Metro

Mayor Adams heads to Albany for last-ditch budget push

ALBANY — New York City Mayor Eric Adams headed to the state Capitol on Monday to privately meet with Albany Democrats in a last-ditch effort to get more funding for the Big Apple ahead of the April 1 state budget deadline.

Adams has demanded more financial help to deal with the city’s flood of migrants from the US’ southern border, as well as for the MTA.

The Dem mayor wants the state to pick up much of the tab for accommodating the tens of thousands of migrants who are now costing New York City roughly $5 million per day – what he called “the top issue” facing the Big Apple.

“We shared our concerns and the lawmakers understand this is a potential $4.2 billion issue that we’re facing in the city of New York,” Adams told reporters at the Capitol, referring to the projected two-year cost through mid-2024 to house and feed thousands of incoming migrants.

“And the lawmakers up here that represent the city, they’re clear this is a national issue that should not be on the backs of New Yorkers – and they’re going to deliver it on our behalf,” he added.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has proposed $1 billion to help the city feed and house the migrants while pressing the federal government to share in the costs – an effort that has failed thus far.

Adams privately met with Albany Democrats in a last-ditch effort to get more funding for the Big Apple ahead of the April 1 state budget deadline. Hans Pennink

Now the state has to step in to cover the hundreds of millions of dollars that the feds will not cover, Adams said.

“We’re not going to get [money] through Congress with the current existing congressional makeup and losing control of Congress,” Adams lamented Monday in reference to the Republican majority in the US House, which has blamed the problem on the immigration policies of Democratic President Joe Biden. 

Meanwhile, with the MTA facing fiscal catastrophe, Hochul is also pushing for New York City to contribute $500 million more to the agency each year – an idea that Adams opposes, given the gloomy forecasts for city finances in upcoming years.

“Both houses heard us,” Adams said of the budget resolutions passed by the state Senate and Assembly that rejected increased costs for the city in favor of higher taxes that could fund the MTA instead. 

Adams is proposing more funding for the MTA as well as help dealing with the city’s flood of migrants. Paul Martinka

“They came up with counter proposals, and now it’s time for the deliberation process to take place. It is just unfair to put that on the back of New York City residents,” Adams said. 

Adams was less outspoken with reporters on the issue of bail reform, despite his past calls for changes after Albany Democrats approved some tweaks in the budget passed last year.

This time around, Hochul is pushing to remove the “least restrictive” standard for serious offenses that judges have blamed for blocking them from imposing bail on people they think might endanger public safety or commit crimes if they were released. 

The MTA is currently facing fiscal catastrophe. Gregory P. Mango

“I think that the lawmakers up here are going to deliberate over exactly what’s going to happen on ‘least restrictive,’ ” Adams said. “It is up to them to come to a final solution to that, but I’m focused on the entire criminal justice apparatus.”

Hizzoner said he also spoke with lawmakers Monday about a proposed “good cause” eviction bill backed by progressives that would increase tenant protections statewide while limiting rent increases.

Landlords could only hike rents by 3% or one-and-a-half times any regional rise in the consumer price index – whichever is higher – under proposed legislation that some progressives want to include in the budget due April 1.

“We know we have to have tenant protections, but also we have to have those protections for the small-property owners,” Adams said when asked about the idea. 

Representatives of Hochul, state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers) and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) did not provide immediate comment about Adams’ meetings with elected officials. 

Adams’ comments on bail are likely to disappoint Republicans who say they are leaning on Adams to help secure changes to limits on cash bail first approved by Albany Democrats in 2019. 

State Senate Minority Leader Robert Ortt (R-Lockport) told The Post earlier Monday that he was holding out hope that the mayor might join the push to overhaul cash bail limits before a final budget deal gets done. 

“I’m sure there’s a range of issues the mayor of New York City is going to talk to legislative leaders about, but I hope he is pressing them that they have to really get serious and consider these changes to bail,” Ortt said.Â