The fund has sparked some internal strife among Democrats, including some who fear it could be used as a political wedge among moderate suburban voters in 2022. This concern has spread to a public dispute between Senate supporters, such as Gustavo Rivera, the frank Bronx Democrat who scolded the Assembly on Monday for not moving faster to approve it. This prompted Assembly leader Carl E. Heastie to say to Mr. Rivera, on twitter, to “worry about your own home”.
On Tuesday, state party president Jay Jacobs also fired on Senator Rivera, saying that “assuming someone disagrees with spending any amount of money – no less than $ 2.1 billion – on a program to give undocumented, not imposed, paying, ‘- book workers a humanitarian subsidy – is motivated by racism and not by the economy is unjustified, unnecessary, unfair and inappropriate by any public official. ”
Republicans also criticized the plan for the excluded fund, with Nick Langworthy, the Republican Party president, calling it “aroused insanity”.
“Democrats are about to pass a budget that raises taxes on New Yorkers and businesses by $ 4 billion, while enacting a $ 2 billion fund that will provide $ 25,000 to illegal immigrants,” said Langworthy on Tuesday. market.
The rent relief program is expected to be an urgent lifeline for low-income tenants who owe rent or are at risk of eviction because they are experiencing financial difficulties as a result of the pandemic. Qualifying tenants would be allowed to cover up to 12 months of rent and utility costs, as well as three months of future rent, financed by appropriate federal government funds.
The deal also includes $ 600 million in assistance for homeowners and reduced property tax for New Yorkers who earn less than $ 250,000. There is also $ 250 million for the battered New York City housing authority and $ 100 million to facilitate the conversion of empty hotels and properties into affordable housing, an idea that gained momentum as Manhattan’s commercial districts emptied during the pandemic.
School districts across the state are also expected to receive a large cash injection – about $ 4.2 billion – over the next three years. The money will provide extra support to districts with large numbers of students with special needs and schools with difficulties, including New York City. The state will distribute US $ 1.4 billion per year for the next three years, then provide $ 4.2 billion to schools annually, a huge increase from current funding levels.