(Last Updated 7/01/2020 at 12pm)
In Albany…
The Golden Waffle indicates that this lawmaker voted the opposite way on this exact bill (without changes) while it was in Committee… for some reason.
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In Congress…
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In the City…
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The 2021 Budget Vote
Councilman Brannan had previously indicated he’d be guided in his vote by two promises.
- Vow to vote “no” on any budget that didn’t cut the NYPD budget by at least $1 billion.
- Vow to vote in accordance with the wishes of the majority of the BLA (Black, Latino and Asian) Caucus.
Unfortunately, Council Speaker Johnson and Mayor DeBlasio’s budget negotiations did not end up with a 1 billion cut. Worse, they attempted to pass it off as such, using dubious accounting tricks. That the budget did not amount to a $1 billion cut was quickly identified by activists, and Speaker Johnson acknowledged the cut was much lower than 1 billion shortly before the budget vote.
This left Councilman Brannan in a position where, in effect, he’d have to break at least one promise. He chose to side with the BLA Caucus and vote in favor of the budget, despite it not including 1 billion in cuts. However, there is some evidence that Councilman Brannan believed (or at least continued to express) that 1 billion of NYPD funding had indeed been cut from the budget, as per his complete statement to the Council during the vote (see below).
Explanation by Justin Brannan to the NYC Council:
June 30th, 2020
“I’ve agonized over this budget, and the message that it will send during this extraordinary time. The economic fallout from COVID is worse than we had anticipated and in order to deliver a balanced budget we need to close an absurdly daunting gap. No cuts were easy, but no cuts were punitive. Every choice was a tough one. Passing a budget that cuts any of the services or programs New Yorkers have come to rely on is as close as it gets to impossible. But it’s our duty as elected officials to do what is best for the neighborhoods we represent and the city as a whole. I’m most grateful for the leadership of my colleagues in the BLAC and the budget negotiating team who have lived and breathed this budget for several weeks. I do believe that we did the best we could considering the brutal hand that COVID dealt.
They say a budget is a statement of values. During a dire fiscal crisis it must also be a statement of priorities. I know that some who are calling for defunding the NYPD are not satisfied with the cuts that we’ve made here tonight. I know that the one billion that we cut is not happening in a way some advocates had envisioned. But police reform doesn’t end tonight. There’s still much to be done and the work must continue. Treating all New Yorkers with dignity and respect while keeping everyone safe are goals that can coexist.
In the meantime, voting against the budget would mean voting against childcare vouchers, senior centers, and programs that can feed the hungry. Voting against this budget would mean voting against summer youth jobs, voter literacy, and CUNY. Voting against this budget would mean voting against protections for domestic violence survivors, and protections for people facing eviction. This budget is far from perfect. We can all find something we don’t agree with, or something we wish there was more or less of. But in this moment, this budget keeps the light on in the city and it allows us to fight another day towards building a better, safer and more equitable city. And with that, I vote aye on all.”
Livestream Link (Brannan’s statement begins at 1:05:30)
Contact Your Elected Officials!
It is vitally important that you actually share your feelings with your local elected officials. Phone calls and emails showing support for legislation are tracked and can be used to move them further left on key issues. (That, and holding marches and protests in your neighborhood.)
It’s also really nice to send a positive message or a thank you if a politician voted well. The aides answering the phones will appreciate it, trust us.
Andrew Gounardes (State Senate)
Check his district map to see if you are a constituent.
- District Office Phone: (718) 238-6044
- Albany Office Phone: (518) 455-3270
- Email: [email protected]
Diane Savino (State Senate)
Check her district map to see if you are a constituent.
- District Office Phone: (718) 333-0311
- Albany Office Phone: 518-455-2437
- Email: [email protected]
Mathylde Frontus (State Assembly)
Check her district map to see if you are a constituent.
- District Office Phone: 347-560-6302
- Albany Office Phone: 518-455-4811
- Email: [email protected]
Nicole Malliotakis (State Assembly)
Check her district map to see if you are a constituent.
- District Office Phone: 718-987-0197
- Albany Office Phone: 518-455-5716
- Email: [email protected]
Justin Brannan (City Council)
- District Office Phone: 718-748-5200
- Legislative Office Phone: 212-788-7363
- Email: [email protected]