2026 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing - Local Government/General Government
February 11, 2026
9:30AM
Hearing Room B, Legislative Office Building, Albany

Transcript Pending
Testimony
Honorable Zohran Mamdani
Mayor
City of New York

Honorable Sean Ryan
Mayor
City of Buffalo

Honorable Mike Spano
Mayor
City of Yonkers

Honorable Malik Evans
Mayor
City of Rochester

Honorable Sharon Owens
Mayor
City of Syracuse

Honorable Dorcy Applyrs
Mayor
City of Albany

Honorable Robert Restaino
Mayor
City of Niagara Falls

Honorable Mark Levine
Comptroller
New York City Comptroller’s Office

Honorable Julie Menin
Speaker
New York City Council

Barbara Van Epps
Executive Director
New York State Conference Of Mayors

Stephen J. Acquario
Executive Director
New York State Association of Counties

Chris Koetzle
Executive Director
Association of Towns of the State of NY

Dustin Czarny
Democrat Caucus Chair
NYS Elections Commissioner Association

Karen Wharton
Democracy Coalition Coordinator
Fair Elections for NY

Erica Smitka
Deputy Director
League of Women Voters

Marima Pino
Counsel
Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law

Susan Lerner
Executive Director
Common Cause NY

Shamier Settle
Senior Policy Director 2
NYS Census Partnership/Immigration Research Initiative

Written Testimony
Alan D. Sugarman

Alexander Marion, MPA
Syracuse City Auditor

Alexandria Wojcik, (Acting) Mayor, Village of New Paltz

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)

Bob Stromberg, Let NY Vote

Con Edison Company of New York, Inc. (Con Edison)

Kristofer Munn, Dutchess County Legislator

Jonathan Redeker, Orange County Legislator, District 2

Joseph Donaldson
Ulster County Legislature District 8

Let NY Vote Coalition

Michele Hirsch
Alderwoman
Ward 9 Kingston Common Council

National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)

New York City Council Progressive Caucus Chairs

New York Immigration Coalition

New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG)

New York State Association of Counties and the New York State County Executives’ Association

New York State Industries for the Disabled (NYSID)

New York State Preferred Source Program for New Yorkers who are Blind (NYSPSP)

New York State Psychological Association (NYSPA)

Sparrow Tobin
Orange County Legislator