DAYS THE BUDGET IS LATE: 30
ICE WATCH: New York Governor Kathy Hochul is seeking clarity from President Donald Trump’s administration regarding the presence of a federal immigration officer in New York. Specifically, she is concerned about the ICE agent involved in the fatal shooting of Renee Good.
This week, Hochul wrote to Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, asking for confirmation of reports that Jonathan Ross, the agent in question, has been reassigned to New York.
In her letter, Hochul insists, “If Jonathan Ross has been reassigned to work in New York, I demand that he be immediately removed and not redeployed unless cleared after a full, independent investigation. I have no confidence that Ross can be trusted to safely interact with the public. Nor should you.”
The White House has yet to respond to requests for comment.
This request is part of Hochul’s broader strategy to counter Trump’s extensive deportation policies. Her approach includes direct communication with the White House and anticipated legislative measures to curtail the influence of federal immigration bodies like ICE.
New York officials, including Hochul, are particularly keen to prevent an influx of federal immigration officers in New York City, which is home to an estimated 560,000 undocumented immigrants.
Hochul’s actions also benefit her politically as she campaigns for reelection, positioning herself firmly against Trump’s immigration policies. The president’s promise to deport millions of undocumented immigrants has faced backlash, particularly following the deaths of Good and Alex Pretti during a Minnesota operation.
According to a Siena University poll in February, 67 percent of New York voters feel federal immigration tactics have been excessive, with 59 percent opposing more ICE agents in New York City.
Even though Trump has toned down his aggressive deportation stance, it has not alleviated concerns within the Hochul administration. The February death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a blind refugee left by federal agents at a Buffalo coffee shop, heightened tensions.
Hochul reiterated in her letter that agents involved in such incidents must face thorough investigations and accountability, rather than mere reassignment.
Homan, acting as the Trump administration’s representative in blue states in light of recent unrest, met with Hochul in Albany last month. There, she requested he avoid similar operations in New York.
Hochul and state Democrats are also preparing to introduce sanctuary-like legislation to create legal barriers to federal immigration enforcement in New York.
This legislation would limit federal authorities from executing civil deportation warrants in sensitive areas like schools and places of worship. It would also prevent agencies like ICE from forming formal agreements with local police, and provide easier avenues to sue federal officers for perceived rights violations.
This legislative package reflects a broad blue state rejection of Trump’s immigration policies and marks a shift for Hochul, who previously opposed undocumented immigrants obtaining driver’s licenses.
However, some progressive lawmakers express concern that Hochul’s resistance to a stringent ban on local-federal police communication could leave gaps in protections for undocumented immigrants.
One anonymous legislator criticized the anticipated agreement as “inadequate and potentially harmful, as it might create a false sense of security while still allowing law enforcement to share information.” — Nick Reisman
FROM CITY HALL
FARE-LY AUTOMATIC: Most City Council members are urging Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration to automatically enroll low-income New Yorkers in the city’s transit discount program.
Currently, New Yorkers must provide proof of identity, age, residence, and income to join Fair Fares, which offers a 50 percent discount on subway, bus, and paratransit rides for those at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level.
In a letter sent Wednesday to Erin Dalton, Mamdani’s social services commissioner, 28 of the Council’s 51 members argued that the application requirements unnecessarily exclude eligible participants.
The letter, accessed by Playbook, states that only about 370,000 of the city’s 1.4 million eligible residents benefit from Fair Fares, mainly due to a lack of awareness.
Progressive Council Member Crystal Hudson led the lawmakers in suggesting that automatic enrollment could be facilitated using information from applications for SNAP, Cash Assistance, Medicaid, and other city benefits.
“The City of New York has the information on hand and could easily enact automatic enrollment,” the Council members noted. Among the signatories were democratic socialist allies of the mayor like Tiffany Cabán and more moderate members like Eric Dinowitz.
They added, “Affordability is a top concern for New York City residents, and one in five New Yorkers struggles to pay the fare. We can help lower costs by making it easier to enroll in the Fair Fares program.”
When approached for comment, Mamdani spokesperson Dora Pekec stated Thursday that the administration is “reviewing the automatic Fair Fares enrollment proposal.”
“The mayor remains deeply committed to collaborating with our city and state partners to make transit more affordable for all New Yorkers,” Pekec said.
Mamdani had campaigned on making city bus rides free but admitted in a recent POLITICO interview that this goal won’t be achieved this year.
Meanwhile, transportation advocates are increasing pressure on him to find other ways to reduce transit costs. The Council members’ letter follows a plea from a coalition of transit advocates earlier this month for automatic Fair Fares enrollment.
Such a measure may increase the program’s costs, complicating matters for Mamdani, who faces a multibillion-dollar city budget deficit.
Council Speaker Julie Menin, negotiating the budget with Mamdani, did not sign the letter. Her spokesperson, Henry Robins, explained, “She doesn’t always sign on to colleague letters as speaker, but she is on record supporting automatic enrollment for Fair Fares.” — Chris Sommerfeldt
PIED-À-TERREABLE MATH: City Comptroller Mark Levine released a report addressing the mayor and governor’s plan to raise $500 million annually through a pied-à-terre tax for the city’s budget.
Levine’s analysis, based on previous proposals, indicates that the tax would only achieve such revenue under ideal circumstances. When accounting for rental properties and pied-à-terre owners selling or renting to avoid the tax, the city’s annual revenue could range from $340 million to $380 million.
“As budget discussions continue at the City and State levels, it’s crucial that leaders, advocates, and New Yorkers understand the potential impact of major revenue proposals on our budget,” Levine stated.
The mayor’s office countered that the proposal is still being developed and will be designed with the governor to ensure it generates at least $500 million.
“The Comptroller’s report makes one thing very clear: thoughtfully crafting and implementing this legislation will do exactly that,” a spokesperson said. — Joe Anuta
VOUCHER FIGHT: Menin is navigating both sides of the debate over the costly CityFHEPS rental subsidy.
She joined advocates and Council members at a rally Thursday morning to urge Mamdani to drop a lawsuit challenging a voucher expansion—an action he promised on the campaign trail. However, Menin also acknowledged the costs “are not sustainable” and proposed a council-offered settlement to manage them while still expanding the program.
“We have come in, with the leadership of Council member [Pierina] Sanchez and the advocates, with a responsible, reasonable settlement,” Menin said at the rally, where chants of “Mayor Mamdani, keep your promise!” filled the air.
Menin declined to discuss the settlement proposal’s specifics, citing ongoing talks.
According to the city comptroller’s office, voucher costs are rising by 4 percent monthly, and eligibility expansion laws approved by the Council in 2023 could increase costs by $6 to $22 billion over five years.
“We do agree that there has to be a change to the cost structure,” Menin told reporters at a later press conference. “We have been working very closely with the advocates on that. We have put forward a reasonable settlement, which is why we believe that continuing to litigate delays our ability to reach the settlement.”
Hochul has reportedly asked the mayor to consider the rental subsidies as a potential area for budget cuts. Asked if she has discussed the program with the governor, Menin said, “she and I both agree we need to have cost containment.”
“We recognize the cost has grown exponentially,” Menin said. “I think we’re in a very good place on cost containment that literally contains the cost but also protects vulnerable New Yorkers.”
Mamdani has argued that dropping the city’s appeal would result in billions in added costs over the next few years.
“Mayor Mamdani has been clear that CityFHEPS is an invaluable tool to prevent homelessness and support homeless New Yorkers,” City Hall spokesperson Matt Rauschenbach said in a statement on Thursday’s rally. “That is why our team is working hard to ensure that it is fiscally sound and sustainable for the long-term.” — Janaki Chadha and Gelila Negesse
IN OTHER NEWS
— COMMUNITY SAFETY: Advocates are concerned that Mamdani’s police reform efforts regarding mentally ill individuals might marginalize the anti-domestic violence office at City Hall. (The New York Times)
— BOARD OF REJECTIONS: A candidate for an Albany assembly district seat challenges the state election board’s decision to disqualify him for allegedly not meeting residency and party enrollment criteria. (Times Union)
— BEHIND THE BARS: New York state prisons are experiencing a significant rise in violence, with both staff and inmates raising alarms over increased assault rates. (NY 1)
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