As part of the ongoing lobbying effort to ensure Brooklyn College receives full funding of its needs, Brooklyn College President Michelle J. Anderson attended last weekend’s 53rd Annual Legislative Conference of the New York State Association of Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislators (NYSABPRHAL) in Albany, New York.

President Anderson discussed Brooklyn College’s budgetary needs with a host of legislators and other elected officials, along with other CUNY leaders and representatives from our student government.

“I was pleased to join colleagues from Brooklyn College and CUNY, including Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, to make the case for an equitable CUNY budget that will allow our institutions to thrive,” Anderson said. “I am committed to fighting for every dollar Brooklyn College deserves to support its diverse campus community and excellent educational opportunities.”

President Michelle J. Anderson met with elected officials during the Annual Legislative Conference of New York State Association of Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislators in Albany, New York, February 16–18, including State Senator Iwen Chu ’07 M.A. (top photo) and State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

President Michelle J. Anderson met with elected officials during the Annual Legislative Conference of New York State Association of Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislators in Albany, New York, February 16–18, including State Senator Iwen Chu ’07 M.A. (top photo) and State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

The conference’s goal is to engage New York State residents of minority descent in dialogues about policies that impact their daily lives and communities. Attended by many elected officials, including Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams, it serves as the unofficial launch of the New York State budget lobbying season. This year’s event saw more than 2,000 people attend, as the caucus weekend draws scores of lawmakers and advocacy groups and the influential Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus develops its agenda for the legislative session that runs through June.

The Albany trip came just after President Anderon met with State Senator Andrew Gounardes (26th District) on February 9 to discuss the funding Brooklyn College needs to thrive. Gounardes, chair of the Committee on Budget and Revenue, and Anderson reviewed CUNY’s budget request for fiscal year 2025 of $352 million in operating funds and $1.2 billion in capital funding, which includes $100 million for science renovations of Roosevelt and Ingersoll halls for expanded, modernized teaching and research laboratories, classrooms, academic offices, and spaces for student study and socializing.