Last month, over the objections of Mayor Eric Adams, the City Council approved a package of bills expanding the city’s rental assistance program.
The mayor subsequently agreed to eliminate the so-called 90-day rule, a requirement that homeless New Yorkers reside in a shelter for 90 days before being eligible for housing vouchers.
What you need to know
Mayor Eric Adams issued a rare veto Friday, blocking City Hall legislation that would expand the city’s housing voucher system.
The mayor says if the number of applicants increases, the bills would make it harder for homeless New Yorkers to find apartments and burden the city financially.
Council members hope to override mayor’s veto; the bills passed with a veto-proof majority of 41-7
The tensions come as the mayor and City Council negotiate a budget deal that will end on June 30
Last week, he issued emergency rules eliminating the requirement.
But on Friday, he moved to block the overall package of bills, which would also loosen other restrictions, releasing a statement that said in part: “Today, we helped New Yorkers once again by vetoing a package of bills that would take us back, to give to longer shelter stays for the most vulnerable New Yorkers, while creating a structure that could burden taxpayers with billions of dollars in costs each year. This legislation also clearly exceeds the Council’s statutory authority.”
Mayor Adams declined to elaborate on the statement Friday.
“The team explained in writing the reason why, and in no way do I want a bite to do a disservice to the contemplation we put” into the statement, he told reporters at an unrelated event.
The mayor argues that with housing so scarce, making too many people eligible for vouchers would increase competition and actually make it harder for homeless New Yorkers to find apartments.
City Council President Adrienne Adams addressed a possible mayoral veto Thursday.
“A veto at this point would amount to political theater,” he told a news conference.
The council passed the bills with a veto-proof majority, 41 to 7, on May 25. President Adams said she doesn’t expect the mayor to change members’ minds.
“We are prepared to override any veto to deal with this crisis and we believe our members will vote in favor,” he said.
“We’re going to override this veto,” Brooklyn Councilwoman Sandy Nurse said at a rally Friday. “We are united. And we will say to this mayor: “You can’t pass us by. You have to come to the table and collaborate, and stop thinking you have all the answers when you don’t”.
The clash comes at an inopportune time, as the mayor and council must reach an agreement on the city’s budget by June 30 next week.
