Shehabuddin Kisslu: The City Council is not letting Mayor Zohran Mamdani take a victory lap on his rent freeze, blaming the Mayor has “abandoned” another important housing issue,’vouchers.’
“Why would we reject this option, which costs the city as little as $54 a day, when the cost of homeless shelters is $270 per day,” New York City council Speaker Julie Menin said.
“What is the point of electing a super progressive if they abandon the city’s most needed in the budget process,” Former Speaker of the City Council Christine Quinn said from the steps of City Hall Friday.
Former Speaker Christine Quinn rallied with current Speaker Julie Menin and many city council members say they will not sign on to a budget until the mayor drops a lawsuit initiated by Mayor Adams that has slowed the expansion of housing vouchers, and the Mayor pledges hundreds of millions of dollars to the housing voucher program.
The Mayor’s Office said the program’s $1.8 billion price tag must be brought under control, especially with the city facing fiscal problems, and that the voucher program must first be reformed so it’s not hemorrhaging money.
By law, the New York City budget must be negotiated before July 1st.
