Last month, over the objections of Mayor Eric Adams, the City Council passed a package of bills expanding the city’s rental assistance program.
Subsequently, the mayor agreed to eliminate the so-called 90-day rule, a requirement that homeless New Yorkers reside in a shelter for 90 days before qualifying for housing vouchers.
What You Need To Know
- Mayor Eric Adams issued a rare veto on Friday, blocking City Council legislation that would expand the city’s housing voucher system
- The mayor says by growing the pool of applicants, the bills would make it harder for homeless New Yorkers to find apartments and burden the city financially
- Council members expect to override the mayor’s veto; the bills passed with a veto-proof majority of 41 to 7
- The tensions come as the mayor and City Council negotiate a budget deal that’s due June 30
Last week, he issued emergency rules doing away with the requirement.
But on Friday, he moved to block the overall package of bills — which also loosen other restrictions — releasing a statement that read in part: “Today, we helped New Yorkers once again by vetoing a package of bills that would take us backwards, by leading to longer shelter stays for the most vulnerable New Yorkers, while simultaneously creating a structure that could saddle taxpayers with billions of dollars in costs each year. This legislation also clearly exceeds the Council’s legal authority.”
Mayor Adams declined to elaborate on the statement Friday.
“The team put out a written reason why, and in no way do I want a soundbite to do a disservice to the contemplation that 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 Speaker Adrienne Adams addressed a potential mayoral veto on Thursday.
“A veto at this point would amount to political theater,” she said at a news conference.
The council passed the bills with a veto-proof majority, 41 to 7, on May 25. Speaker Adams said she does not expect the mayor to change members’ minds.
“We are prepared to override any veto to confront this crisis, and we believe our members will vote in support,” she said.
“We will override this veto,” said Brooklyn Councilwoman Sandy Nurse at a rally Friday. “We are united. And we’re going to tell this mayor, ‘You cannot move past us. You need 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 come to an agreement on the city budget by next week’s June 30 deadline.
