{"id":201110,"date":"2026-04-17T20:03:44","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T20:03:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/201110\/"},"modified":"2026-04-17T20:03:44","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T20:03:44","slug":"brooklyn-borough-president-touts-housing-health-care-gains-highlights-vision-of-equity-in-state-of-the-borough-brooklyn-paper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/201110\/","title":{"rendered":"Brooklyn borough president touts housing, health care gains, highlights vision of equity in State of the Borough \u2022 Brooklyn Paper"},"content":{"rendered":"

Policymakers, community leaders and Brooklynites packed the Beaux-Arts Court at the Brooklyn Museum in Prospect Heights on Thursday evening, where Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso delivered his fourth State of the Borough address, highlighting his administration\u2019s accomplishments in 2025 and outlining his vision for the borough in the year ahead.<\/p>\n

The evening began with performances by Jouvay Fest Collective and 2J & Friends, followed by the national anthem by the Brooklyn School for Music and Theatre choir and a multi-faith invocation led by Deputy Borough President Kim Council, Rabbi Aaron Raskin and Imam Ahmad Abu Ubayda.<\/p>\n

\"\"The evening kicked off with opening performances by Jouvay Fest Collective.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann \"\"The evening kicked off with opening performances by Jouvay Fest Collective.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann<\/p>\n

New York State Attorney General Letitia James and New York City Comptroller Mark Levine introduced the Brooklyn Beep, praising his leadership and commitment to the borough.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cAntonio is bringing Brooklyn grid to the fight each and every day, because what\u2019s at stake nationally is personal here in Brooklyn, and so when we say all roads lead to Brooklyn, we are really saying something more, that the path forward for this country runs through communities like this one,\u201d James said. \u201cAntonio will lead us the way, fighting to ensure everyone in this world has the opportunity and the joy that they deserve because that, my friends, is the Brooklyn way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"State Attorney General Letitia James delivers remarks at the Beep\u2019s State of the Borough address.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann<\/p>\n

Levine, who served with Reynoso on the City Council, said he recognized that \u201cspark of talent and passion\u201d when Reynoso first ran in 2013.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a business full of politicians who love to perform for the cameras and love to spin and dance around the facts and pander, we have a leader like Antonio Reynoso who does not have a fake bone in his body. Antonio Reynoso is the real deal, heart and soul, authentic, fearless, not afraid of a fight, and he has been able to lead now with that spirit for Brooklyn in so many powerful ways,\u201d Levine said.<\/p>\n

\"\"New York City Comptroller Mark Levine delivers remarks at the Beep\u2019s State of the Borough address.<\/p>\n

Reynoso, who is running for the 7th Congressional District, highlighted major investments made during his tenure, including $30 million for housing, $76 million for schools and $45 million for maternal health care, as well as the launch of Brooklyn\u2019s first comprehensive plan for long-term, equitable growth.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver the past four years, when our communities called, you answered, you showed up, and the results speak for themselves. We worked to invest millions into the borough\u2019s mothers and families. We worked to deliver 1000s of new homes for Brooklynites, and we worked to unlock more opportunities for Brooklyn in every single corner of this borough,\u201d Reynoso said, emphasizing that Brooklyn is a place \u201cwhere everyone belongs.\u201d<\/p>\n

After taking office in 2021, Reynoso set a goal of making Brooklyn \u2014 which has the highest Black maternal mortality rate \u2014 the safest place for Black women to give birth. He dedicated his first full fiscal year\u2019s budget to renovating labor and delivery units in public hospitals.<\/p>\n

His office also launched a Maternal Health Task Force, a community baby shower fund, the \u201cBorn in Brooklyn\u201d baby box program and partnered with Brooklyn College to develop an Advanced Certificate in Perinatal Mental Health<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe did that because we want people to know that we are their village. You can be alone here in Brooklyn, but you\u2019re not lonely. We show up,\u201d Reynoso said.\n<\/p>\n

He also emphasized education investments, including $9.25 million for 18 sensory rooms in District 75 schools \u2014 one of his largest single investments as borough president.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery school should be equipped to support your children. It doesn\u2019t matter how much money you have or what community you come from; all of our students deserve the best. Everyone belongs in Brooklyn, and that means we deliver the resources our people need from the very beginning,\u201d Reynoso said, noting his opposition to the closure of four child care centers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso delivered his fourth State of the Borough address on Thursday, April 16.<\/p>\n

Reynoso said affordability remains a central challenge. His administration has targeted deed theft<\/a>, supported affordable housing development and allocated more than $30 million in capital funding for housing construction. The office also approved more than $12 million in affordable housing units and launched the \u201cDivine Dwellings\u201d initiative, partnering with faith-based organizations to create housing on their properties.<\/p>\n

He also worked with Council Member Crystal Hudson to introduce the Tenant Relocation Act, which provides financial assistance to displaced tenants.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWe cannot talk about housing without talking about tenants; nearly 70% of Brooklynites, like me, are renters, and all people deserve access to safe, dignified housing,\u201d Reynoso said. \u201cBecause if our neighbors are displaced through no fault of their own, they shouldn\u2019t be hung out to dry. New York City should have their back, and now we do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Last year, his office released an updated \u201cComprehensive Plan for Brooklyn,\u201d expanding its analysis of disparities in education, parks, jobs, transit and health care, along with new policy recommendations.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was so good that we received an award from the American Planning Association,\u201d Reynoso said.\n<\/p>\n

On transportation, Reynoso pushed for projects including the 14-mile-long Brooklyn-Queens Interborough Express<\/a> (IBX) and said he is working with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to redesign Brooklyn\u2019s bus network to improve speed and reliability, including dedicated bus lanes and improved connections.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we invest in our infrastructure, we\u2019re investing in the things that connect our communities and our neighbors, and in Brooklyn, community has always come to life through music, fashion, visual art, and storytelling born in our neighborhoods,\u201d Reynoso said.<\/p>\n

\"\"Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and Assembly Member Stefani Zinerman.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann<\/p>\n

Hailing the borough\u2019s cultural influence, Reynoso said Borough Hall has become a hub for creative communities. His office launched the Arts Ambassador initiative, naming Colm Dillane as the first ambassador, and hosted the \u201cPeople\u2019s Runway\u201d<\/a> during New York Fashion Week, which Complex Magazine named its best runway show.<\/p>\n

Reynoso also unveiled a new Brooklyn lapel pin designed by 17-year-old Brighton Beach resident Mellina Melezhik, winner of the 2026 Brooklyn Pin Design Competition<\/a>, and announced Asad Dandia as the borough\u2019s next historian.<\/p>\n

\u201c[Art] shows up in our neighborhoods, the clothes that we wear, and the stories that they tell. It shows up in our celebrations,\u201d Reynoso said.
\n\"\"Mellina Melezhik is the winner of the 2026 Brooklyn Pin Design Competition.\n<\/p>\n

He also announced funding for Coney Island USA to ensure the continuation of the Coney Island Mermaid Parade<\/a>, one of the borough\u2019s most beloved traditions currently in financial need.<\/p>\n

\u201cTonight I\u2019m incredibly, incredibly proud to announce that my office is allocating funding to Coney Island, USA, to keep the tradition alive,\u201d Reynoso said.
\n\"\"Reynoso announced funding for Coney Island, USA, to keep the Mermaid Parade tradition alive.\n<\/p>\n

Addressing immigration and the current administration\u2019s recent attacks on communities of color, Reynoso criticized federal policies and highlighted local efforts, including a Satellite Asylum Application Help Center that has assisted 6,000 asylum seekers in obtaining work authorization, as well as support for temporary protected status for Haitian residents.<\/p>\n

He also announced a new campaign, \u201cOur City, Our Sanctuary,\u201d<\/a> a digital resource hub providing information on immigrant rights, legal assistance and reporting misconduct. His office is also hosting Know Your Rights and ICE awareness trainings across the borough.<\/p>\n

\u201cToo many of our neighbors are living in fear, trying to figure out how to protect themselves and their families,\u201d Reynoso said. \u201cBut in the face of Trump\u2019s xenophobia, his fear-mongering, his violence, Brooklyn turned struggle into solidarity.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Policymakers, community leaders and Brooklynites packed the Beaux-Arts Court at the Brooklyn Museum in Prospect Heights on Thursday…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":201111,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[2898,98,9788,100,642,99,9,24,12,370,63,79772,79773,79774],"class_list":{"0":"post-201110","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-brooklyn","8":"tag-antonio-reynoso","9":"tag-brooklyn","10":"tag-brooklyn-borough-president","11":"tag-brooklyn-headlines","12":"tag-brooklyn-museum","13":"tag-brooklyn-news","14":"tag-new-york","15":"tag-new-york-city","16":"tag-news","17":"tag-newsletter","18":"tag-nyc","19":"tag-nyc-comptroller-mark-levine","20":"tag-state-of-the-borough-address","21":"tag-state-attorney-general-letitia-james"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/201110","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=201110"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/201110\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/201111"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=201110"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=201110"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=201110"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}