State Sens. Zellnor Myrie (left) and Jessica Ramos each launched measures to fight President Trump’s looming funding cuts.
Photograph by Lloyd Mitchell
Democrats working to exchange Eric Adams within the 2025 NYC mayor’s race pitched on Thursday their plans to fight President Trump’s threats to chop billions in federal funding for town, which helps a variety of significant packages.
Queens State Sen. Jessica Ramos, in a uncommon Thursday morning marketing campaign occasion, highlighted a invoice she launched in Albany’s higher chamber earlier this week geared toward empowering New York to retaliate in opposition to Trump’s looming funding reductions. She mentioned the so-called “Recourse Act” would permit Gov. Kathy Hochul to withhold state tax {dollars} if Trump slashes federal spending town depends on for supporting essential companies like its public hospital system and housing authority.
“The premise of the bill is simple: If Trump cuts our funding, then we will withhold our taxes. If he tries to strangle New York, we’ll strike back where it hurts the most, in the budget,” Ramos mentioned. “The Recourse Act will arm Gov. Kathy Hochul and municipal leaders, including the mayor of the City of New York, with the most powerful leverage there can be: the money made with the blood, sweat, and tears of New Yorkers.”
Ramos mentioned the invoice would primarily do two issues. It could compel state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli to tabulate the entire federal funding that New York state receives and permit it to reappropriate these {dollars} again into the state price range.
Mayoral candiate Jessica Ramos introduced state laws to battle in opposition to President Trump’s funding cuts.Photograph by Lloyd Mitchell
The Queens state Senator added that town may coordinate with the state to withhold its personal taxes from the federal authorities.
Trump’s so-called Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE) has aggressively made large spending cuts to federal companies and packages, together with the Social Safety Administration, the US Division of Housing and City Growth, and Medicaid.
Congressional Republicans are additionally engaged on a spending package deal that would trim trillions of {dollars} extra in federal funding for states, which may imply New York dropping tens of billions of {dollars}.
Simply prior to now day, DOGE lower roughly $100 million that goes towards town Well being Division’s $2 billion working price range. The federal {dollars} assist packages to fight the opioid epidemic and supply psychological well being care.
DOGE additionally clawed again $80 million in migrant disaster support that Congress had already rewarded town final month. The town has since filed a go well with searching for to recoup the funds.
Moreover, Trump and his high administration officers have used the specter of pulling federal funding as a cudgel to power town and state to fall consistent with their agenda. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy final week mentioned he would lower off an unspecified quantity of federal {dollars} for the MTA if the company didn’t present an in depth breakdown of crimes dedicated on the subways.
Brooklyn State Sen. Zellnor Myrie, throughout a March 27 press convention in entrance of the Trump Worldwide Resort in Manhattan, unveiled his personal plan to counter Trump’s spending trims. Much like Ramos, Myrie proposed withholding native and state taxes if the Trump administration violates court docket orders difficult its funding cuts.
“In the event that they do not listen to the court, we are fully prepared to wage fiscal warfare,” Myrie mentioned. “We must; the moment demands it. We have to stick up for this city by any means necessary.”
Mayoral candidate Zellnor Myrie introduced a plan to retaliate in opposition to President Trump’s broad funding cuts.Photograph by Lloyd Mitchell
The state Senator mentioned his administration would invoke the US Structure’s tenth Modification to withstand Trump’s funding reductions and take his administration to court docket to dam them. He’s additionally proposing organising a particular unit throughout the metropolis’s Legislation Division devoted to defending town’s federal funding.
The candidates launched their plans as they’ve criticized Mayor Adams and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo—the front-runner within the mayoral race—for not responding to Trump.
Adams has mentioned he wouldn’t publicly criticize Trump shortly earlier than the president’s Justice Division moved to drop his federal corruption case. He’s additionally brazenly working with Trump’s administration on its immigration crackdown.
Taking goal at Cuomo, too
In the meantime, a lot of Cuomo’s rivals have charged that he has been too simple on Trump since getting into the race practically a month in the past.
“Andrew Cuomo won’t stand up to Trump because he’s too busy running away from his own record,” Ramos mentioned, referring to Cuomo distancing himself from progressive laws he signed as governor. “He’s already backpedaling on the bills he once signed. If he won’t fight for us, now, why would he fight for us as mayor?”
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.Photograph By Dean Moses
In response, Cuomo marketing campaign spokesperson Esther Jensen attacked Ramos’ fundraising struggles and low ballot numbers whereas portray her as a “far-left activist.” Ramos herself has disputed that she is a part of the far left.
“We understand Senator Ramos is frustrated no one is covering her debt-ridden campaign, and it is bankrupt — morally, financially, and intellectually,” Jensen mentioned, referring to Ramos’ marketing campaign briefly being within the purple following the latest fundraising interval.
“New Yorkers aren’t stupid: they know that Governor Cuomo is the only person in this race with the experience, skills, and proven record to lead this city and take on the Trump administration—in fact, he’s the only person running whoever has,” Jensen added.
