Policy Recommendations
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Offer unlimited (or reduced fare) OMNY cards to young people 24 and under.
Instruct DYCD to provide more SYEP and year-round job opportunity options.
Ease the burden of rising tuition costs on young people in NYC.
Support youth to develop and launch businesses/cooperatives that address needs identified by young people in their communities by partnering with NYC Small Business Services.
Tax the rich and corporations, and invest that money into young people.
Drawing on research collected through the Intergenerational Change Initiative’s Youth Ask Youth Census, with the input of young people from 40+ youth organizations, the NYC Youth Agenda is proposing bold and actionable recommendations for the 2026-2030 New York City administration.
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Partner with youth-serving nonprofits to develop affordable housing for young adults experiencing housing insecurity, and runaway and homeless youth (RHY)
Establish a dedicated pathway for youth experiencing housing insecurity, and RHY to access Single Room Occupancy (SRO) housing by removing barriers to entry and pairing placement with support services tailored to young people navigating independent living for the first time.
Address the unlivable conditions and backlogged maintenance in both public housing and aging, poorly maintained rent-stabilized buildings.
Re-evaluate and address the health concerns that come with young people living in old and poorly-maintained buildings.
Equip school support personnel and other youth-facing agencies to identify and bridge the gap between young people and housing access programs.
Establish youth-centered Community Land Trusts (CLTs) as a pathway to ownership and wealth building.
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Expand the youth mental health workforce by employing youth.
Invest in youth-led mental health spaces and resources.
Expand medicaid enrollment and benefits navigation support.
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Invest in a green and open New York City.
Power a clean, green NYC for future generations through youth-powered environmental investment.
Cultivate healthy lifestyles, environmental sustainability, and climate change.
Invest in youth-led community safety and self-governance initiatives.
Economic Mobility
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Pass an MTA mandate providing young people ages 24 and under with a 50% discount on subway and eligible bus fares similar to senior-fare discounts. Ensure all young people, regardless of student status, are eligible to apply and require only proof of age as opposed to Fair Fares which requires sensitive financial information.
We amplify CUNY Rising’s call on the State and City to fully fund the $1.4 million Student Commuter Grant Pilot Program.
Pass NY State Senate Bill A.3024 and S.2141, extending hours of use for NYC student MetroCards and prohibiting the Metropolitan Transportation Authority from penalizing a student for using a student MetroCard when school is not in session and on weekends.
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Set quality standards for youth employment.
Build a pathway form short-term employment experiences for youth into sustainable careers.
Invest in high-quality , transparent credentials for young adults.
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We amplify The NYC Union of Students' belief that a quality higher education is a public good and should be accessible to all, not just those who can afford it. To that end, we also amplify the NYC Union of Students campaign to get Columbia and NYU to pay their property taxes and invest that money into CUNY!
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DYCD as a government agency should grant $1.5 million dollars to fund youth cooperative business accelerators using cannabis industry taxes or taxes on the wealthy.
Set aside $500,000 of the NYC Worker Cooperative Business Development Initiative (WCBDI), administered by the Department of Small Business Services (SBS) with City Council support for youth cooperatives run by people under 30.
Create a Public Bank that would kickstart positive equitable investment in our neighborhoods like funding youth business and cooperatives. The State Legislature should pass S.1992/A.6268 (Sanders), which would grant the City the right to establish such an institution.
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Use a portion of the money from the “second home” tax to support young people dealing with houselessness and our recommendations related to youth housing.
Use a portion of the money from the TikTok lawsuit to fund youth mental health initiatives including the ones in our mental wellbeing recommendations.
Use a portion of the money that is generated from taxing the cannabis industry to support our economic mobility recommendations.
Pass the Progressive State Income Tax Bill S.1622 and A.1281
Pass the Fair Share Act S.8577 and A.8953
Pass the Tax the Most Profitable Corporations S.953 and A.1971
