Dance Worker Digest | February 2026

Thursday, February 26, 2026

Dance Worker Digest | February 2026

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By Dance/NYC

 

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Dance Worker Digest
Feruary 2026

This month’s digest highlights key developments in New York City and State government, and nationwide. Mayor Mamdani is collecting tenant testimony on unsafe housing conditions and unfair practices, while the City Council—now led by newly elected Speaker Julie Menin—has formed key committees, including the Cultural Affairs Committee, positioning arts funding and affordability as central issues during budget season. At the state level, Governor Hochul’s proposed FY27 Executive Budget includes significant cuts to the NYSCA, prompting advocacy efforts to restore funding. Meanwhile, heightened ICE enforcement in Minnesota has prompted widespread community mobilization.

NYC Opens Rental Ripoff Hearings for Tenant Testimony

A graphic of NYC residential buildings. Atop them, is a red background. Bold black text reads ‘Mayor Mamdani & The Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants Present New Yorkers vs. Bad Landlords’.

In January, Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed an executive order announcing the city’s first “Rental Ripoff Hearings”. The hearings invite New York renters to share experiences, such as unsafe conditions and unfair charges, with officials from the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the Department of Buildings, and the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection.

90 days after the last hearing, city agencies will publish a report based on the testimony with policy recommendations.

The times and locations of the hearings, held in each borough, have been announced:

  • Thursday, February 26, 5:30–8:30 p.m., Downtown Brooklyn
  • Thursday, March 5, 5:30–8:30 p.m., Long Island City, Queens
  • Wednesday, March 11, 5:30–8:30 p.m., Fordham, The Bronx
  • Saturday, March 28, 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., East Harlem, Manhattan
  • Tuesday, April 7, 5:30–8:30 p.m., North Shore, Staten Island

 Digital testimony options will also be announced soon.

Photo courtesy NYC Mayor's Office

NYC Council Leadership and Cultural Affairs Committee Formed as Budget Season Approaches

NY City Council members and Speaker Julie Menin stand together behind a podium for a press conference.

Appointments for this year’s New York City Council have been announced, including leadership and committee assignments.

The Council elected Julie Menin as Speaker. The Speaker sets legislative agenda, influences which bills reach a vote, leads budget negotiations with the Mayor, and appoints committee chairs. Following her election, Speaker Menin participated in a public conversation with the Center for an Urban Future, where she expressed support for artist housing and interest in portable benefits for freelance workers.

The Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries, and International Relations has been formed, with Nantasha Williams serving as Chair. City Council committees oversee relevant agencies and review legislation and budget matters within their jurisdiction. The Cultural Affairs Committee oversees the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA), which distributes funding to nearly 900 cultural organizations across New York City.

CM Williams recently spoke at the New Yorkers for Culture & Arts Cultural Convening, sharing her background in dance and emphasizing the importance of learning from the arts community. The committee subsequently held a hearing focused on affordability in the arts.

The Speaker and Cultural Affairs Committee will play a key role in shaping arts funding during the budget process. Strengthening communication with Council Members will be crucial to ensuring stable public investment in the arts.

Photo: Emil Cohen/NYC Council Media Unit

Community Mobilizes Amidst ICE Enforcement Surge in Minnesota

ICE in Florida in 2018

Since January, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has had an escalated and violent presence in Minnesota, resulting in 4,000 arrests and the fatal shootings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti.

The crackdown followed president Donald Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric targeting Somali communities in the Twin Cities—Minneapolis and Saint Paul, contributing to fear and confusion among residents. While non-citizens, especially undocumented immigrants, remain at highest risk for detention and deportation, community members have reported broad targeting of BIPOC people, including US citizens.

Local responses have included mass protests, community watch groups, accompaniment ride pickups for neighbors, and mutual aid to support those losing income. Many local arts organizations have taken on community support roles as well.

On January 30, many organizations and businesses nationally, including Dance/NYC, closed for a National Shutdown in solidarity with Minnesota workers and communities participating in a longer General Strike.

Although ICE’s presence in Minnesota has been particularly extreme, it accompanies escalating arrests and violence by ICE targeting immigrant and BIPOC communities across the country. At least 32 people have died in ICE custody in 2025, and at least six in January 2026.

While the Trump Administration recently announced the end to the intensified ICE presence in Minnesota, concerns remain about potential escalations in other areas. It is crucial to continue advocacy and local organizing efforts. 

Photo: Keith J. Gardner; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement via Flikr

Governor Hochul Releases Executive Budget for FY 2027

Governor Kathy Hochul stands at a podium.

On January 20, Governor Kathy Hochul released the Executive Budget for Fiscal Year 2027. While the proposal includes increased funding for important programs like childcare, it also outlines concerning cuts to arts and culture.

The Executive Budget proposes approximately $103 million for the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), including $63 million for local arts funding and $40 million for capital grants. This marks a decrease from this year’s NYSCA budget of $164 million.

Over the coming month, the State Senate and Assembly will introduce their revisions before negotiating a final budget with the Governor. This period is a critical opportunity for the arts and culture sector to advocate for sustained funding.

Arts advocates are calling for a $210 million NYSCA budget, as proposed by Senate Cultural Committee Chair José M. Serrano. Earlier this month, Dance/NYC joined fellow advocates Albany Arts Day, where we spoke with legislators about the impact of state funding on the dance community. 

Photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA via Flikr, CC BY 2.0

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