In her $227 billion state budget, Governor Hochul made clear her proposal to address the immigration crisis, improve public transportation, the bail system, education, and the housing system.
“It will include investments in areas that would have a positive impact on people’s lives,” said the governor.
“With the Executive Budget I outlined today, I’m making sure I continue to open doors of opportunity for all and continue to lead the nation in the fight against climate change, housing, mental health care, education and more, because this it’s New York,” the governor said in a message on social media.
With the Executive Budget I outlined today, I’m making sure we continue opening doors of opportunity to all and continue leading the nation on tackling climate change, housing, mental health care, education, and more — because this is New York. pic.twitter.com/5HgaSm9mEJ
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) February 1, 2023
New York City would receive more than $20.9 billion in state aid under the proposal.
Included in this amount is One Billion to help address the immigration crisis in the city. This to cover costs associated with the shelters and with the support of the National Guard and the expenses of medical attention.
Something that activists who advocate for the rights of immigrants consider is hopeful.
“We don’t have all the details, but I do think it’s hopeful. We are in a very advanced crisis, we have more than 40,000 people in the city, so our reaction is a bit, like… ‘about time,’” said Nilbia Coyote, director of NICE.
Hochul also announced a plan to alleviate the state’s housing crisis by building 800,000 new housing units over the next decade.
As for education, New York City will receive $13.1 billion in state funding.
And on public transportation, the Democratic governor plans to help the MTA cover its nearly $3 billion budget debt by 2025 by raising taxes on downstate businesses that benefit from the transit network.
Measure that would generate more than $800 million a year.
“Well, it’s a good plan, that it belongs to the companies that have the resources to provide a better service to the user and the workers, to help us,” said Mercedez Barzallo, a resident of Queens.
And on the judicial level, Hochul proposes expanding “judicial discretion,” something that could restore the authority to set bail for repeat offenders.
For her part, state senator Jessica Ramos said that this budget did not include an increase in the minimum wage.
“She doesn’t want to increase it, just tie it to the inflation rate and that makes it very difficult to continue living in New York,” Ramos said.
The senator added that Hochul also failed to keep the children of undocumented immigrants out of child care programs.
The budget negotiation with the legislature is expected to conclude on April 1.
A deal is expected to be difficult after a Senate committee rejected Hector LaSalle, the governor’s nominee for state appeals court judge.
