Mayor Eric Adams has made a fervent plea to state legislators, urging them to allocate an additional $1.1 billion to address the ongoing migrant crisis in New York City.
Despite his appeals, Governor Kathy Hochul remains steadfast in her position, showing no signs of yielding to the request.
As reported by The New York Post, Adams emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that the city requires the funds within 12 weeks. This comes as critics question the basis for the substantial financial demand. The mayor asserted that the city has already expended over $6.9 billion during the protracted migrant crisis and is reliant on further financial support.
"Without your help, we will have to close a $1.1 billion budget shortfall for this program within 12 weeks and ask for the states assistance to do so," Adams declared. This appeal was made during the annual "Tin Cup Day," a tradition where New York politicians seek financial support from Albany as the state budget is formulated.
Despite a slowdown in the influx of asylum seekers, Adams also requested tax reductions for certain New Yorkers, changes to mental health commitment laws, and revisions to discovery lawsproposals that align with Governor Hochul's budget plan.
Governor Hochul's proposed $252 billion budget, which includes a $1 billion income tax cut, notably omits new funding for the migrant crisis. A spokesperson for the governor confirmed, "The FY26 Executive Budget does not include any new funding for the migrant crisis, and our position has not changed." Historically, the state has contributed a third of the costs associated with housing migrants and has facilitated access to vaccines and health services. Last year, an agreement was reached to allocate $4.3 billion towards the crisis. City Hall officials indicated that the requested $1.1 billion is intended for the sustenance, shelter, and care of approximately 46,000 migrants, assuming continued state support at previous levels. The 12-week timeframe coincides with the presentation of Adams' executive budget, and without the funds, City Hall spokeswoman Kayla Mamelak suggested potential budget cuts, stating, "Were going to have to backfill it in other ways."
The Adams administration's financial calculations have faced skepticism from both city and state officials, a sentiment echoed by the city's Independent Budget Office (IBO). A January IBO report highlighted the administration's tendency to inflate cost estimates despite a decrease in migrant arrivals. "In looking back at the past two years, IBO found that the City did not accurately adjust the budget for new arrivals services since the initial surge in the summer of 2023, and that the share that New York State has covered has been in line with historical averages," the report noted. While there is bipartisan support for ensuring adequate funding for migrant care, doubts persist regarding the accuracy of City Hall's budgetary figures.
City Comptroller and mayoral candidate Brad Lander expressed his skepticism, accusing Adams of providing misleading financial data. "I sure do not blame the legislature for thinking that Eric Adams has lied about the numbers and been totally ineffective at spending the money that theyve sent, because he has lied about the numbers," Lander stated. Michael Kink, executive director of the Strong Economy For All Coalition, echoed these concerns, criticizing the mayor's focus on austerity over essential funding. Assemblyman Chris Tague (R-Schoharie) voiced his apprehension about the city's sanctuary status amid the crisis, remarking, "We warned them all when they decided to turn all these cities into safe havens for these folks."
Meanwhile, Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Queens) cautioned against relying on uncertain state funding, asserting, "Its dangerous to rely on a budgeted item on money that may or may not be coming from Albany."
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