Blakeman: Money Could Have Been Used for Tax Relief
By Hank Russell
Governor Kathy Hochul was slammed by her Republican rival for bailing out New York City, saying the money could have been used for tax relief.
Hochul and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani recently announced that the state will allocate an additional $1.5 billion in operating expenses over two years to help address the city’s fiscal challenges.
This additional funding includes $510 million in recurring funding targeted towards costs that had shifted from the state to New York City under prior administrations, including about $300 million for youth programming, a restoration of $150 million in sales tax receipts that would have otherwise been retained by the state, and $60 million for public health. The remaining $500 million will be targeted to shared priorities to be determined in subsequent discussions.
“A strong New York City means a stronger New York State. This investment protects services and puts the city on stable financial footing,” Hochul said. “New Yorkers expect the state and the city to work together, and I’m proud to partner with the Mayor to deliver for working families.”
“Working New Yorkers did not create this budget crisis and they should not be the ones to pay for it,” Mamdani added. “After years of staggering fiscal mismanagement under the previous administration, our city deserves responsible and collaborative leadership. I am heartened by this budgetary progress and Governor Hochul’s partnership at this critical moment. This is what it looks like to begin a new, productive, and fair relationship between City Hall and Albany – focused on delivering for working New Yorkers.”
In recent weeks, the Mayor reduced New York City’s budget gap to $7 billion by deploying in-year reserves, committing to an agency savings plan, and incorporating higher-than-expected revenues, according to the governor’s office.
But Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who is running against Hochul, said the money should have been used to provide tax relief for state residents. “Kathy Hochul is happily handing billions to New York City while suburban and upstate taxpayers struggle to pay their bills,” said Blakeman. “If Albany truly has a $1.5 billion surplus — or if the Governor simply has that much money just laying around — that money should be used to cut school taxes for hard-working New Yorkers, not parked in a bailout that rewards fiscal mismanagement.”
Blakeman pointed to other recent state commitments that benefit New York City disproportionately, including rising state support for childcare and voucher programs that cost nearly $1.8 billion statewide annually, with the lion’s share being spent in the Big Apple.
Blakeman also highlighted the ongoing costs associated with New York City’s role as a so-called “sanctuary city.” According to The New York Post, the city has already spent $10 billion on illegal immigrants, and Mamdani said he plans to spend another $1.2 billion.
“Why should someone on Long Island, the Hudson Valley, or Western New York be asked to pay for policies and programs that don’t benefit their communities?” asked Blakeman. “The people of this state deserve a Governor who prioritizes tax relief, common-sense fiscal management, and fairness for all New Yorkers — not just another bailout for Albany’s big city allies.”