Transcript: Mayor Adams Announces Citywide Action Plan to Build Inclusive Career Pathways for Young People

December 11, 2023

Deputy Mayor Ana Almanzar, Strategic Initiatives: Good afternoon. We can do better than that. Good afternoon! 
  
Well, thank you for having us and for joining us here today. I am Ana J. Almanzar, deputy mayor for Strategic Initiatives. Today's announcement is about what the City of New York is doing to help our young people's career aspirations and dreams come into reality. 
  
Our city's future rests on the work we do today to prepare our young people to enter, contribute and ultimately thrive in an ever-changing economy. I am proud to say that the New York City future is brighter than ever. This Youth Action Plan — which the mayor will announce shortly — is a result of an all of government approach: federal, state partners, countless agencies, multiple deputy mayors all came together to invest in our most priceless resource, our young people. 
  
Our goal is to ensure that every New Yorker by age 25 has clear and multiple pathways to career success. This action plan is reflective of so many important forward-looking public and private partners who I would like to acknowledge. This work was first started by our own First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright when she was the deputy mayor for Strategic Initiatives. I want to thank her and her team for her guidance and leadership. And we can clap for that.  
  
I also would like to thank President Kenneth Adams for hosting us here today at LaGuardia Community College. Oh, we can clap for that, too. Yes, absolutely. 
   
I want to thank your Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar for joining us today, and our Assemblymember Michael Benedetto for being with us and always sharing our education forces. 
  
I would like to thank the United States Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su and her team at the U.S. Department of Labor, and our partners on the ground from DB Grant Associates, Career Systems Development, our CUNY partners, Chancellor Matos Rodríguez who's right behind me on the other side… There we go. Yes, yes. How are you? 
  
And his team, Ali Feldhausen from the Tech Talent Pipeline Leadership and Academic Science Departments. To the innovative thinkers who helped launch Career Readiness and Modern Youth Apprenticeship, including our colleague Chancellor Banks and program teams at CareerWise, DOE, and the New York City Talent Team. 
  
Leadership and faculty at participating high schools, and all of the in office apprenticeship supervisors at more than 20 city agencies and our [prior] employers. To my left, you can see our beautiful and bright group of students who are part of the apprenticeships program. 
   
And of course, to our private sector employer partners who have provided essential feedback into this action plan, Partnership for New York City, New York CEO Jobs Council and so many business leaders. Last but certainly not least, to our colleagues in city government and this entire administration who gets stuff done every single day. 
  
In particular to Leah Hebert, who's with us today. Leah, if you can just show us where you are. Oh, Leah is out. Oh! And to Michelle Rosa from… She's here, right? Yes. 
   
And to the entire team at New York City Talent, and we thank them for their leadership in putting together this beautiful action plan. 
  
The next generation of changemakers live in the hallways of our public schools in the classrooms at CUNY. In communities where we know we have a large number of out of school and out of work youth who need the helping hand of government to show them that the endless possibilities that still lie ahead. 
  
Before I introduce the mayor, I want to say how special and personal this announcement is to me. I came to this country from the Dominican Republic when I was 17 years old. I didn't speak English. I didn't have a job. But my family knew that the City of New York was the place where the American dream can and will come true, where a Dominican woman, a Dominican immigrant could eventually get a college degree, a Master's degree, and become a deputy mayor. 
   
One of the first moments I realized I was on my pathway towards accomplishing the dream was when I studied at CUNY's Hostos Community College. Hostos saw me… Oh, someone's from Hostos. 
   
The chancellor always claps when I mention my CUNY alma mater. 
   
Hostos taught me that in New York City the sky is truly the limit, that New York City, as Jay‑Z and Alicia Keys say, is the concrete jungle where dreams come true. 
  
My hope is that this action plan speaks directly through our youth and it speaks about the commitment that this administration has made to them, that this administration and under Adams [inaudible] we are greater than ever. Our city is still the only place on the globe where dreams come through. 
  
Now it is my great pleasure to introduce the mayor of the greatest city on earth, Mayor Eric Adams. 
   
Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you. The dreams come true mayor, you know? And they really came true because of CUNY. You know, a CUNY two‑fer: New York City College of Technology, John Jay College. And it was just a real starting point; and as you talk about your college experience, it is just so significant what CUNY is doing for us. 
  
And the fullness of this room tells us just how exciting this program is. And when I looked over, I was saying, you know, there's no way the first deputy mayor would miss this. This is like her baby. We're giving birth today. 
  
You know? You know, we're… You've been carrying this for months, and just seeing you here shows how this was just so important to her, understanding the pathway, and you know, just having even the deputy mayor, Maria Torres‑Springer who was part of the entire employment package. 
  
We have recovered, you know, all of our private sector jobs. We have more private sector jobs in the city in the history of the city, and that's just, you know, amazing. 
   
Please told this administration that it would take us five years to recover; and within two years, we have recovered. Crime has gone down, jobs are up. The economic recovery is just amazing. And what we have done for young people with the commissioner of the Department of Youth Services, 100,000 summer youth jobs, 110,000 Summer Rising programs. 
  
When you just look at what this amazing team of men and women who are committed to this city were able to accomplish, it's just, it's remarkable. And sometimes you don't appreciate the victories until you are looking back over them. And you know, every night before going to bed, I write in my journal… I have one hell of a book when this is over, you know? 
   
But we have done some amazing, amazing stuff, in spite of the distractions. You know, we forgot that five‑letter word, Covid. When we came in office January first, 2022, Covid was everywhere in this city. I would not have been able to recognize your faces, because all of you were wearing masks, and many of you would not be in this room. 
  
It was uncertain if our schools were going to be open, they're back open; our businesses were going to be open, people are back into office spaces. And then we're dealing with 150,000 people who are coming here to seek the same dream that you sought and many of us here wanted to seek. 
  
And in spite of all of that, we're moving forward folks. The city is humming. We're going to deal with whatever matters come in front of us, because we're New Yorkers and that's who we are. So, I want to thank this team of deputy mayors who are here and those who are not here, particularly Deputy Mayor Almanzar for completing the task that our first deputy mayor started. 
  
And our city's future depends on our being… On us being able to help our young people to grow, fulfill their potential and thrive in an ever-changing economy. The economy and the workforce is changing so rapidly. It is just unbelievable. I just think about the last few months, the new skills you must acquire, and part of those skills is your ability to adapt to the change. 
  
These young people are going to change. The days are gone when you're doing 22 years in one place. You know, these young people within a year they're looking to try something new, and it's just moving at such a rapid pace. And helping each child succeed and achieve their career of their dreams has been a goal of this administration from day one. 
  
And that is why we expanded programs like the Summer Youth Employment Program and Summer Rising to serve a record number of young people. A job well done with our commissioner, Commissioner Howard. And launched programs like FutureReadyNYC with Google and Northwell Health, real community corporate partners that are coming together, coming up to the plate. 
  
When we first came into office, first deputy mayor would tell you the business community came to us right away and said, we want to help. And they have been doing that every day, and we cannot thank them enough for that. We provided young people with apprenticeships and opportunities in demand sectors like the tech industry. 
  
And today, we're building on that success as part of our working people's agenda. We are proud to release today our “Pathway to an Inclusive Economy: An Action Plan for Young Adult Career Success.” This amazing, amazing report that the team has done both from Deputy Mayor Almanzar, Deputy Mayor Maria Torres‑Springer and First Deputy Mayor Wright, this is something that we put our energy in and we bought everyone at the table together. 
  
These are notable investments here where we are looking to put more than $600 million in a forward thinking roadmap that would position 250,000 young people to thrive in our city's economy. 
  
And some of the things we want to point out: $10 million investment in the CUNY's 2X Tech Initiative, you know, amazing. A graduate of New York City College of Technology, that's where I got my programming skills from. Expanding the program to five new CUNY campuses including community colleges for the first time and developing a pipeline into the tech sector. 
  
In addition, we have secured a $130 million grant from the federal government to become the first city to partner with the U.S. Department of Labor Jobs Corps program. Really kudos, give them a hand, give them applause. 
   
You know, Abby Jo, well done. The job corps program is amazing. We saw them in the Bronx last year, and really excited about this. This will allow us to train, place and provide wraparound supports to 2,000 young adults in fast-growing industry, and we have the four‑letter New York word: they're free. Free. 
  
We also know that all young people don't start at the same place. Let's be clear. Some of them start at different places, and any program we put in place must be able to adapt to the different places that young people are. That's why New York City Department of Youth and Community Development and the MTA are piloting new electrical pre-apprenticeship programs. 
  
Good job. Large number of people in the transit industry are aging out. There are some great jobs that are available, good career, union, middle class working people jobs. So, for 50 out of school and out of work young adults, thanks to a $1.7 million grant from the Department of Labor we are going to see this initiative take place. It is important for these young people to get the opportunities that they deserve. 
  
And so what does it look like? Right now in our city we have a middle schooler in our public school system will attend Summer Rising and visit a CUNY college and know that college is possible. That's what's so important. So many of our young people really are growing up on one square mile. They go to school in one square mile. They go shopping in one square mile. They play in one square mile. 
  
Allowing them to go and visit a CUNY colleges and see, wait a minute, college is possible, that is the first point and that's what the Summer Rising program is going to do. Then we would take the same young person when they start high school and get a paid internship at a tech firm through Summer Youth Employment Program and realize their love of computers and technology and gaming and everything that's around technology. 
  
After that, they will attend the same CUNY college they visited when they were younger and major in computer science and be an apprentice for a tech company, gaining a mentor and hands‑on experience. Many of our tech companies say our children are coming in without any of the basic work experiences. By allowing them to be an apprentice while they're in college, they're getting ready and being prepared for the future. 
  
And finally, when they graduate they will get a degree and they will do something that mom and dad is happy to know: they will get a job and move out of their basement. 
   
This is a pathway that we're putting in place, and that is what the city's government is doing for our young people. And we're doing it with our corporate entities, our colleagues and all of our supporters. It's going to continue to expand. 
  
So, I want to thank DYCD, DOE, the CUNY chancellor for just being a real partner here, the entire CUNY system, Department of Labor, the MTA. We can't do this without our partners in Albany, Assemblyman Benedetto, Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar who's just an amazing partner on many of our initiatives. 
  
The message of this action plan is clear: we are telling employers your future talent is right here, right in New York. You don't have to lose leave New York City to bring the talent that you need; and not only are you going to get the talent of the technical aspect of doing the job, you're going to get real New Yorkers that's going to bring the emotional intelligence and the ability to handle a diverse city of this magnitude. 
  
There's something unique about New York and there's something unique about the people in New York, and that's a skill set that is different from recruiting outside our city. And we're telling young people, we have your back, because we are looking forward for you to give you the future that you are preparing for. 
  
So, those who are out of school and out of work, our youth, we want you to know that there's a career ready for you in New York City. Exciting moment. All of these DMs are here with our electeds, and all of you who are here, you realize what this opportunity means for our young people. 
  
I am truly excited about the possibilities, the first step in many steps we're going to take not to leave anyone behind. Thank you. Thank you so much. 
   
Deputy Mayor Almanzar: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And now it's my pleasure to invite to the podium the visionary leader of our CUNY system, Chancellor Félix Matos Rodríguez. 
   
Chancellor Félix Matos Rodríguez, The City University of New York: Thank you. Thank you, Ana, Mr. Mayor, thank you so much for your incredible support. Great to be here in Queens with the LaGuardia family and to be here for this great, great announcement and make sure that I can actually see my notes, it would keep them shorter and benefit everybody here. 
  
The mayor mentioned how he has assembled a great team around him in the deputy mayors and the commissioners and the entire team. He knows that that's the way that you get important things done. 
  
I am equally blessed to have an incredible team that supports the work that we do at CUNY, our host, President Adams was introduced and I want to thank him for his leadership in this arena. But we're also joined by two other CUNY presidents. I want to acknowledge the presidents from Guttman Community College, Larry Johnson, and from Queensborough Community College, Christine Mangino who are part of the initiatives that are here today. 
  
On all things that touch career, the effort that we've been doing, we'd be so happy that the mayor and the team have been so supportive in their attempt to transform what we do at CUNY in this arena. We couldn't do it without the work of our amazing associate vice chancellor over there, right, Lauren Andersen. Thank you, Lauren, for all the work that you do. 
  
And we all know that CUNY is the engine of social and civic mobility here in New York. 42 percent of our students come from families that make less than $20,000 a year; 82 percent are the products of our incredible New York City public schools, which has been an incredible partner of ours in this and so many efforts. 
  
And more importantly, about 85 percent of those students stay here in New York, so whatever investment we make in programs in CUNY is an investment that is bound to a, know the city better because they're coming from the city with all the assets and all the diversity that our city has, but then they also, they stay here and they contribute. 
  
And we know that those students that come our way are incredibly smart. They're motivated. They're hungry. And that what they don't have is the connections, right, to be able to channel that energy, to test their interest, to build their social capital. And we're lucky that we have a mayor that because he is a CUNY two‑fer understands that talent that is coming from CUNY has done nothing but support the work that we do since he came on board. 
  
What we needed to do a bit more is that connection to employers, and this is what all the programs that are being identified here today help us do, to break that… Make that bridge to make it easier for employers to work with our campuses. 
  
When you look at the CUNY 2X initiative, right, why is the city doing it? A, they're helping us to invest in the faculty that we need to be able to teach all those courses. There is demand for all those courses, but you need faculty to be able to teach that and faculty who are connected to the changes that are happening in the economy, right? 
  
But we're also competing against the sector for those people, too, because people are in a lot of demand. So, without the support of the city to be able to help us to find that full‑time faculty, we wouldn't be able to meet the demand and the growing demand of the tech sector that we have. 
  
We have over maybe more than 10,000 students going to tech sectors in the last couple years. I mean, they know that that's where the growth is. But we need to be able to meet that, and we can do that with the support of CUNY 2X. 
  
The other thing that the program does is bring in experts from those tech companies to teach on our campuses. Not full time. They come to teach a class or they teach a class together. What that does is for our students they get the exposure of key people in the industry, they're bringing whatever is happening in all those companies, right? 
  
It's also great networking, right, because those folks now will know our students. They know that they come to recruit to the campus, you build a cycle that makes it easier for that talent to go to the companies. And it exposes a lot of the companies to the talent that we have at CUNY, right, which is a virtuous cycle that supports everyone. 
  
And that energy… I was, prior to being here, I was the president at Queens College and I saw CUNY 2X working on the ground. And the first group of students that came back from the internships, they came back and it was more than changing curriculum, they went back to the faculty, they talked about the things that they were doing. Right? 
  
But they were also doing it in their informal networks, and those are very strong. And we don't think about that when we think about education, right? So, the computer science club, to give you an example, immediately change a whole bunch of the things that they were doing because of what they were learning from that internships that they took and the faculty they were meeting there in terms of doing events and activities to complement what they were learning in the classroom and be ready and get their friends to be ready to do other internships and other opportunities. 
  
So, that is the kind of exposure that we need. We have prioritized our work in connecting students to the world of work. We have raised ambitious goals to be able to help more students participate in paid internships and apprenticeships, right? We have been so fortunate that the mayor helped to baseline our inclusive economy in which we took some of the lessons of what we learned, for example, in CUNY 2X and we're taking it to other sectors that are in demand. 
  
Healthcare, green jobs. We know we can have a similar event just focused on that because of the growth there. So, what we're learning in CUNY 2X we're applying to other sectors in all of our campuses moving forward. So, this is a transformative initiative. I want to commend the mayor and the team for their support. 
  
We want to do more. We want to do more with our employers who are always so happy to engage our talent and to them to give us homework so that we can continue to improve the work that we do to build the city that we all aspire to help. So, thank you, mayor, for the support, and we always want to do more. 
  
Deputy Mayor Almanzar: And it is now my pleasure, a person who breathes and lives this work, my esteemed colleague, Abby Jo Sigal. 
  
Abby Jo Sigal, Executive Director, Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development: Wow. It's fantastic to be here. 
  
Thank you, Mayor Adams, thank you, Deputy Mayor Almanzar. And good afternoon. What an incredible room. There's a lot of people up here but more people out there who've really helped make this plan not just an action plan but a reality in action. 
  
So, my name's Abby Jo Sigal. I lead the Office of Talent and Workforce Development for the mayor. Now, we know New York City has always stood as a beacon of opportunity, and we are continuing to build on this reputation by doubling down on our investments in our greatest asset, our people. 
  
A little over a month ago, as the mayor said, we celebrated that our city beat expectations and regained all of the jobs that we lost during the pandemic a year ahead of projections. This brought us, as he said, to the great, highest number of jobs in New York City ever, 280,000 new jobs. 
  
And as Deputy Mayor Torres‑Springer likes to say, that's more than the population of the city of Buffalo or Salt Lake City. So, we're not joking. Lots of jobs. But we also know… Yes. Everybody clap for that. 
   
It's good to see our city coming back. But we also know that jobs alone is not enough. There are too many people that aren't benefiting from those jobs. So, today we're doing more than ever to really create pathways and on ramps to meaningful careers for a very important constituency, our young people. 
  
This builds on our existing work to uplift the city's working people and the mayor's Working People's Agenda. Early in the administration, Mayor Adams issued Executive Order 22 which plainly laid out the administration's ambitions for an effective workforce development system, one that begins in K-12 and is lifelong. 
  
The vision was for a system that aligns the city's education, career and preparation and skills training programs more efficiently, leveraging the city's many resources to position young people for success and employers to tap the talent they need to thrive. 
  
The Youth Pathways Action Plan… Everybody see this? It's now on our website, is a blueprint for bringing that ambition to fruition. It lays out 460,000 career connected learning opportunities to serve 250,000 young people. 
  
This plan accompanies recent announcements from the administration on ways we're doing work to connect New Yorkers to career opportunities, including getting community hiring legislation over the finish line. Thank you, First Deputy Wright. She is a true leader in this. And the governor signed legislation in November, and that's truly going to help connect people from low income individuals in low income communities to really connect them to opportunities including residents of NYCHA. 
  
We also announced in October that more than 5,000 working women and men have joined the nation's first city-led nurse residency program, connecting more people from underrepresented communities of color to pathways in high school… High school? Pathways in healthcare. I'm back in high school, I'm like this is so exciting. 
  
And it's really amazing, because it saved Health + Hospitals over $50 million and saved retention costs through that program. 
  
We also released a landscape analysis on apprenticeship to help reach our moonshot goal of 30,000 apprentices by 2030. We have 10,000 strong, and we're only building on that. And we are walking the walk, and you're seeing that right here behind the deputy mayors. We are walking the walk because we — New York City — hired 119 youth apprentices across 20 agencies. 
  
These are juniors in high school, our high schools, New York City public schools, and who are now working in agencies and really learning about tech, what it means to be in tech and IT, what it means to be in HR, what it means to be doing business operations. We have two in our office, they're here today, and it's just a fantastic opportunity for us to learn so much from them as they learn from us. 
  
So, this is what follow-through looks like. This is how we get stuff done. With this plan, we are further bolstering and diversifying our talent pipelines to ensure we continue to break all sorts of workforce records. Whether it's connecting first generation college students and communities of color to tech opportunities through our expanded CUNY 2X program and inclusive economies. 
  
I just want to underscore what the chancellor said. We expanded CUNY 2X, many of you in the room have helped build CUNY 2X and also recommended that we expand it, whether it was the Center for Urban Future or Google and HRA's report. We not only expanded it, we expanded it beyond the four‑year colleges to the community colleges to really make sure we're reaching diversity. 
  
We are also incredibly committed and have had the good opportunity to work with Commissioner Howard to make sure that this report is really focused not just on young people in school but also out of school, out of work youth. And so the opportunity to really have out of school, out of work youth work on and learn how to electrify vehicles, something that's going to have a lot of opportunities. 
  
I believe right now we have about 850 vehicles that are electrified. As the city we need 10,000, so there's going to be lots of opportunities and now we'll have a pathway for doing that. 
  
So, there's too many people to thank. The momentum is building. There are few people I do want to thank and then I will close. So, first of all, First Deputy Mayor Wright, thank you for your leadership. I don't think any of us would be here but for you. 
   
Thank you, Deputy Mayor Almanzar. You stepped right in, picked it up and really were incredible. And Deputy Mayor Torres‑Springer, the fact that you have connected economic development to this work is so incredibly important. And this is the first time at least since I've been tracking this where we've really seen talent at the center of our economic development strategies, and that's really because of this administration. 
  
And then I do want to say a couple of people who have not been mentioned yet have been critical. Leah, who has been mentioned, unfortunately, had a planned vacation last May. Leah [inaudible] has been the person who's really been quarterbacking all this work. She's incredible, if you don't know her. And she's on a very well deserved vacation in Puerto Rico, so. Planned in May. 
  
Also, there's someone back there who doesn't get a lot of recognition, but he's been incredible on this, and it's Mike Nolan who works with deputy mayor. 
   
Additionally, from my team, Michelle Rosa's been fantastic, [Ally Valtez] and the entire team. Also Jade Grieve is here from New York City public schools, and she's been really incredible and leading this work. 
   
And I just want to close by saying it's not very often that you have two chancellors, a commissioner who all serve youth and say we really want to work together because we know we're serving the same young people and we want to make sure they're not just positioned to finish a program or get their degree but really prepared to work in New York City and thrive based on their interests, what their skills are and how that will actually help them pay their rent and move out of the basement. 
  
So, I just want to say this is just the beginning. And to all the employers out there, we've got your future talent. And to all the young people with us today, we are so looking forward to seeing you thrive and contribute to this great city. Thank you. 
   
Deputy Mayor Almanzar: Thank you, Abby Jo. And she spoke about talent, and we have here great talent all throughout the dais, but especially a young man who comes from Queens, he's from Queens, he was born in the Bronx, whose parents are from Colombia and Mexico, who is now doing an apprenticeship at DEP. I leave you with Rafael Moran Buitrago. 
  
Rafael Moran Buitrago: Good afternoon. My name is Rafael Moran Buitrago, and I wanted to share about my experience with the apprenticeship program. I am a student at Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical Education High School. And thanks to the city, I am working as an apprentice at the New York City Department of Environmental Protection as an IT network apprentice. 
  
I love this opportunity because I have a passion for technology. And growing up, I learned… I found out that I had this interest in computers when I had the chance of building a computer for myself. 
  
It is my dream one day to make a living by working with technology. Working at DEP is giving me a head start to enter the world of tech, and I have been able to get first hand experience on what my career could look like. 
  
And as an IT network apprentice, I am learning the ins and outs of how to maintain a network's infrastructure and the basics of troubleshooting. I have been able to see for myself how the DEP runs their networking operations, allowing me to understand what is truly happening behind the perceived way in which people believe that devices communicate. 
  
Also I have learned how to build relationships with coworkers who have more experience than me, allowing me to develop my skills even further. Now I'm even more excited to start college and get a degree in computer science and follow my dreams. I wanted to thank the mayor, DEP and everyone here for this great opportunity. Thank you. 
   
Deputy Mayor Almanzar: You can see how savvy Rafael is with his IT, he wrote his note on his iPhone. I have mine in a 22 print font to be able to see it. It is now my pleasure to introduce the president and CEO Quadrant 2, Jason Van Anden. And I did it right, didn't I? 
  
Jason Van Anden, President and CEO, Quadrant 2: Yes, you did it right. Thank you so much. 
   
Wow. It's truly an honor to stand before you today as a representative of the New York small business tech ecosystem. For the past 25 years, my company, Quadrant 2, has proudly called New York City home. We are creators, builders, dreamers who channel our energy into making apps for good. 
  
Our journey has been filled with meaningful milestones, and one of our greatest privileges has been the opportunity to work with 22 talented CUNY interns since 2017. Witnessing these young minds flourish and embark on remarkable careers at companies like Google, IBM, Bloomberg, Bank of America and ESPN is bittersweet, watching them spread their wings and leave the nest. 
  
I am privileged and I brought with me… Well, we intended to bring two, Rafid was sick this morning, so I'd like to introduce you to Chad Mathlin, one of our interns. Chad was an intern two years ago, he's now a full‑time employee. His growth and success embody the transformative power of mentorship and this program. 
  
Every year we eagerly anticipate welcoming a new batch of interns into our fold. We provide them with a professional setting, real projects that they can proudly claim as their own; and in return, they infuse our work space with much needed sparks of inspiration, hands on assistance and fresh energy. 
  
We set up our internship program like a summer long hackathon. We allow the students to self organize, discover their core competencies and unearth superpowers they never knew they possessed. It's an awesome experience for everyone involved. 
  
By subsidizing internships, New York City empowers small businesses like mine to take a chance on these students, ensuring they gain valuable experience rather than opting for necessary but unrelated summer jobs. The TTP — the Tech Talent Pipeline — serves as tangible proof to CUNY students who often call New York City home, to their friends, to their families and their neighbors that internships are not exclusive to those who can afford to take the summer off and work for free. Instead, they offer real hands-on experiences that become a source of pride on their resumes. 
  
I am looking forward to this year's cohort. Small businesses like mine, join us. Together we can build bridges to brighter futures and ensure that inspiring individuals, regardless of their background, can contribute to our hometown, New York City. Thank you. 
   
Deputy Mayor Almanzar: And I would like to invite to the podium a very good friend, someone I met a few years ago as we worked together, and I knew that seriously the sky was the limit for this young woman, our Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar. 
   
State Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar: Thank you. I'm New York State Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar and I'd like to start out by commending our mayor on the extraordinary achievement of bringing us back after the devastation of Covid. In the two years he's been mayor, all the private sector jobs that we lost have been restored, and he did it a year earlier than expected. We can applaud for that. 
   
I think that's really a testament to his laser focus, ignoring the noise and doing whatever he can to uplift the working people of this city. And today, we take the next step: we invest in the workforce of the future, a $600 million investment. And this is very personal to me. I actually used to be a professor at CUNY's Lehman College in the Bronx. 
  
I knew the chancellor would applaud for Lehman. 
  
Chancellor Matos Rodríguez: Absolutely. 
  
Assemblywoman Rajkumar: Thank you. Any time. And what I saw was that my students at CUNY could debate better than members of Congress. There was so much raw potential among the students of CUNY, and that has always stayed with me. And I truly believe that this generation can cure cancers, end wars, end the climate crisis. And the sky is really the limit for these youth. 
  
And I have to also let them in on a secret, which is that you are so much better than all of us… The youth of our city today. 
  
So, I just want to say it's an honor to stand on the stage with all of these leaders. My good friend for a long time, the Deputy Mayor Ana Almanzar, and then the president of LaGuardia, Adams, who is so much on the ground. I mean, he visits my office all the time. I'm so impressed with that. Chancellor and these incredible deputy mayors who are the celebrities of public service in this city. So, thank you so much for this great day. 
  
Deputy Mayor Almanzar I have to adjust the microphone every time somebody else comes to the podium because I have heels. Thank you, Assemblywoman, and I now I would like to introduce to you our Assemblymember Michael Benedetto, the chair of the Education Commission. 
  
State Assemblymember Michael Benedetto: Thank you. 
  
Well, ladies and gentlemen, this is exactly what should be done. I'm chairman of the Education Committee in the state, and what I want all the schools in the state to be doing is making partnerships. Partnerships with colleges, with universities, with cultural institutions, and working for the job force of the future. 
  
This is being done right here today. Mr. Mayor, I applaud you, your staff and everybody working with this initiative. May it just be the first step and many, many more years and getting more people out there into our workforce. Congratulations, sir. 
  
Mayor Adams: What's up, Jeff? 
  
Question: Hey, Mr. Mayor. So, the council's holding a press conference… Or, a hearing as we speak. 
  
[Crosstalk.] 
  
Question: [inaudible] about budget cuts. 
  
Mayor Adams: Yes. 
  
Question: And including budget cuts at CUNY. So, it seems like the actual new funding here is relatively limited. Are you undermining CUNY's work and all this good stuff by those budget cuts, or is this new stuff… 
  
Mayor Adams: No, not at all. And you know, as the chancellor stated, I'm a CUNY two‑fer. Washington is undermining New York. And we need to be extremely laser focused that when you take $5 billion out of this fiscal year in the November plan, $7 billion out of the next two years, this is what hurt all of these initiatives that we have. 
  
We would love to expand this even more. We would like for Summer Youth Employment to be expanded. We would like for the Summer Rising program to be expanded, invest in our seniors. That's the budget we passed. 
  
And so it is disappointing that we are not writing the narrative correctly. We are being undermined by Washington D.C. that gave New York City a national problem and the price tag to go with it. It's unfair to New Yorkers, it's unfair to the migrants, it's unfair to the people of this city. That is who's undermining. 
  
And I commend the council. They're angry. New Yorkers are angry. But you know who's angry the most? Eric. Because no matter what happens in the city, I'm the mayor, and the anger comes towards the mayor of the city. And so I wish I could stand with the council and have them add in their anger [to] the calls for Washington D.C. to pick up the price tag of a national crisis. Okay. Thank you.