The fund has led to infighting among Democrats, including some who fear it could be used as a political wedge issue among moderate suburban voters in 2022. The concern spilled over into a public dispute between Senate supporters of the measure such as Gustavo Rivera, the outspoken Bronx Democrat, who presented the Assembly Monday because they did not act faster to approve it. This led to the leader of the Assembly, Carl E. Heastie, for Mr. Rivera said: on Twitter, to “worry about your own home”.
State Party Chairman Jay Jacobs also shot back at Senator Rivera on Tuesday, saying that “to assume that one’s political disagreement with spending any amount of money – not less than $ 2.1 billion – applies to ‘ a program to give undocumented, non-taxpayers, ‘off’ – the workers of the books a humanitarian award – motivated by racism and not by the economy, is unfair, unsolicited, unfair and indecent of any public official. ”
Republicans also blew up the plan for the excluded fund, with Nick Langworthy, the chairman of the Republican Party, calling it “waking madness.”
“Democrats are on the verge of pushing a budget that will increase taxes on New Yorkers and businesses by $ 4 billion, while setting up a $ 2 billion fund that will pay out $ 25,000 to illegal immigrants,” Langworthy said Tuesday.
The rental 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 struggling financially due to the pandemic. Eligible tenants may cover up to 12 months rent and utility costs, as well as three months prospective rent, financed by federal funds.
The agreement also includes $ 600 million in homeowners’ assistance and property tax relief for New Yorkers earning less than $ 250,000. There is also $ 250 million for the struggling public housing authority in New York and $ 100 million to facilitate the conversion of hotels and vacant property into affordable housing, an idea that has picked up steam as many of Manhattan’s commercial districts the pandemic has emptied.
School districts across the state are also poised to receive a large amount of cash – about $ 4.2 billion – over the next three years. The money provides extra support to districts with a large number of students with great needs and struggling schools, including New York City. The state will distribute $ 1.4 billion a year for the next three years, then provides $ 4.2 billion annually for schools, a major increase from current funding levels.