By Henry Garrido

We enter this year with high expectations and a renewed sense of possibility. Last November, voters elected a dynamic, progressive mayor in Zohran Mamdani, who is focused on delivering a more affordable New York City. We welcome this new leadership and the opportunity to move our city toward a more just and equitable future. We have a lot of work to do to make it a reality.

As budget season kicked off last month, the mayor announced the city faces a $12 billion budget gap left by the prior administration. Closing this gap requires bold and thoughtful action. We applaud the mayor’s proposed solution of increasing personal incomes taxes on individuals making more than $1 million annually and raising taxes on large corporations.

For years, we’ve heard the argument that asking the wealthiest New Yorkers to pay their fair share will cause them to flee the state. The facts tell a different story. New York remains a global center for culture, finance, and opportunity. We believe that those who benefit most from this city’s success must contribute to sustaining it.

We also urge the mayor to prioritize fiscally responsible strategies that will strengthen public services, like reducing costly contracting-out practices and filling the thousands of vacancies that weaken the efficiency of our city agencies. Both tactics will free up revenue and improve accountability while investing in the public workforce and delivering better results for New Yorkers.

The budget shortfall in the face of skyrocketing inflation places a real strain on working families, seniors, and vulnerable residents. The mayor’s affordability agenda is the key that can open the door to a safer, resilient city by addressing inequality between the rich and poor, putting people first while improving essential services. That also means safeguarding the very workforce that keeps New York City running.

DC 37 members play a central role in operating a city government that works for its residents. As the citywide economic contract expires later this year, we are preparing to negotiate a new agreement with the Mamdani administration. It is critical that we unite in the fight for fair pay increases, enhanced benefits, and additional protections for city workers against displacement. This is a defining moment. With forward-thinking city leadership and a unified labor movement, we can build a city that works for everyone.

This article originally appeared in the January-March 2026 issue of PEPTalk Magazine.