New York City’s Journey Toward Safety and Prosperity

From the beginning of our leadership, our mission has been to make New York City a safer, more affordable place to live and raise a family. Recently, our delegation and I visited Albany to secure vital funding and legislative backing, ensuring we continue to support the working-class citizens of New York.

Priority Legislative Actions

Our advocacy efforts concentrated on four key areas:

1. Working-Class Tax Relief

In response to the state’s housing affordability crisis, we advocated for the “Working-Class tax relief” initiative. This legislation aims to reduce or eliminate city personal income taxes for low-income residents. We estimate that this measure will provide an average benefit of $350, returning over $63 million to the pockets of low-income families, benefiting more than 582,000 New Yorkers. By enhancing affordability, we strengthen our community and improve the quality of life for all.

2. Supportive Care Legislation

We called on Albany to pass the “Supportive Care Legislation,” ensuring that individuals with severe mental illness receive the necessary support. It is crucial to acknowledge that our subways are not a substitute for hospitals. This legislation will ensure that individuals receive appropriate care until they are ready for discharge and continue to receive “assisted outpatient treatment” if necessary.

3.Criminal Justice Enhancements

We pushed for legal reforms to balance the protection of defendants’ rights with the enhancement of our criminal justice system’s efficiency. It is indeed essential to hold repeat offenders accountable to maintain community safety.

4. Asylum Seeker Support

We requested ongoing financial support to manage the international asylum seeker crisis impacting our city. Despite reducing the number of asylum seekers from 69,000 in January 2024 to under 47,000,we have spent over $7 billion in three fiscal years and expect to continue incurring significant expenses.

Achievements and Ongoing Efforts

Our requests to Governor Hochul and the state legislature are based on our management’s achievements. Last year, we celebrated consecutive record-breaking years in producing and connecting New Yorkers with affordable housing. The “City of Yes for Housing Possibility” plan, the most significant pro-housing reform in our city’s history, will lead to the creation of over 80,000 new homes across all boroughs over the next 15 years, thanks to Governor Hochul’s support and our zoning reforms.

Despite these advancements, the cost of living remains a challenge. We have worked to alleviate financial burdens by returning over $30 billion to working-class New Yorkers, helping them afford essentials like groceries, medicine, and transportation.

Current Progress and Aspirations

Our city continues to thrive, with crime rates decreasing both on the streets and in the subways. In 2024, homicides and shootings dropped for the third consecutive year, with double-digit reductions since our administration began. January’s crime statistics further confirm a double-digit decrease in overall crime for the second consecutive month.

Job growth remains robust, with New York City setting a new employment record for the eighth time under our administration. Unemployment rates have significantly decreased across all demographics, with Black and Hispanic unemployment dropping by over 20%.

While we celebrate these successes, we acknowledge the ongoing work required. We remain committed to collaborating with Governor Hochul and the state Legislature to ensure new York City remains a safe, affordable, and desirable place to live and raise a family for future generations.