With assistance from Shawn Ness
New from New York
Currently Happening:
- Lawmakers are pushing back on Gov. Kathy Hochul’s assertion that the budget is almost complete.
- Republicans are not satisfied with the budget agreement.
- A City Council hearing on the well-being of Black migrants in the city attracted 1,200 attendees.
- Earth Day is approaching, along with bills to commemorate it.
DAYS THE BUDGET IS LATE: 16
NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE: Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Monday night that she and the Legislature have reached “the parameters of a conceptual agreement.”
The announcement included a meticulously prepared presentation and speech, complete with pre-written tweets, infographics, and a “FY2025 Budget Checklist” detailing 38 fiscal and legislative priorities across 9 categories.
Overlaying that checklist, with each priority neatly checked off, was a large red stamp labeled “DONE.”
“I have outlined what I believe there is agreement on,” Hochul stated.
However, lawmakers disagree that the major categories celebrated as “done” by the governor, such as health care, housing, education, and crime, are finalized.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie told reporters that there were still ongoing discussions on certain issues and the budget remains fluid.
Despite Hochul’s announcement of a potential housing deal, lawmakers indicated that key details, such as Good Cause eviction protections, are still being negotiated.
Additionally, discussions on issues like the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program and funding for CUNY and SUNY are ongoing.
Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes also mentioned ongoing talks regarding illicit cannabis shops.
While presenting her “conceptual agreement,” Hochul acknowledged that unresolved issues remain, including mayoral control of city schools and pensions for public employees.
Lawmakers echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for further negotiations to pass budget bills this week.
Peoples-Stokes reassured the public that there will be a budget this year.
ART OF THE DEAL: Republicans are critical of the housing deal proposed by Gov. Kathy Hochul.
At a morning news conference, Republicans expressed concerns about the Good Cause eviction measure’s effectiveness in addressing the affordability crisis.
While they appreciate Hochul’s focus on crime and affordability, Republicans believe more needs to be done to provide immediate relief.
Despite their reservations about the budget, Republicans acknowledged Hochul’s efforts to address key issues.
Lawmakers caution that a budget deal is still a work in progress.
For more information on budget talks:
— Legislators emphasize that a budget deal is not yet finalized. (POLITICO Pro)
— How will Hochul’s housing deal impact new development? (The CITY)
— Updates on energy and environmental aspects of the budget. (POLTICO Pro)
MIGRANT RESPONSE: A City Council oversight hearing on Black migrants’ experiences drew approximately 1,200 attendees.
Community leaders highlighted the need for language access and funding for organizations assisting new arrivals from African countries.
Council member Alexa Avilés emphasized the importance of addressing disparities in treatment and providing adequate support for these communities.
For more on this issue, click here.
16% of migrants in the city are from African nations, with most being single adults or adult families, according to Molly Schaefer from the Mayor’s Office for Asylum Seeker Operations. Schaefer noted that most migrants in the shelter system are from Senegal and Mauritania, but there are also migrants from 45 different African countries. The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs has increased its language access team to 20 staffers to assist other mayoral agencies, although the city primarily relies on contractors for interpretation and translation services. Critics have targeted the city’s faith-based sheltering program, which currently operates only six shelters. Mosques have become crowded with migrants who have been given notice to vacate city shelters. Mayor Eric Adams expressed support for the Council’s efforts to improve the city’s response to the influx of migrants.
During a speech to the Association for a Better New York group, Mayor Eric Adams was interrupted by tenant protesters, but he saw it as an opportunity to gain more support from the attendees. Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein visited Albany to launch her New York campaign and criticized the state’s restrictive ballot access requirements. Environmental advocates gathered at the Capitol to discuss their Earth Day priorities, including packaging reduction measures and bills targeting PFAS in products. While the budget deal includes some victories for environmental groups, details on issues like transmission siting are still being worked out.
ADAMS SUR LA PROCHAINE AUDITION SUR L’ANTISÉMITISME: Adams a aujourd’hui vanté le travail de son chef des écoles pour lutter contre la haine dans les écoles en prévision d’une prochaine audition au Congrès sur l’antisémitisme.
Le Comité de l’éducation et de la main-d’œuvre de la Chambre a invité le chancelier des écoles David Banks à témoigner devant le comité le mois prochain alors que les districts scolaires font face à un examen plus approfondi de leur gestion des impacts de la guerre Israël-Hamas.
“Ce que le chancelier doit faire dans un système scolaire avec autant d’opinions et de points de vue divers – non seulement des élèves mais même des éducateurs – c’est de trouver le juste équilibre pour s’assurer que nous continuons à utiliser ces moments comme des occasions d’apprentissage sans aucun antisémitisme, islamophobie, anti tout autre groupe,” a déclaré Adams aux journalistes lors d’une séance de questions-réponses aux médias à l’Hôtel de Ville.
“C’est ce que le chancelier a fait, et il va continuer à le faire et il va le partager à Washington, D.C. Il va partager comment cette ville doit être un modèle pour tout le pays,” a-t-il ajouté.
Quant à savoir s’il est satisfait du travail accompli jusqu’à présent par le Département de l’Éducation de la ville, le maire a déclaré: “Nous pouvons toujours en apprendre davantage, en faire davantage, avoir plus d’avis. Je veux que nous fassions plus de partages, de liens.”
Banks a dévoilé un plan plus tôt cette année pour lutter contre la haine dans les écoles, y compris l’antisémitisme et l’islamophobie. Il a également lancé un conseil consultatif interconfessionnel le mois dernier pour discuter de ses priorités et offrir des avis et des idées pour l’engagement avec les communautés religieuses. — Madina Touré
— Le président de l’université de Columbia, qui témoignera devant le Congrès, a déclaré dans une nouvelle tribune qu’elle souhaite protéger les étudiants tout en maintenant “un espace pour un désaccord et un débat robustes.” (The Wall Street Journal)
— New York City pourrait économiser des milliards sur les coûts des migrants en élargissant l’accès aux bons de logement, a révélé un nouveau rapport. (Daily News)
— Une école du comté de Westchester prétend qu’une enquête d’un groupe de défense des droits des personnes handicapées sur son établissement sera biaisée et inexacte. (Times Union)
