day meeting with lawmakers. barbara, you got it done for us, and now we will get those repairs done for you and not shift workers. [applause] thank you albany, think you governor, thank you to the leaders who made this happen. we must invest in our public housing. we need to build more affordable housing for all new yorkers.

[applause] that is why new york has committed to being the city of yes. yes to all housing in every borough in neighborhood. we released our plan to get stuff built. deputy mayor and the entire team , chief housing officer, all came together and laid out on moon goal of building 500,000 additional homes over the next decade. homes for people -- [applause] for recent arrivals and lifelong new yorkers. homes for seniors, families and veterans. i said we cannot do it alone, and to the good news is we do not have to. in her state of state of address -- [laughter] [applause] governor hochul committed to providing more for new york city

in the housing we need. governor, thank you for the leadership and support on so many of these issues. [applause] you have been there for the city right from the start. in 2023, we are going to accomplish greater things together. if that is including building more housing in high opportunity neighborhoods and near transit hubs. i announced plans for 6000 new homes and 10,000 new jobs, around for new metro stations in the bronx. -- 4 new metro stations in the bronx. >> -- good government is prudent -- building on the success of previous administrations based on what my friend ruben diaz junior did in the bronx. a job well done. we will build on that.

[applause] we are not stopping that. just a short walk from where we are now, we are working with the councilman to build the largest new 100% affordable housing development in four years. -- 40 years. this development will feature more than housing. it would have a world-class soccer stadium, public space in good jobs. this year we will pursue opportunities to add even more housing, jobs and infrastructure in all five boroughs. from the moment i took office, i said that we want to work in partnership with comp -- council members and communities to build more houses together. more and more of the council has come to say that let's make this happen. colleagues are standing up to be

part of the solution. councilmembers eric, roger and keith to make it manhattan a true live and work community. and they're not saying not map pack -- not my backyard. they're saying build in my backyard. hats off to them. [applause] that means creating housing in areas that only allow manufacturing and office uses. while protecting good jobs in the center of our cities economy. we heard members, like my good friend and public safety chair councilman hayes, call a master plan for the north shore of staten island with investments in the waterfront, housing and job opportunities. [applause] [laughter] [applause] she has a reputation of the

forgotten boroughs. you are not forgotten in this administration. [applause] i will bother you -- proud of you councilmembers and proud to say you've answered the call. the economic development corporation in city planning will be working with you and speaker adams on plans that address the needs of your community while tackling our citywide housing crises we have. i think you for demonstrating what real leadership looks like. building new houses is essential for our future. we also need to address the housing crisis here and now. that means protecting tenants and helping new yorkers stay in their home. we are investing $22 million in tenant protection programs. including more staff to increase investigation in -- enforcement against bad landlords and stronger partnership with

community groups and legal service providers to protect tenants from being pushed out of rent regulated apartments. we are cracking down on landlords who discriminate based on source of income. [applause] if you tell a potential tenant you do not accept section eight vouchers or other assistance, guess what? they may be hiring the city and take actions against you -- and we may take actions against you. [applause] my commissioner of human rights, commissioner annabelle palmer is focused on this issue so much. [applause] housing is the biggest cost to new yorkers, but it is not the only one. in this digital era, access to the internet is essential for work, school and a life, including medical care.

we will help all new yorkers get connected. no matter what their income level, we are spending big apple will connect with development, delivering free internet and tv to tens of thousands of new yorkers. we will launch a new private program providing free broadband to section eight households in the bronx and northern manhattan. [applause] my chief technology officer, matt fraser, who's out here somewhere, is really doing an amazing job for making it access. thank you, matt. listen, we are committed to fighting for support for working people and actually making sure they get the support they need. don't let it fool you. i may wear nice suits, but i'm a blue collar cat.

this year we will make it simpler for new yorkers to access public benefits like unemployment insurance, medicaid, and snap. we will cut unnecessary red tape and expand benefits screenings to new yorkers in need will get every dollar they deserve. that would include a focus on seniors as well as veterans who may be eligible for newly expanded federal funds. we often get it for the people. we need to know how to get it to the people. [applause] and i am truly pleased by this. and we need our partners in albany. we're working to pass legislation that will allow individuals to keep public benefits for up to six months after they take a new job, easing the transition to financial independence. last year we announced we were putting $350 million back into the pockets of working people

through our expansion of earned income tax credit. albany, you should take a bow on this one. [applause] all of our albany lawmakers, this was such an impressive move that we accomplished last year. people highlighted the one thing we disagreed on, but go look at the number of things that we have agreed on. you delivered for working class people in this earned income tax credit increase. this year, we're making sure working people actually get that tax credit by launching a historic expansion of our free tax prep program. and beginning tomorrow, we'll be introducing free business tax prep for freelancers and gig workers. another first for new york city. [applause] with an infusion of new funding and unprecedented coordination with schools, houses of worship,

and nycha and community partners, we will be able to process an additional 26,000 returns next year and save new yorkers approximately $14.3 million in filing fees and refunds. right now as we speak, new yorkers are applying for and receiving those expanded benefits. a family of four making $25,000 will see payout increase from $300 to $900. let me tell you what the difference is when you think about it. think about ronald brown. lives in queensbridge houses with his two daughters. like so many new yorkers, he got laid off during the pandemic and was having a hard time getting back on his feet. last year he came into one of our free tax prep centers hoping to get his federal stimulus check for $1,400. by the time he walked out, we

had gotten him almost $15,000, including the expanded state income tax credit we fought for and won. [applause] ronald. i hope you are coming back this year, because we're going to get you and your family the money you deserve. that's what you did, albany. that's what you accomplished. [applause] and finally, i want to talk about something that doesn't get enough attention. our responsibility as a city to care for new yorkers in the greatest need. over the past year, our ability to care was put to the test by the asylum seeker crisis. new yorkers rose to the occasion, as they always do. since last spring, we have had more than 42,000 asylum seekers arrive in the city.

we have provided them with shelter, food, education, healthcare, and legal support. we will continue to do our part, but we need everyone else to do their part, as well. this is an all hands on deck moment, and i want to thank the majority leader schumer, minority leader jeffries, and our tireless congressional delegation for everything that they have done so far. but new york city, we cannot do this alone. we can't continue to shoulder this cost on our own. we are going to need help. we're going to need our albany partners. we're going to need washington, d.c. the asylum seeker crisis is a national crisis and it should not be just for new york city residents. that's just unfair. [applause] and not only is it unfair for

new yorkers, but it's unfair for the asylum seekers. you come here to pursue the american dream, not to live in a nightmare. the statue of liberty sits in our harbor for a reason. every one of us in this room ancestry came from somewhere, and the asylum seekers deserve better. and so while we continue to provide care for new arrivals, we also deepen our commitment to every resident of the five boroughs. we're going to fundamentally change the way we provide care for our citizens. we're moving from a system that waits until new yorkers are in crisis before offering help, to one that focuses on upstream solutions.

that means eliminating bureaucratic barriers and focusing on the structural challenges that so often force people into crisis. we'll begin with one of the most vulnerable population, people experiencing homelessness. [applause] this year, we're working with our state and federal partners to offer free comprehensive healthcare to new yorkers who have spent more than seven days in our department of homeless services shelters. this will make new york the first city in the country to do so. we're not going to wait for people in crisis to show up at the er. we will provide the care they need when they need it. that's progress, that's compassion, that's care in new york city. [applause] and you know where i'm at on wednesdays at 9:00 p.m.?

rain or cold? i'm on 34th street and seventh avenue giving our food to the homeless. and then when i leave there, i go into the subway system and engage with the homeless. find a day, just one day, just one hour, and say, "i'm going to do something for someone." just one hour. [applause] and with 8.5 million new yorkers, if we all just dedicate one hour to go to a homeless shelter and tutor to a child that is homeless, one hour to go in the subway system and talk to someone that's homeless, one hour after church service to go into the street and pray to someone that is in need. just one hour. if we just give one hour, we will turn around the conditions of homelessness and despair in our city. [applause] and we will also take an

upstream approach to our opioid crisis. do you remember what heroin did to our city and country? do you remember what crack cocaine did to our city and country? that's what fentanyl is about to do right now. if we don't stop the fentanyl and opioid abuse, it is going to destroy generations to come. this is a major crisis that we are sleeping on. fentanyl is destroying our cities across america. we have to fight back and stop it. [applause] we are going to invest $150 million of opioid settlement funds secured by our good friend, attorney general letitia james, into proven harm reduction and treatment programs. and we'll move mountains because ain't no mountain high enough to address the growing problem of

untreated, serious mental illness and social isolation. a few months ago, we laid out an initial approach for connecting the most severely mental ill new yorkers with needed care. this work is driven by the dedicated heroes who are out on the streets and in our subways night and day, helping new yorkers in crises. this is not police-led. this is led by outreach workers and professionals. deputy mayor williams-isom and her team has put together a good team to address this issue. and these are everyday new yorkers, like richard arroyo, who works on one of our health engagement and assessment teams. grew up in marcy houses and studied to become a social worker to help people in need. richard has spent the last 10 months riding our subways in high stakes, high stress

situations, helping people in crisis get the services they need. that could be as simple as pointing them to a food pantry or as big as getting them into a shelter or treatment. he says the most important thing is to look people in the eye, show them you see them as human beings, as equals. they may not accept the first time, but once they see city workers helping others, they're willing to open their lines of communication. richard, on behalf of the entire city, thank you for your service. [applause] but here is the next phase. this year we will give richard and his colleagues even more ways to connect people with mental health illness to care and compassion. a few months ago when we laid out the strategy of connecting new yorkers, we knew what we had to do. but now dr. vasan, i know he's here somewhere, a real hero in

this area, we are going to put in place something called clubhouse model. in the next few weeks, we will outline our broader plan around mental health. these clubhouses for people with serious mental illness will be places that provide peer support and community access to services, employment, and an educational opportunity. [applause] second phase of this. and we also want to work with new yorkers, getting them healthy by making sure they have access to fresh food, including fruit and vegetables. we will fight the continuing crises of obesity and chronic diseases by expanding city investment in healthy food access for lower income new yorkers, including the launch of groceries 2 go and green stands. you can't have whole foods in park slope and junk food in brownsville. you can't have it this same way.

can't have it the same way. [applause] [applause] and when it comes to care, no one cares for us the way our families do, especially the women in our lives. that's why i was proud to announce a new future for women's health in our city, building on the important work we've already done, including supporting new mothers with doulas and home visits. we will continue to focus on women's health through an all hands on deck summit in march and other initiatives i announced last week. and in the coming months, we will unveil a comprehensive women's agenda driven by the amazing women in leadership position at city hall. my women deputy mayors, chief of staff, and other women leaders, stand up. stand up.

[applause] chief advisor, counsel, iga. [applause] thank you. thank you. because when we support women and families, we are all better for it. over the past year, we have spoken about getting things done. we came into office with a people's plan, and i'm proud to say we have delivered for the working people of this city. we're on the pathway to a safer city with more jobs and more opportunities, and we have laid the cornerstone for a new era of affordable housing. promises made, promises kept. this coming year is about expanding that vision of what can get done and what will get done. it means building a strong foundation that supports today's realities and anticipates tomorrow's needs. city government must work to

improve the public good, supporting an economy that works for all and cares for the working people who make it possible. jobs, safety, housing, and care. without these pillars of support, cities crumble, institutions for society weakens. we will not allow that to happen in new york. it is the working class that has lifted up this city, built it brick by brick on the bedrock of a free and democratic nation. and going forward, we will sustain the workers who make this city possible. working together, we can build a better city for all. keep those pillars of civic power strong, open more golden doors, and inspire others to do the same. we're just getting started, and there's no stopping.

the world's greatest city filled with the best stuff on earth, new yorkers. thank you, new york. [applause] ♪