The City of New York's Committees on Finance and General Welfare convened on May 26, 2025, for a crucial hearing regarding the Fiscal Year 2026 Executive Budget. The primary focus of the meeting was to address the pressing issue of back pay owed to security officers working in Department of Homeless Services (DHS) contracted shelters.

The session began with a statement from a representative of Local 32BJ, the largest union of property service workers in the nation, representing 85,000 members, including over 90,000 in New York. The representative urged the city council to allocate at least $90 million to cover back pay owed to security officers, emphasizing their essential role as frontline workers in challenging environments. The union highlighted that many of these workers are people of color who deserve fair wages and benefits reflective of their contributions to community safety.

The representative detailed the history of advocacy for the "Safety for our Shelters Act," which was passed in 2021 but has faced delays in implementation, resulting in thousands of officers being owed tens of millions of dollars in retroactive wages. The union's ongoing efforts to resolve this issue have not yielded satisfactory results, prompting the call for immediate financial support from the city council.

Following this, Jamie Marie, a security officer and veteran, shared her personal experience working in the shelter system. She described the challenges faced by both workers and shelter residents, emphasizing the importance of fair compensation. Jamie recounted her struggles to maintain financial stability, particularly after the closure of her shelter, and expressed hope that the back pay would help her catch up on bills and support her family.

The hearing continued with additional testimonies from various stakeholders, including representatives from the Hispanic Federation, who advocated for the empowerment of Hispanic communities through legislative support.

As the meeting progressed, the council members engaged with the testimonies, reflecting on the broader implications of delayed payments for contracted workers and the need for systemic reforms to ensure fair treatment of all city employees. The discussions underscored the urgency of addressing wage disparities and the impact of financial instability on workers' lives.

In conclusion, the hearing highlighted the critical need for the city council to act on the back pay issue, with significant implications for the livelihoods of many security officers and their families. The council's response to these testimonies and the proposed budget allocations will be closely watched as the city moves forward in its budgetary process.