As the weather heats up, Local 802 does not slow down! Here’s a roundup of what’s on our plate as summer approaches…

PRIDE

Pride month is here, and Local 802 invites you to march with us with NYC Pride on Sunday, June 28. As Allegro goes to press, Local 802’s assigned meetup location and time are still being organized, but please fill out our RSVP FORM and we’ll keep you posted. Also, see our cover story interview with Sandy Sahar Gooen, the founder of the Trans & Gender Expansive Music Performance Organization.

NEW YORK MUSIC MONTH

New York Music Month has also arrived! New York City’s official monthlong celebration of music – which takes place each June – was first launched in 2017 by the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment. The festival brings together artists, industry professionals and music fans through a wide range of free events that showcase the city’s vibrant and influential music community. Our own Local 802 President Dan Point will be giving a talk at the conference entitled “More Than the Pit: How AFM Local 802 Can Help Indie Artists” on June 3. Get details at https://tickets.nyu.edu/nymm2026 .

LOCAL 802 MEMBERSHIP MEETING

After the AFM Convention comes the next Local 802 membership meeting on Wednesday, June 24 at 5pm on Zoom only (register here). NOTE: The bylaw amendment previously submitted has been withdrawn for consideration from this meeting.

PRIMARY ELECTION

The primary election in NYC is Tuesday, June 23, with early voting from June 13-21. Local 802’s endorsements so far include Gov. Kathy Hochul and City Councilmember Carl Wilson (for District 3). For other endorsements, see the Central Labor Council’s picks at https://laborvotes.nyc/endorsed-candidates. For voting help or information, see https://www.vote.nyc/elections or contact me at rperez@local802afm.org

BROADWAY BREAKS RECORDS

The numbers are in: the 2025-2026 Broadway season broke box office records, becoming the highest-grossing in recorded history. Over the 52 weeks ending May 24, 2026, the season grossed over $1.91 billion (yes, that a billion with a “b”), including 14.57 million total attendances (the highest since before the pandemic). Musicals made up the vast majority of all tickets sold, representing 77 percent of all tickets. Congratulations to our hard-working Broadway musicians as well as all of the Broadway creative workers!

STATE BUDGET

As Allegro went to press, the New York State budget had finally been approved. The budget contains the following provisions, all of which are advantageous to musicians and other artists:

• A $150 million expansion of the NYC Musical and Theatrical Production Tax Credit, supporting Broadway and theatrical productions.
• COBRA assistance program extended for a year
• Updating the New York State Music Grant Fund
• $2 million in operating assistance for the Met Opera
• Continued funding for NYSCA, New York’s primary arts grantmaking agency.
• $10 million to establish a new program — Saving Performing Arts and Cultural Experiences (NY SPACE) — to bolster the long-term future of smaller performance spaces across the state. This initiative will provide funding to help nonprofit performing arts organizations acquire venues like theatres, concert halls, and other live performance spaces.
• Pension reform for teachers and other public workers, which many NYC unions (including Local 802) had supported.

Additionally, state lawmakers passed a measure that would prohibit ICE agents from wearing masks; require judicial warrants before searching schools, hospitals, or houses of worship; and terminate agreements that enabled cooperation between local police departments and ICE. The legislation also gives New Yorkers the ability to sue ICE agents in state or federal court if they believe their constitutional rights were violated.

We thank Gov. Kathy Hochul and all of our allies in the New York State legislature for standing up for musicians and all workers – and for standing up against the injustices of ICE.