Episode 63: Where does the Bronx Delegation stand on Intro. 303, "No More 24 Act,"?

In this episode of The Garifuna Experience Podcast, host José Francisco Ávila examines the escalating crisis surrounding the No More 24 Act (Intro 303)—the landmark New York City Council bill aimed at ending grueling 24-hour workdays for home health aides.

With hunger strikes resuming outside City Hall and demonstrations mounting at Speaker Julie Menin's doorstep, home care workers—many of whom are Garifuna women and immigrant women of color—are demanding an end to systemic wage exploitation under the state’s 13-hour pay rule. But as support within the City Council shifts and co-sponsors withdraw, a complex political debate has emerged between worker rights advocates, disability rights groups, labor unions, and state funding realities.

In this deep dive, we break down:

• The Reality on the Ground: How 24-hour shifts impact the physical health and financial stability of Garifuna caregivers and essential home health aides.
• The Political & Legal Divide: Why funding gaps in state Medicaid are pitting worker protections against care continuity for disabled and elderly New Yorkers.
• The Bronx Delegation Breakdown: Where local Council Members stand—from supporters like Justin E. Sanchez, Oswald J. Feliz, and Eric Dinowitz, to opponents Kevin Riley, Shirley Aldebol, Pierina Sanchez, Althea Stevens, and Amanda Farías and former co-sponsors like Elsie Encarnación who have pulled support over implementation concerns.
• Key Provisions of Intro 303: The 12-hour daily shift limits, 56-hour weekly caps, worker opt-in rights, and DCWP enforcement mechanisms.

Join us for a nuanced, community-focused conversation on labor, dignity, and political accountability in New York City.

Episode Links & Resources:

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• Garifuna Coalition
• The Garifuna Experience in NYC

Books by José Francisco Ávila

• Pan-Garifuna Afro-Latino Power of Pride:: My Quest for Racial, Ancestral, Ethnic and Cultural Identit

Transcript

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HOST: Mabuiga! Welcome to The Garifuna Experience Podcast. I’m your host, José Francisco Ávila.

Today, we are taking a deep dive into a high-stakes, rapidly evolving crisis right here in New York City—one that strikes at the very heart of our community and impacts the hard-working home attendants who form the backbone of our society.

We are talking about the New York City Council’s Intro 0303-2026 also known as the No More 24 Act, a bill designed to abolish the 24-hour workday for home attendants.

If you have been following the news, you know this battle has reached a boiling point. Back in April, fifteen home care workers went on a week-long hunger strike outside City Hall. They paused it after receiving assurances that the bill would finally come to a vote. But months have passed, the vote was stalled, and on July 28th and 29th, those workers—led by the Ain’t I A Woman? Campaign—were forced to resume their hunger strike outside City Hall and rally outside Council Speaker Julie Menin’s home.

Workers like Luz Estrella, who pulled 24-hour shifts for over a decade and developed a heart condition from chronic sleep deprivation, are calling out city leadership for broken promises. Under the state’s so-called "13-hour rule," home care agencies can schedule workers for a full 24-hour shift but only pay them for 13 hours—under the assumption that they get 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep and 3 hours for meals.

As any caregiver will tell you, that uninterrupted rest is a myth. Workers routinely report working up to 96 straight hours without proper sleep or pay. In fact, organizers point out that severe sleep deprivation is a form of torture—and multiple lawsuits and state labor settlements have proven that wage theft in this industry is widespread.

[THE GARIFUNA CONNECTION]

HOST: Among these dedicated workers are the unsung heroes—or as I like to call them, the unsung Sheroes—of Garifuna society.

I’m talking about our Garifuna home attendants, home health aides, and home care workers.

According to the City Comptroller, over 112,000 home care workers serve New York City, nearly 89 percent of whom are women of color and immigrant women. Within that workforce, Garifuna caregivers represent a significant, deeply caring, and culturally distinct pillar. If you know our culture, you know our care. Garifuna caregivers bring warmth, dedication, and a strong, familial approach into the homes of those they serve. For us, caring for others is not just a job; it’s an extension of who we are.

[THE CORE ISSUE & THE BRONX DELEGATION]

HOST: But despite their vital contributions, Garifuna workers remain among the city's most economically vulnerable. These are the essential workers who kept New York afloat during the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, yet they are being forced into grueling, health-shattering schedules.

So why hasn't Intro 303 passed?

Introduced by Councilmember Christopher Marte—whose own mother was a home health aide—the bill would replace 24-hour shifts with two separate 12-hour shifts performed by two different workers.

While nearly everyone agrees the current system is broken, the bill has created a deep political divide, pitting natural allies against each other.

Opponents and cautious lawmakers point out that home care is largely funded through state Medicaid dollars—which the city does not control. Labor union 1199SEIU estimates that splitting these shifts would cost around $460 million. Without state intervention and additional funding, groups like the Legal Aid Society, DC 37, and disability rights advocates warn that agencies might stop providing care altogether, leaving nearly 14,000 high-need patients stranded and workers out of jobs. Disability advocates like T.R. Cutugno and Nina Bakoyiannis have voiced fear that without state Medicaid reform, the bill inadvertently pits disabled New Yorkers against the very workers they rely on to live.

This political friction has led to a major shift in the City Council. Five co-sponsors have now pulled their support from Intro 303, including Bronx Council Member Elsie Encarnación, who formally withdrew her support alongside Queens Council Member Ty Hankerson, citing deep structural and funding concerns.

This brings us directly to our headline question: Where does the Bronx Delegation stand today?

New York City is home to the largest Garifuna population outside Central America, with over half residing in the Bronx.

While District 8 Council Member Elsie Encarnación has pulled her co-sponsorship, members like District 17 Council Member Justin E. Sanchez, District 15 Council Member Oswald J. Feliz, and District 11 Council Member Eric Dinowitz have stood in support of legislative action. On the other side, District 12 Council Member Kevin Riley, District 13 Council Member Shirley Aldebol, District 14 Council Member Pierina Sanchez, District 16 Council Member Althea Stevens, and District 18 Council Member Amanda Farías have resisted supporting the bill in its current form due to these critical funding and care-continuity risks.

[THE LEGISLATION]

HOST: Regardless of where lawmakers fall in this debate, it is vital that our community understands what Intro 303 aims to achieve at its core:

• 12-Hour Daily Limit: It prohibits home care employers from assigning any employee a shift longer than 12 hours in any 24-hour period.
• 56-Hour Weekly Cap: Employers cannot assign more than 56 hours per week unless the worker gives explicit, written consent.
• Right to Revoke: Workers retain the right to revoke that consent at any time.
• Strict Enforcement: The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection would investigate violations and level $500 daily fines per violation on non-compliant employers.
• Notice of Rights: Employers must provide clear written notice of these rights or face a $50 fine per instance.

At its core, this is not just about labor regulation; it is about dignity, basic human rights, and stopping the exploitation of our mothers, aunts, wives, sisters, and daughters.

[OUTRO]

HOST: As protests continue and pressure mounts on Speaker Julie Menin and state leaders, one thing is clear: the current status quo is unsustainable for both workers and patients. It is up to us as a community to stay informed, hold our elected officials accountable, and demand real solutions that protect our caregivers without compromising care.

HOST: And that wraps up another illuminating episode of The Garifuna Experience Podcast.

 Thank you for listening. Remember: The future of the Garifuna people is in our hands.

Until next time, stay united, stay proud. Sungubei Lidan Aban. Ayo!

HOST: Find new episodes of The Garifuna Experience Podcast every Tuesday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Podcasts, YouTube, Amazon Music, or wherever you find your favorite shows.

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