Photo Courtesy of Benny Polatseck/Mayoral Photography Office
By Forum Staff
Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday released the “NYC Speaks Action Plan” — created in partnership with civic and community leaders — outlining policy goals for five issue areas that are priorities for New Yorkers: Housing and public safety, youth mental health, community spaces, jobs in high-growth sectors, and civic engagement. NYC Speaks is a public-private partnership led by Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Sheena Wright, working alongside various philanthropic partners, community leaders, and civic institutions to inform the priorities and policies of the Adams administration.
The Action Plan is the result of a yearlong public-private partnership. Over 80 members of the Civic Policy Councils — representing a diverse cross-section of New Yorkers — collaborated on the research and outreach strategies for the initiative. Policy council members led the development of the NYC Speaks survey questions, which captured more than 62,000 responses, totaling 3 million data points, from New Yorkers across every residential ZIP code. These efforts included outreach support from the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), the New York City Department of Education (DOE), the New York City Department of Veterans Affairs, the New York City Department of Probation, the New York City Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit, the New York Public Library, the Queens Public Library, the Brooklyn Public Library, and the Civic Engagement Commission. Notably, the NYC Youth Speaks Survey was formulated and shared with the support of the DOE to young people across New York City with more than 18,400 youth participating.
Following the results of the quantitative data, NYC Speaks launched community conversations to bring the survey data back to communities to interpret and help develop tangible actions. A total of 50 community-based organizations received micro-grants to bring conversations to their communities, and 30 young people also joined the initiative as youth ambassadors and led conversations in their community. In total, NYC Speaks facilitated 220+ community conversations that convened in eight languages with 4,800 residents. The events were hosted online and in-person in all five boroughs, and served populations that have been historically marginalized, such as Black and Brown residents, seniors, those impacted by the criminal justice system, people living with disabilities, women, and the LGBTQIA+ community.
The Action Plan contains five key “North Stars” — foundational policy goals for New York City along with initial commitments from city government. The North Stars reflect the collective vision of New Yorkers and of the Adams administration to create a fairer, more equitable city for all, Adams noted.
North Star #1: Formerly incarcerated New Yorkers will have the support and resources they need to succeed when they return home.
North Star #2: New York City public school students have access to culturally competent mental health resources.
North Star #3: Historically disinvested neighborhoods will be prioritized for capital investments in community and recreation spaces that support social, economic, and climate resilience.
North Star #4: Young New Yorkers and residents in environmental justice communities will have access to green career pathways created by city-led decarbonization and resilience efforts.
North Star #5: New York City’s government will be transformed into a national model of collaborative, inclusive, and accountable governance that strengthens democracy, expands civic engagement, and enhances civic trust.
