New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has backpedaled on a major promise of his election campaign by indefinitely delaying the expansion of the city’s housing voucher program.
The Gothamist reports Mamdani ran for mayor in 2025 with the pledge to expand eligibility for the City Fighting Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement program (CityFHEPS), which currently serves roughly 60,000 households. The Democratic Socialist also voted to end the city’s legal challenge to a 2023 City Council law that broadened voucher access for people at risk of eviction and households with slightly higher incomes.
The CityFHEPS program is projected to cost $1.2 billion in fiscal year 2025, up from just $176 million in pre-pandemic 2019.
However, Mamdani used a press conference Wednesday to announce an indefinite delay on his promise. He cited the city’s budget deficit for his decision and blamed the administration of his predecessor, Eric Adams, for his change in direction.
“The prior administration mismanaged not only the budget, but also, frankly, housing and assistance programs,” he said. “Looking forward, we want to make sure that we balance New Yorkers’ access to medium- and long-term housing, while also crafting a sustained and balanced budget.”
Adams responded to Mamdani’s statement on X, stating, “I didn’t leave a ‘budget hole.’ I left over $8 BILLION in reserves. Only someone who can’t read a balance sheet would call that a crisis.” He added that all of the budgets passed during his administration had City Council approval, including support from “Mayor Mamdani’s City Council comrades.”
He also promised free transportation is that off the table too?
Guess your liberal filter doesn’t allow honesty.
This Closet Communist Islamic anti American fool will be a one hit wonder, amazing the Ignorance and stupidity of the jerks that voted for this guy.Anti Christian,
Anti Semetic, Anti Capitalism,Born in the shit hole of Uganda to Communist Parents.
Ah, yes. The dilemma of power.
The Mayor is telling you the path. Success does not happen in a day. Know the path, embrace the powerful ideas, and stand next to the Mayor on the road to success. “Rome was not built in a day.” Stand strong.
Bigotry and ignorance remains a common theme in America today according to some of the above recent comments. . Give this guy a chance. He is now in charge of one of the largest cities in the world. It is a wonderful city. I grew up in NYC. He may very well succeed and if so, the citizenry will be better off. Certainly the last guy was just a crook.