The New York State Legislature has approved a $237 billion budget for FY2025, focusing on key sectors such as housing, immigration, public safety, tackling unlicensed marijuana sales, and addressing other pressing issues.
The budget passed on a Saturday afternoon, addressed various issues through extensive discussions, especially the Education, Labor, and Family Assistance bill, which encompasses the housing deal featuring “Good Cause Eviction” protections for tenants.
The ultimate iteration of these protections arrived with several conditions, particularly exempting small landlords with ten units or fewer.
While the bulk of these housing and tenant measures affect New York City residents, Upstate municipalities will have the choice to “opt-in” to these protections.
Regarding marijuana regulation, the budget addresses the proliferation of unlicensed cannabis storefronts in New York City. To combat this issue, the budget allocates resources to empower local law enforcement to shut down illicit dispensaries, streamlining the closure process more effectively.
One of the contentious topics was the allocation of $2.4 billion to manage the influx of migrants in New York City, covering housing, legal aid, and healthcare services.
While some lawmakers expressed concerns about the financial implications and potential magnet effect, proponents argued for the humanitarian necessity of addressing the needs of vulnerable populations.
Furthermore, the budget expedites the closure of up to five state prisons, reflecting the declining prison population and aiming to save costs. This move follows the closure of two dozen correctional facilities since 2011, resulting in approximately $442 million in annual savings, as per the state corrections department.
Governor Kathy Hochul emphasized the budget’s role in improving housing, education, and public safety without increasing income taxes, describing it as a pivotal improvement in state policy.
Hochul said, “I promised to fight the right fights for New Yorkers, deliver common sense solutions, and tackle the thorny issues that others might ignore, and that’s exactly what we’ve done.”
The governor added, “We’re delivering on a common-sense agenda: fighting crime, fixing our mental health system, and building more housing so people can finally afford to live in New York.”
The budget also introduces tougher penalties for retail theft, transforming assaulting a retail worker from a misdemeanor to a felony and allowing aggregated charges to intensify prosecutions.
Educational and healthcare funding saw adjustments, with a $934 million increase in Foundation Aid and a $400 million reduction in Medicaid programs, following pushback against proposed deeper cuts.
The adjustments include measures such as offering paid time off during pregnancies and enabling New York City to lower speed limits.
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins praised the budget for advancing a vision that prioritizes the needs of working families, stating, “The enactment of this budget represents a significant step forward in advancing the Senate Majority’s vision for a fairer and more prosperous New York.”
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie highlighted the budget’s inclusivity and reach, noting, “In this year’s budget, we were able to include critical funding for affordable housing across the state, increases in TAP funding to put higher education in reach for more students, restoring education funding, investments in our hospitals and nursing homes, and provisions that help new parents and working families.”
Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, however, criticized the budget for its extensive spending and policies, which he believes cater excessively to criminal elements and illegal immigrants, risking public safety and economic stability.
Ortt said, “After blowing nearly three weeks past the budget deadline, Albany finally came together to pass a nearly $237 billion New York State budget that includes a historic amount of spending and misplaced priorities.”
“In a clear sign that the socialists have taken charge of the Democratic Conferences, this budget includes a radical housing policy that will eliminate the rights of small business landlords to control their private property. The housing agreement, which includes the radical ‘Good Cause’ eviction, is a giveaway to the socialist tenant advocates who believe in making it illegal to make money in New York,” he added.
Ortt pointed out the allocation of $2.4 billion to migrants who entered the country illegally, a move he deemed extravagant.
He lamented the Democrats’ refusal to heed Senate Republicans’ calls for budgetary assistance to middle-class families struggling with inflation.
The Republican also criticized the allocation of billions of dollars to New York City for distributing prepaid gift cards to illegal immigrants, which he argued would burden taxpayers with millions of dollars in daily costs.
