CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org

NYC Budget Outcome: A Step Toward Tackling Homelessness, Responding to Community Concerns On Police Headcount, And A Continuation Of Arresting Those Who Cannot Afford The Subway

Looking to the Future, We Stand Ready to Fight Alongside the Broad Swath of Electeds, Organizations and Labor Unions Who Demand Governor Hochul Fund the Investments Communities From Buffalo to the Bronx Need

NEW YORK — Today, Mayor Mamdani and the New York City Council agreed to their first budget of this era of City leadership — shaking hands on the FY27 spending plan after weeks of negotiations.

VOCAL-NY had called on the Mayor and the Council to unite and deliver for low-income New Yorkers with three urgent priorities: expanding CityFHEPS to keep people housed and prevent homelessness; expanding Fair Fares to make transit free for low-income riders — ending the rising ticketing and arresting of New Yorkers just trying to get to a doctor’s appointment or move around their city; and investing in a real mental health response that meets people with care, not increased policing. In response, VOCAL-NY released the following statement:

“After 3 years, we applaud the Mayor, Speaker Menin, Council Member Pierina Sanchez, and members of the Progressive Caucus for reaching a final agreement to end the Vincent v. Adams litigation and expanding CityFHEPS. The deal delivered today is a welcome first step toward providing stability for homeless New Yorkers and rent-burdened households at risk of eviction, and helping them afford to remain in our city. We are happy Mayor Mamdani has finally begun to fulfill his campaign promise to homeless New Yorkers. This was not a fight we wanted to have, but one our member-leaders took on so we could finally see our 2023 CityFHEPS Expansion Reform victory implemented. 

While we had hoped to see further investments in effective, community-based mental health programs, we applaud the decision to not increase the NYPD headcount, which acknowledges the reality that there are other paths to delivering public safety beyond arrests and jail. It takes strong leadership for the Mayor to hear vociferous criticism on this issue and to consider and respond to it. Today Mayor Mamdani did just that. 

We remain disappointed that there was no investment into a free fares program for the lowest-income New Yorkers who cannot afford the train and buses. In the final days of the budget, we urged both City Hall and the Speaker to consider even a small investment into a pilot program that would demonstrate the benefit a free fares program would have on New Yorkers who are currently facing extremely high fare evasion arrests, and are being denied the basic ability to travel across the city. The reduction in the police headcount does not guarantee a decrease in fare evasion arrests of those who cannot afford the train or bus fare. If the Mayor is serious about his commitment to making the city affordable for all New Yorkers, he must stop these arrests and take action on a free fare program. There is still time: we urge Mayor Mamdani and Speaker Menin to work together to launch a free fare initiative program, which we would eagerly support expanding with state funds during next year’s state budget fight. 

As we look to the future, we stand ready to fight alongside Mayor Mamdani, DSA, WFP, progressive and socialist elected officials who all agree New York State must fully invest in the basic needs of cities and counties across the state. We urge Governor Hochul to join us in setting New York State on a path to end homelessness and our affordability crisis, to ensure effective programs do not get pitted against one another, and no community is left waiting with another empty promise for what they need to thrive.”

###