New York, NY - TODAY, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani issued the following statement in response to Governor Kathy Hochul's newly released budget proposal:
"Governor Hochul's budget makes meaningful investments that move us closer to an affordable and livable New York-especially through critical advancements in early childhood education. When we invest in our youngest New Yorkers, we give families a real chance to stay in our city, raise their children here, and build a stable future.
Thanks to the Governor's fiscal stewardship and the strength of New York City's tax base, the State is on solid financial footing. The City, however, is not-and that is the direct result of Eric Adams' gross fiscal mismanagement. Years of short-term gimmicks with long-term consequences have left behind a significant budget gap, putting our city on an unsustainable path.
We will not continue the pattern of sweeping problems under the rug. In their latest reports, the City and State Comptrollers identified a $12 - $13 billion budget gap over two years. The findings of the City and State Comptrollers are in line with our assessment, so far. My administration will not repeat the mistakes of the past. We will restore long-term stability.
And let me be clear: we reject austerity politics. Working New Yorkers should not have to pay the price for the failures of the Adams administration. The excellence in public services our city depends on should not be sacrificed. It is time to ask New York City's wealthiest and large corporations to pay their fair share, while also working toward a fiscal relationship with the State that better reflects New York City's status as the economic engine of the state.
We are just beginning our full review of the Governor's budget and will have more to say as we dig into the details. Our guiding principle, however, is clear: fiscal responsibility must go hand in hand with protecting working families, preserving our social safety net, and building a city that works for the many-not just the few.
We are thankful for the partnership we are already building with leaders in Albany, and look forward to working alongside the Governor, legislative leaders, and our legislative partners in Albany as we move forward in the budget process together."
