When elephants fight, it is the [New Yorkers] that suffer, [amended African Proverb]
States, counties and cities are facing catastrophic budget shortfalls; unemployment rates not seen since the Great Depression and uncertainty over the re-opening of businesses and schools. Each day as expenditures exceed revenues the deficits widen,
While the state budget was approved on April 1, under his emergency powers the governor can adjust the budget, in other words the budget is malleable; depending on revenues the budget can be adjusted after the July 1st.
A bill, the HEROES Act passed the House, it provides over $1 trillion for a wide range of supports.
Will the HEROES Act pass the Senate? And, if so, how will the Senate change the House bill?
The current House bill would be a life-saver for New York City as well as cities across the state (See proposed $$ to each city here). Speculation is that the final bill will not come before the Senate until late June and will look considerably different than the bill that passed in the House. The final bill has to “satisfy” Senate leader McConnell, the Republicans and the President.
In a normal year the Mayor and the City Council Speaker would be deep in discussions over the final budget. New York City, since the sweeping governance changes in the late eighties, is a “Strong Mayor,” system. The Mayor has wide discretion over the allocation of resources, the Council, aside from approving the CONTINUE READING: When elephants fight, it is the [New Yorkers] that suffer, [amended African Proverb] | Ed In The Apple
