Small Business Alert: Outreach, Education Effort To Support Small Businesses, Help Them Avoid Fines From New IRS Reporting Rules; Expansion Of Paid Internships, Career-Connected Skill Building For High School Students; Appears On Univision Noticias 41; In-Person Media Availability; Axe Tax For Working Class

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Small Business Alert: Outreach, Education Effort To Support Small Businesses, Help Them Avoid Fines From New IRS Reporting Rules; Expansion Of Paid Internships, Career-Connected Skill Building For High School Students; Appears On Univision Noticias 41; In-Person Media Availability; Axe Tax For Working Class

AHEAD OF “SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY” AND HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON, MAYOR ADAMS EXPANDS OUTREACH AND EDUCATION EFFORT TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES, HELP THEM AVOID FEDERAL FINES AND FEES 

  

Businesses Could Face Civil Penalties of More Than $500 Daily for Not Completing Corporate Transparency Act Filing Requirement 

  

City Agencies Have Made Over 320,000 Contacts, Reached 39,000 Businesses, Representing a Potential Savings of Approximately $19.5 Million Per Day for New York City Businesses 

  

Outreach Efforts Come as Adams Administration Celebrates Milestones in Employment, Entrepreneurship Before ‘Small Business Saturday’ 

Editor’s note: Staten Islander News has recently reported on other efforts made the this mayor to help small business owners and working class New Yorkers.  We’ve also previously covered recent announcements by the Mayor about other education initiatives.  

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Dynishal Gross announced efforts to support small businesses in advance of “Small Business Saturday” and the holiday season by educating small businesses ahead of the filing deadline for the federal Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). The federal law requires U.S. corporations and LLCs to disclose ownership information to the U.S. Department of Treasury. Under the new federal guidelines, most businesses will need to file a Beneficial Ownership Information Report about the individuals who own or control them by December 31, 2024, and newly formed businesses must do the same within 90-days of being registered. Eligible businesses and entrepreneurs that fail to comply with the new federal guidelines may be subject to civil penalties of more than $500 for each day that they have not completed the filing requirement by the federal government. The outreach, set against the backdrop of the upcoming holiday shopping season in New York City, is another example of how the Adams administration remains committed to helping small businesses succeed, including through connecting small businesses to over $290 million in grants and loans and nearly $30 million in commercial revitalization for Business Improvement Districts. 

  

“Since day one, our administration has prioritized cutting red tape for small businesses and helped them better navigate regulations at all levels of government, and, as a result, we’ve created more small businesses than at any time in our city’s history,” said Mayor Adams. “Educating small businesses about the Corporate Transparency Act is fundamental to making sure small businesses avoid unnecessary fines and continue to power New York City’s recovery, unhampered. This outreach is a great way to provide substantial support to small businesses in advance of ‘Small Business Saturday’ and a busy holiday season, and has already helped us potentially save 39,000 businesses $19.5 million each day in federal fines.” 

  

“SBS is here to ensure that small businesses across the city can grow, thrive, and reach their full potential,” said SBS Commissioner Gross. “We know that small business owners want to be compliant with the law. Our education and compliance specialists help entrepreneurs across New York City save time and money while avoiding fines, fees, and scams. Beneficial Ownership Information reporting is fast, free, and easy — and so are our informational webinars.”  

  

The city launched a multi-agency campaign — including SBS, New York City Department of Buildings, New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, New York City Department of Finance, New York City Department of Veterans’ Services, New York City Economic Development Corporation, New York City Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit, New York City Mayor’s Office of Contract Services, New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA), New York City Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit (PEU), and the Taxi and Limousine Commission — to deliver resources to small business owners about this federal law and how to comply with its mandates ahead of the December 31, 2024 filing deadline. 

  

Through this multi-agency outreach and education initiative, the city has reached at least 320,000 contacts through email and newsletters and is working with PEU to conduct additional business owner outreach via text message, and have already reached approximately 39,000 businesses. This outreach represents a total potential savings of at least $19.5 million per day in fines under CTA guidelines. 


  

Last week, SBS and MOIA hosted a media roundtable to answer questions from community and ethnic media and provide multilingual CTA compliance resources to the public. The agencies also shared resources with over 600 community partners, 76 business improvement districts, and all chambers of commerce. SBS is raising awareness through social media and is canvassing neighborhoods across all five boroughs of the city, targeting small business owners and entrepreneurs. Additionally, SBS has hosted eight webinars in partnership with The Legal Aid Society and Patterson, Belknap, Webb, and Tyler LLP, which have drawn 1,450 unique attendees, with presentations available in 18 languages. 

  

The city is also educating New Yorkers about how to protect themselves from bad actors preying on small business owners, especially in the city’s immigrant communities. While compliance with the CTA is fast, free, and easy, several third-party actors have been advertising services charging upwards of $1,000 to file Beneficial Ownership Information forms. SBS will continue to host webinars through the end of 2024, including two in conjunction with the United States Department of Treasury. Those interested can register on Eventbrite. 

  

The city’s outreach and education efforts follow the Adams administration’s commitment to putting money back into the pockets of New Yorkers. Recognizing the importance of small businesses to the health and vibrancy of the city’s neighborhoods and commercial corridors, the administration has prioritized cutting red tape, improving public safety, fostering the public realm, and promoting economic development. As a result of the administration’s efforts, New York City reached a record of 183,000 small businesses across the city — the most in its history — with one in five businesses operating in the city having started in the Adams administration. 

  

Since the start of the Adams administration, SBS has helped businesses save millions of dollars in fines and fees through its “NYC Business Express Service Team” and has facilitated the disbursement of more than $290 million in financing through grants and loans. SBS has also overseen the direct investment of more than $35 million in grants to community-based development organizations, merchants’ organizations, and Business Improvement Districts. 

 

As “Small Business Saturday” approaches, the administration is asking all New Yorkers to shop small and shop local, and encourages everyone to take SBS’s “Shop Your City Challenge.” New Yorkers can support small businesses through committing to purchase from neighborhood shops listed on “Shop Your City.” 

  

“Our 220,000 diverse small businesses, half of which are immigrant-owned, make New York City tick,” said New York State Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar. “They are there 24/7 offering what we need when we need it, and we are committed to making sure they have every spare dollar to operate. With ‘Small Business Saturday’ upon us, we are supercharging our small businesses by educating them on new federal ownership disclosure rules. We will save owners from fines that can exceed $500 per day, giving them more money to invest back into their businesses and create jobs. Together, we will do everything we can to uplift our small businesses and the communities they serve.” 

MAYOR ADAMS, CHANCELLOR AVILES-RAMOS ANNOUNCE EXPANSION OF PAID INTERNSHIPS AND CAREER-CONNECTED SKILL BUILDING FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS 

FutureReadyNYC, Adams Administration’s Signature Mentorship-Career Program, Expanding to Now Reach 15,000 Students 

New ‘Pathways’ in HVAC and Decarbonization and Human and Social Services Added to Established Offerings in Technology, Health Care, Education, Business, and Finance 

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos  announced the expansion of FutureReadyNYC, the Adams administration’s signature initiative that sets students on a path to economic security through career-connected mentorships. The expansion brings the program to 36 additional schools, for a total of 135 schools served, and introduces two new career pathways in the professions of heating ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) and decarbonization, as well as human and social services. These new sector pathways will give students the opportunity to explore 21st century careers through industry-aligned coursework and work-based learning while expanding these vital opportunities to more students.

“Education must prepare our young people for the 21st century economy by helping them learn the skills they need to succeed,” said Mayor Adams. “That is why we launched FutureReadyNYC in 2022, our signature program that connects students to rigorous, tailored coursework, real job credentials, paid work-based learning, and puts them on a pathway to good-paying careers. Today’s announcement expands this opportunity by adding even more pathways, such as HVAC and decarbonization, as well as human and social services. It also increases access to a total of 135 schools across the city, allowing us to reach 15,000 students who will now have a chance to get experience in these critical fields. This is part of our administration’s continued commitment to developing talent, and we thank our school and external partners for helping us achieve this mission.”

“Through the expansion of FutureReadyNYC, we are taking bold steps to ensure that every student in New York City has access to the skills, experiences, and mentorship they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving workforce,” said Public Schools Chancellor Aviles-Ramos. “By introducing pathways in HVAC and decarbonization and human and social services, we’re not just preparing our students for jobs, we’re empowering them to lead in the industries that will define the future of our city. Together, with Mayor Adams and our incredible partners, we are building a brighter, more equitable future for all New Yorkers.”

“CUNY is pleased to partner with Mayor Adams, Chancellor Aviles-Ramos, and the city’s business and nonprofit leaders and ensure that talented New Yorkers from diverse backgrounds are prepared to travel newly opening pathways to prosperous careers,” said The City University of New York (CUNY) Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. “The sustained expansion of FutureReadyNYC is helping New York City build an economy that is truly inclusive and providing more opportunities for New Yorkers to thrive.” 

“FutureReadyNYC surpasses all past efforts to engage the city’s employers in programs that prepare public school students for great careers,” said Kathryn Wylde, president and CEO, Partnership for New York City. “Its programs are helping to ensure that students are exposed to the infinite range of jobs with good wages and benefits that are open to them in the city and beyond.”

Launched alongside anchor partners, CUNY, State University of New York, Northwell Health, and Google in 2023, FutureReadyNYC offers high school students real world experiences, including career connected instruction, early college credit and credentials, advising, financial literacy, and work-based learning, including at least one paid experience before students graduate. This expansion is made possible by Mayor Adams’ investment of $53 million in programs to support career-readiness through the Fiscal Year 2025 budget, which includes more than $30 million in direct investments in schools, representing one of the largest commitments ever made by the city in preparing students for strong careers.

Thew newly available HVAC and decarbonization pathway will create a diverse pipeline of talent that will bolster New York City’s larger effort to be a global leader in climate action and sustainability as the city expects to host 230,000 “green-economy jobs” by 2030. The course sequences under the HVAC and decarbonization Pathway include construction safety, electrical and mechanical applications, installation and maintenance, and building decarbonization. Acting on Public Schools Chancellor Aviles-Ramos’ commitment to promoting a culture of wellness, the human and social services pathway will include courses in human growth and development, counseling and mental health, and advanced placement psychology.

This announcement marks the latest effort by the Adams administration to reimagine the student experience by facilitating career-connected learning. Under Mayor Adams’ leadership, the city has made historic investments towards young people’s career success. In 2023, Mayor Adams announced a $600 million young adult action plan, “Pathways to an Inclusive Economy: An action Plan for Young Adult Career Success,” which has a specific focus on addressing decades of employment disparities with strategies to create programs that embed career readiness, work-based learning, and apprenticeships in their design. The Adams administration has also expanded both Summer Youth Employment and Summer Rising programs to reach a record number of over 100,000 young people, and through the Career Readiness and Modern Youth Apprenticeship program with New York City Jobs Council and CareerWise New York, the city has placed over 500 New York City Public School students in apprenticeships. In Fiscal Year 2024, the city also funded over 11,000 internships or apprenticeships for high school students during the academic year, both through New York City Public Schools and the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development’s Work, Learn and Grow program.

 

Additionally, to better serve students in foster care, Mayor Adams and the New York City Administration for Children’s Services created College Choice, a program to provide college students in foster care with greater support systems, including financial support, so they can attend the college of their dreams without having to worry about the hefty price tag.

 

Finally, recently, Mayor Adams announced a $12 million expansion of the CUNY Inclusive Economy Initiative, a successful program to create college-to-career pipelines for CUNY students. The city also funded over 2,000 college students through CUNY Career LaunchCultural Corps, and internships within the city. 

“In a city where 12 percent of young adults are neither in school nor employed, we must open the door to economic opportunity, especially for our Black and Hispanic students,” said New York State Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar. “Our groundbreaking FutureReadyNYC program provides students with valuable vocational education and mentorship, setting them on the path to meaningful careers. Today we build upon the success, expanding the career offerings to include HVAC and Decarbonization, and Human and Social Services. We are also adding 15,000 more seats and 35 more schools to the program. Through our work, we will ensure all 287,000 high school students graduate ready to excel in their chosen fields.”

 

TRANSCRIPT: MAYOR ADAMS, CHANCELLOR AVILES-RAMOS ANNOUNCE EXPANSION OF PAID INTERNSHIPS AND CAREER-CONNECTED SKILL BUILDING FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Melanie Mac, Interim Chief, Student Pathways, New York City Public Schools: Alright. Welcome, everybody. Good morning. I am Melanie Mac, and I am the interim chief of Student Pathways at New York City Public Schools. And it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to celebrate the progress of Future Ready NYC. That’s right. Thank you. 

Through Future Ready, we’re transforming the way New York City Public Schools prepares all students for college, career, and choice-filled lives. Thank you to Mayor Adams. Thank you to Chancellor Aviles-Ramos, Principal Harrison, city agencies, employer and higher ed partners, our partners at CSA and UFT, philanthropy, and most especially educators and students for making this  change possible. Together, we are part of a career-connected learning movement, and we’re excited to hear from everybody here today. I’m thrilled to introduce Mayor Eric Adams, who first led this vision to reimagine the education experience and give students a path toward economic security and bold futures. Thank you so much, Mayor Adams, and welcome.

Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you. Such a significant introduction to our educational system, started under the previous chancellor and now being continued under this current chancellor and the entire team. I was an auto mechanic, Bristol Motors. Worked on Porsches and Volkswagens. And little did I know the training I received as a manual mechanic allowed me to assist in paying my college tuition and assisting our family. But I had a skill. No matter what happened in the economy, no matter what was there for unemployment, I was always able to go out and do my own hustle. 

I would bring my bag of tools and meet people on Merrick Boulevard and change their batteries, dealt with their alternators, was insured to do oil changes, and it all added up. I was able to sustain myself, and there was a level of comfort of knowing, as I went through school to obtain my associate’s degree in computers and then my bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, and then my master’s in public administration, no matter what happened, I knew I would never starve because I had more bills. 

I would move to become the mayor because I had the skill and I did not have to do something that was improper or illegal as I moved throughout the system. That’s what we’re giving these young people here. It doesn’t say you can’t go to college. You can. But it is better to leave college that you paid off on your own than having hundreds of thousands in student loans because you had the skill of being an HVAC worker. And while you’re walking through the hallways, you can hand out your card and get the contracts from the school that you’re in. So there are great possibilities that what we are doing. 

These young men who are standing behind me, they have a great opportunity to use those skills. Mr. President, why don’t you come up and join us up here? The CSA president, it’s good to have you as being a part of this. And this is a great school. It has a rich legacy. And this is one of many of the schools that we are putting in place this project. 

A 21st century economy is going to need a 21st century workforce. And that’s why we launched Future Ready New York City in 2022, a signature career-connected learning program that connects a student to rigorous, tailored coursework, real job credentials, paid work-based learning, and puts them on a pathway to good-paying middle-class jobs. 

Today, we are expanding Future Ready NYC and bringing it to 36 schools, additional schools. Future Ready NYC will now serve 135 schools. Being able to leave school with a skill, and you can be employed because you are already getting that basic experience while you’re in school, this is just an amazing achievement. There’s a gap for far too many, particularly communities like Brownsville, Bedford, Stuyvesant, South Jamaica, South Bronx, etc., where there’s not an automatic transition into college. Many of our family members from communities such as this, they’re the first to attend college. And there are gap years. Those gap years, they’re trying to decide exactly what they want to do. 

I had gap years, plural, throughout my time. My mother never went to college. No one in my family attended college. I was the first one to graduate from college. There was no predestiny that college was on my pathway. And now these young people are going to be able to look foward to that and be employable while they’re doing it. And so we want to connect young people, young New Yorkers, to apprenticeships and job opportunities. 

We’re reaching our goal on a number of apprenticeships that we want to have because we know how important it is to get in the work environment to learn the skills that you need. Careers can build jobs, build communities, and it builds the future. And careers that help young people learn new skills and they earn more money. As I stated, these are middle-class working jobs. 

So through Future Ready NYC, we’re building a pipeline to employment, a pipeline to jobs. A pipeline to possibilities. And so today, I’m proud to announce that we are adding two new career pathways for our students in HVAC and decarbonization, as well as human and social services. Everyone is talking about the decarbonizing that’s taking place globally. A young person that learns how to be part of that career, they could do it anywhere on the globe. If you can install HVAC in Manhattan, you can do it in Manchester. You can do it anywhere globally. 

This is freeing our young people to be employable across the entire globe. And the human services pathway will include courses in human growth and development, counseling, and mental health. We’re seeing the mental health crisis that we’re facing. A young person can engage and interact with another young person to really deal with the mental health crisis that we’re facing, and we want to prepare them for that and also in Advanced Placement psychology. 

Future Ready NYC is a win for our young people. It’s a win for our city and a win for our economy. And today’s announcement is part of this administration’s continued commitment to give our young people all the tools that they need. And we really want to thank the chancellor for not only her role while in the DOE, but understanding how imperative it is to move this initiative forward in the right direction. And we’re going to make it happen. And I want to thank the young people who are involved in this. Thank you so much.

Mac: Thank you so much. I’d like to welcome Chancellor Aviles-Ramos to the stage. We’re already on the stage. Chancellor, we’re grateful for your leadership, as Mayor Adams shared, to put this vision into action and deepen engagement with students and families in this important work. Thank you, chancellor.

Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos: Good morning y buenos dias. I want to thank our Interim Chief Melanie Mac for the introduction, and of course, thank you always to Mayor Adams for his leadership and his vision behind many things. But right now, we’re discussing the great vision for the work of Pathways. A special thank you also to Principal Harrison for always welcoming us into this great space and for believing in the power of career-connected learning. 

It brings me so much pride to be here with all of you today at Boys and Girls High School for such a monumental announcement. Building a better future for our young people through meaningful career preparedness is a major priority for this administration. And today, we proudly continue on this journey with the help of some key partners in the room. 

The work of Future Ready New York City is a major mayoral initiative and is designed to expose our students to myriad career opportunities and lead them to long-term economic security. This past year alone, we put over $8.2 million into the hands of our high school students through our work-based learning opportunities. That’s $8.2 million into the hands of 10,000 high school students before they even leave high school. That was done through our work-based learning opportunities, which range from internships, to modern youth apprenticeships in the private sector and city agencies. 

This is a true testament to the difference career-connected learning is already making in the lives of our students, putting them on a trajectory that will not only impact them but their entire families as the mayor described. And this is really, really meaningful to people like the mayor and me given our backgrounds being first generation college students ourselves. 

We are creating generational wealth and well-being when we give our young people the tools that they need to succeed in their post secondary endeavors. And through Future Ready, we have grown to providing 15,000 students across 135 schools with early access to high growth, high wage careers through rigorous coursework, job certifications, on the job experience, early college credit and one on one advising to create strong post secondary plans. 

We also are proud to announce the two new pathways, heating ventilation and cooling and decarbonization, as well as human and social services. This is the Future Ready way. Bringing together the very best of career-connected learning to empower our students to find the careers that they love. This expansion is groundbreaking. And there’s so much to be proud of, but of course, there’s so much more work to be done. 

Y ahora, en español, por favor. 

Nuestros estudiantes merecen un futuro lleno de posibilidades y oportunidades. Por eso me llena de entusiasmo estar aquí hoy para hablar de la aplicación de la iniciativa Future Ready. 

Este último año, invertimos más de ocho millones de dólares en nuestros estudiantes a través de pasantías y otros tipos de oportunidades laborales, tanto en el sector privado como en agencias en la ciudad. Estamos ampliando el programa para agregar 36 escuelas más y dos nuevos programas, sistema de HVAC y descarbonización―esa palabrita está fuerte―, y servicios humanos y sociales.

Translation: And now, in Spanish, please. 

Our students deserve a future full of possibilities and opportunities. That’s why I’m excited to be here today to talk about the implementation of the Future Ready initiative. 

This past year, we invested more than eight million dollars in our students through internships and other types of work opportunities, both in the private sector and in agencies in the city. We are expanding the program to add 36 more schools and two new programs, HVAC and decarbonization – that little word is strong. And human and social services.

As I close, I want to thank the ecosystem of partners coming together to drive this transformation, employers, CBOs, philanthropy, higher education, including our phenomenal partners at CUNY. CUNY has played an integral role in the development of this program, and we’re so grateful to them. 

Again, I want to thank Melanie Mac, our interim chief and the entire Student Pathways team, and I can’t wait for you to hear from Catherine, our proud student who’s going to tell you more about the amazing work that they’re doing. Thank you so much y mil gracias.

Mac: Thank you, and shout out to the chancellor for talking about decarbonization in all languages. We commend Principal Harrison for her steadfast commitment to career-connected learning. In partnership with Superintendent Ross, she has activated the promise of Future Ready NYC on the strong history of career and technical education here at Boys and Girls High School. We are inspired by her success. Welcome Principal Harrison. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much.

Grecian Harrison, Principal, Boys and Girls High School: Good morning. We are truly excited to be one of the partner schools with Future Ready. The implementation of the Future Ready HVAC program at Boys and Girls High School provides a rare opportunity for students to learn about the intrinsic operations of the system and give them a jumpstart on a lucrative career in heating, cooling, ventilation, and refrigeration. 

This is a high demand industry and our scholars are learning about energy efficient systems and the integral ways that this knowledge can open doors for them. Additionally, the implementation of this program will create job opportunities for New York City Public School students in a growing field that can also lead to connections in other trade areas and enhance their skills in design, installation, maintenance, and repair. As we continue to prepare scholars for the 21st century workforce, I know that this program will inevitably help students to understand the importance of using critical thinking skills when collaborating with their peers to troubleshoot issues while working with HVAC systems. 

When students are able to articulate their learning, it can also empower them to expand their knowledge in the field and promote sustainability, practices that will ultimately create a greener community. This has been the vision for this initiative and this is to help integrate real-world skills and experience into the classroom while giving students a head start on their college and career pathways. I would like to thank Mayor Adams and Chancellor Aviles-Ramos for their support in providing the blueprint for this innovative work in New York City Public Schools. 

Chancellor Aviles-Ramos has been forthcoming about her desire for students throughout the city to have access, to not only have choice in various programs within community schools, but ensure that we are preparing them for life after high school. Thank you both for your commitment to student success and investing in their future.

Mac: Okay, the part we’ve all been waiting for. I’m delighted to introduce Katheryn Chavelo Mosso, a sophomore here at Boys and Girls High School. Students like Catherine are the reason we are here today. We are excited to build pathways to inspiring careers for students just like Catherine. Welcome, Catherine.

Katheryn Chavelo Mosso: As introduced, my name is Katheryn Mosso, and I am a fellow sophomore here at Boys and Girls, and I’m in the architectural drawing CTE program. I’m grateful to be part of this program with Ms. Beckford, as my architecture teacher, and introduced by my friend Ya-Niyah, who sadly couldn’t make it. I’ve always wanted an education that prepares me for a successful future with good jobs. What I love about this program is how it connects what I’m learning to real-world opportunities. 

A few weeks ago, we had a really fun workshop with our industry partner, Passive House for Everyone, where we built miniature Passive House exterior walls, models to learn about energy-efficient building designs. This hands-on activity helped me understand how sustainable building works to contribute positively to climate action. This experience was not only fun, it also showed me how these skills can help me to get a green sector job one day while also helping our planet, and thus all our communities. 

Learning about sustainable architecture here at Boys and Girls prepares me for a future where I can make a difference for myself and for everyone. And I’m so excited to keep growing this program, and I hope more students will have this opportunity.

Mac: Thank you, Catherine, and thank you all again for being here today. We are so proud of what we’ve accomplished through Future Ready NYC. We’re in a new era of career-connected learning in New York City Public Schools that is going to require the continued partnership of all the wonderful people here today and supporting this program. Together, we are creating more equitable pathways to high-wage, high-growth careers for all of our students in New York City. Thank you so much.

Mayor Adams: We’ve got the president here. Why don’t you say a few comments on this program, President?

Henry Rubio, President, Council of School Supervisors: Can’t say no to the mayor. I wasn’t expecting to say a few words, but just really authentically from my heart, thanks to the mayor, not only for this program that’s bringing real resources to real children and phenomenal real school leaders like Principal Harrison. Let’s give them all a round of applause. You’re the real chancellor. 

The chancellor and I are both high school principals, in fact. And so I’ve got to commend, mayor, the team that you have here, that you started with Jade and now Melanie. We’re colleagues. We’ve been friends for a long time. 

And this has been a real partnership the entire time with the Council for School Administrators and school leaders in taking these ideas and making them real, hearing the voice of principals, the resources that we need. And I’m telling you, this is a program that’s game-changing, what’s happening with students. And this is only one of so many students across the city, as I visit programs like this, that are changing their lives, putting smiles on their faces like you see here today, and really connecting them to real careers. And showing the meaning between what’s happening in the classroom and how this is going to impact their life in the future. 

And so on behalf of our 6,500 members, thank you for doing this. This is 135 out of about 540 schools, so we have more work to do. That’s my pitch for more resources. Because we really believe this is working. Not only, I think this is a real signature program. And I want to take just the opportunity to thank both the chancellor and mayor for holding our schools harmless this school year. We understand, right, the impact that has in maintaining stability in the system. And we understand that over time, we’re going to have to right-size our schools and our budgets. But right now, the most important thing we need to do is keep our schools stable and safe and providing the resources our kids need. 

This is not going into our pockets. This is going to the hearts and souls of our children and their future. So, Mr. Mayor, thank you again for taking the lead on that. And congratulations.

Mayor Adams: Thank you. I really want to thank Abigail for, you know, your continuous work in this area as well. Employment. Jobs, jobs, jobs. Why don’t we have a few on-topic questions?

Question: Yes, I have one for Catherine and one for the mayor. Don’t be nervous. 

When I was in school, which was like 50 million years ago, students just assumed they would have a job when they were done. I was just wondering, do you and your friends talk about that you’re worried that when you’re done with high school, there isn’t much out there? Or what does it mean to you to have some kind of an apprenticeship program in terms of what your future is like?

Chavelo Mosso: I feel like this program allows me to like know how the jobs out there really is. Learning how to do the green building wall helps me understand how houses can be built differently to save energy and to recover heat. 

Question: Mayor, your auto mechanic repair skills, which you now add to your LinkedIn page is yet another job we didn’t know about.

Mayor Adams: Many jobs.

Question: Did you retain any of that? I’m just wondering, like, when you’re riding around with your detail, like, are you ever telling them, pop the hood, walk me through what you retained?

Mayor Adams: No, first of all, those are both great questions. You know, our young people are really afraid when they finish their formal education. It’s almost like a cliff. Once they graduate, you know, the system basically says, okay, we’re done with you, you know, figure it out on your own. 

And to many families outside these communities that I grew up in, there’s already a pathway. They know what college they’re going into. They’re already saved for college. They know the professors on the school. But that is not the norm for communities like the one I grew up in. You know, my mother had no idea what was the whole process of going to college. And so by doing this, we are taking some of that fear out. We can’t take all of it out, but we are alleviating a lot of that fear because now they’re going to have the skill. 

And now, to answer the question about being the foundation of a mechanic, it has helped me a lot throughout my life, you know. I never in my life bought a new car, so my cars broke down all the time. And I was able to repair them. But not only was I able to repair my personal vehicles, my family members had a problem. And so the holistic approach to all that you’ve acquired in life helps you on the journey. And I think that’s the key to the journey of life. And, you know, many of those jobs that people look down on, they play the role on me getting to the journey that I am now. Having your hands dirty is not a bad occupation.

Question: What’s your signature move? The oil change?

Mayor Adams: Timing chain. Many people don’t know about these timing chains, but it’s a– knowing that skill is a profitable skill because you have to remove almost the entire front of an engine. And I was able to do it well. I was able to do it fast. I was pretty good at doing it.

Question: Mayor, I can tell you with the HVAC stuff, as someone who contracted it recently, it pays and it’s hard to find people to do it right. So I hear you. 

On this week more broadly, you announced that this was the kickoff to Affordability Week in your press announcement. Why start with this initiative? Why is this one so important? Why is it batting leadoff? And how indirect response was this to what voters essentially said three weeks ago?

Mayor Adams: Affordability. Affordability. Affordability. What we’ve done in this administration in two years and 11 months, 30 percent decrease in unemployment, and particularly in black and brown communities, doing our job fairs. When we go out there and we do our job fairs in the communities, we’re hearing from people about, you know, what is impacting their affordability going from job to job, not having health care, not having a pension, not having that stability. 

And we know that we have to start the process of getting these young people on the pathway to being employed so they could afford to purchase a home, they could afford to be able to raise their children and families. So we wanted to start here in the schools with our amazing principals and state that if we could allow people to be gainfully employed, they could deal with the affordability issue. 

It is expensive to live in the city. When you have a good paying job, it can put you on that pathway to the affordability issue. So we wanted to start here. This is what we hear the most. Affordability, being able to live in New York. And that’s why we wanted to start with these young people so they know they have an opportunity in the city.

Question: And more broadly, my second part of the question, I know it got muddied a little bit by me, admittedly. Was this kind of conceived in the aftermath of the election, sort of making sure we’re focusing here?

Mayor Adams: Yep, that’s what we heard. We heard it over and over again. You know, we sat down, and we analyzed the results of the election. What were people asking for? What was important to them? And this is one of the items. There were other items that are important to them. This was one of them, being prepared for the future. 

These, you know, when you speak, I think Andrew’s question was significant. When I speak to these young people in college, or what have you, they’re concerned about their future. They just don’t see that they are future ready. And that’s why we have this Future Ready. 

And you’re hearing from young people, young people across the entire country, of what is the future going to hold? And is my future going to be hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loans, debt, inability to hold down a job? Is artificial intelligence going to change, you know, our ability to be employed? And this is what we heard come out of the election. Affordability is one of the top issues, as well as, you know, some of the others. But affordability, and this is a way to be, to make people be able to live in the city that they love. Cities.

Question: Mayor, can you tell us, or maybe this is better for the chancellor, I guess, is this, are these new programs starting this year? Do they start next year? What’s like the, have they been popular, these new categories so far? 

Chancellor Aviles-Ramos: Sorry. Jill, I’m actually going to pass it over to our interim chief, so that way she can do more of the content-based questions.

Mac: Thanks for the question. The 36 new schools that have started this year and the two new pathways, they are up and running, although we’re doing a lot of learning in the HVAC decarbonization pathway in particular. And so there’s schools across all five boroughs that have students like Catherine who are starting their Future Ready journey.

Question: And then maybe just for the chancellor, because this is a little bit more broad, but new enrollment numbers came out, I think, last week, largely steady, slightly down. I’m wondering if you see pathways as sort of a way to entice families to keep their children in New York City public schools at the high school level rather than potentially transferring out somewhere private.

Chancellor Aviles-Ramos: 100 percent. And, you know, when I hear the mayor speak about his experience with something practical that really shapes his journey, I think about how I graduated from Fordham with a focus on medieval studies, which is promising because you too can be a chancellor if you major in medieval studies, but that is not typically the case. 

And when I graduated from high school, I said, now what? And I found a job on Wall Street and only because the hiring manager also graduated from Fordham and had an affinity for medieval studies, and she gave me a break. But had I not had the network of my university, I really don’t know where I would have landed. I truly didn’t know what to do with that. And luckily I saw the advertisements for New York City Teaching Fellows and said, you know what, I want to be a teacher. 

But when I was coming up, it was teacher, lawyer, doctor, journalist, you didn’t think about all the other careers that were available to you. And so Future Ready really provides our students an opportunity to learn all these different skills that are aligned with their interests and then say to themselves, hey, I can build my economic stability now as a young person while I decide to go to college or just stay in this phenomenal career that’s giving me an opportunity to do better for my family. 

So when I think of my own personal experience and what drove my mother towards Catholic school, I think about these amazing, innovative programs that are really making New York City public schools not a decent option, not a good option, but a great option.

Rubio: I want to jump in because I think— I’ve got to give you guys more credit than the public understands. Our children are leaving the system and graduating with an industry certification, right? So there’s certainty about what they’re going to get paid. And some of these students are going into high, you know, well-paying union jobs as well. So that brings a lot of level of stability to their future and their income. 

And so they know whether it’s food or finance or HVAC or all of these programs lead to a career that they can start immediately after they graduate or work and go to school, do something else. So again, we commend you guys for that. Thank you.

Mayor Adams: And we, you know, we historically, particularly in black and brown communities, we look down on these jobs. And if you weren’t college-bound, you all of a sudden are considered to be a failure, and it’s wrong. 

You know, I knew I was in the wrong occupation when my plumber drove off in a Porsche, you know. You know, as you stated, you needed an HVAC person, an electrician, a carpenter, being able to build a passive house and design a passive house. We need to change our mindset. Having your hands dirty, doing a blue-collar job is a pathway into the middle class, and it’s a sustainable place. Good-paying, union-skilled jobs. 

And then if you want to go back to college, it took me 14, 15 years before I got my master’s, but I was able to go back. I graduated without any student loan at all because I was able to have a skill that paid that tuition. And we just need to change our thoughts, and that’s what this chancellor is doing, that having a good-paying, skilled job is a pathway into the middle class and beyond. You can start your own business and own a chain of HVAC companies. So that’s what we need to give our young people, the skill for the future.

Question: Hi, Mr. Mayor. How are you?

Mayor Adams: Quite well. How are you doing?

Question: Thank you. So I just had a question for you, and maybe the chancellor after this. You mentioned that the apprenticeship helped you get your hands dirty but your life clean. Was there, like, a linchpin that led you into the apprenticeship? Was there, like, what was your life looking like prior to that?

Mayor Adams: Yeah, I–

Question: Sorry, the second question. I don’t know whether it’s you or the chancellor, but could you explain how the 30 million is distributed among the 135 schools?

Mayor Adams: I did co-op. I don’t know if they still have co-ops now. I worked– They do? Okay. 

You know, I worked a week and I went to school a week. And it really— coming from South Jamaica, Queens, going to Pete Malkin Mitchell on Lexington Avenue, I was there the other day in the same stock room that I worked and talked to some of the young people there. But it introduced me to people. It took me out of the fishbowl of South Jamaica, Queens, and told me that there was a whole world out there. 

And it helped me embrace the anti-Christopher Columbus theory that if I left my block, I won’t fall off the globe. There was a lot to explore. And the lack of exposure is hurting young people in the city. They grow up in one square mile, they go to school in one square mile, they play in one square mile. What this administration has been attempting to do is to have them lean into their discomfort and get outside that one square mile and realize there’s an entire universe out there that’s waiting for them. 

And I think we take it for granted. You know, Jordan never had to worry about one square mile because his dad broke free of that one square mile. But you would be surprised how many family members have generations in one square mile. They know nothing about a museum, nothing about a Central Park, nothing about a Wall Street, and we have to break free of that. 

So our education is not only making them academically smart, we need to make them emotionally intelligent and unafraid to explore this entire city and this entire globe. And prior to that co-op experience, I was stuck into that one square mile. You said you wanted to ask the chancellor something?

Question: Oh, yeah, and just how is the 30 million distributed among the schools?

Mac: Well, I can add on a little bit about the apprenticeships. I think that what is exciting about the 527 apprentices that we’ve placed so far and another 350 next year is we wanted to do two things as New York City Public Schools. 

We wanted to first establish that youth apprenticeship is a viable pathway and plan for our young people starting in high school. And our apprentices are in tech, healthcare, business, gaining real experience and momentum as the mayor and the chancellor both spoke to. 

But the other thing that’s really important about the apprenticeship work is expanding a universal career readiness within the schools where apprentices are placed. So every 9th and 10th grader having explicit career readiness coursework to really think about high school as that launch pad and to think about the exploration and awareness that helps spark students’ personal decisions on their path. So that was just on the apprenticeship. 

And in terms of the $30 million that goes to schools, so that’s disseminated across our 135 high schools like this school that we’re in today. And it’s supporting schools in implementing what’s really transformational. How is internship and apprenticeship and other sorts of work-based learning offered at the school, in conjunction with all of the really important foundations that are part of working towards a high school diploma? 

How are teachers who go to high school able to offer relevant, authentic instruction in HVAC and decarbonization or in a healthcare or tech pathway? Bringing those experts into the school building and directly to students like the one you heard from today.

Question: Is it disseminated equally or is there like a certain criteria for schools to get more funding or not?

Mac: So it’s disseminated based on the number of students who are enrolling in the pathways in these schools.

Mayor Adams: Yes, yes and I know you got a lot of questions from Biden pardons to all sorts of things, but I’ll see you tomorrow.

TRANSCRIPT FROM MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2024: MAYOR ADAMS APPEARS ON UNIVISION’S “NOTICIAS UNIVISION 41”

 

Victor Javier Solano: Hablemos ahora un poco de política, porque el alcalde Adams conversa uno a uno con Noticias Univision 41 y nos responde sobre temas vitales para nuestra comunidad, como es el futuro de los inmigrantes en su administración.

 

Translation: Let’s talk a little about politics now, because Mayor Adams spoke one-on-one with Noticias Univision 41 and answered us about vital issues for our community, such as the future of immigrants in his administration.

 

Esperanza Ceballos: Así es, Víctor, y nuestra compañera Mariela Salgado lo entrevistó, en esta entrevista que también hablaron sobre su relación con el presidente electo Donald Trump y un posible perdón presidencial. Veamos qué le dijo.

 

Translation: That’s right, Victor, and our colleague Mariela Salgado interviewed him, in this interview they also talked about his relationship with President-elect Donald Trump and a possible presidential pardon. Let’s see what he told her.

 

Mayor Eric Adams: How are you?

 

Mariela Salgado: So nice to see you Mr. Alcade.

 

Enfocado más que nunca, el alcalde Eric Adams, uno de los hombres más discutidos en titulares, conversó con Noticias Univision 41 sobre el futuro de la ciudad y el suyo, en un ambiente sereno, lejos del caos que ha vivido su administración. 

 

Translation: More focused than ever, Mayor Eric Adams, one of the most talked-about men in headlines, spoke with Noticias Univision 41 about the future of the city and his own, in a serene atmosphere, far from the chaos that his administration has experienced.

 

Mayor Adams: No American should have to go through this.

 

Salgado: Lo primero que quiero decir es que ni un americano merece pasar por lo que he vivido, experimentar el peso que siento, nos dijo Eric Adams, refiriéndose a los cargos por corrupción y soborno de campaña que enfrentan una batalla legal.

 

Translation: The first thing I want to say is that no American deserves to go through what I’ve been through, to experience the weight that I feel, Eric Adams told us, referring to the corruption and campaign bribery charges that are facing a legal battle.

 

Mayor Adams: The aggressiveness, the leaks of information.

 

Salgado: La agresividad, la información filtrada para dañar mi habilidad de tener justicia. Pero tengo fe en mis abogados y voy a seguir adelante.

 

Translation: The aggression, the information leaked to harm my ability to get justice. But I have faith in my lawyers and I will move forward.

 

Mayor Adams: And we’re going to keep moving forward.

 

Salgado: Y lo hará con su nueva administración, nuevas caras que reemplazan a los que se han ido en medio de la investigación federal, apostando al nuevo gobierno del presidente Donald Trump, con quien Adams nos admite tiene una buena química. 

 

Translation: And he will do so with his new administration, new faces replacing those who have left amid the federal investigation, betting on the new government of President Donald Trump, with whom Adams admits he has good chemistry.

 

Mayor Adams: –went through, you see some similarities.

 

Salgado: Lo que él pasó, las similitudes con lo que yo estoy viviendo. No podemos usar el sistema de justicia federal como una manera de negar a votantes el derecho a votar por quien ellos crean que deban liderarlos. 

 

Translation: What he went through, the similarities to what I’m going through. We cannot use the federal justice system as a way to deny voters the right to vote for whoever they think should lead them.

 

Mayor Adams: My job is to not be warring with the president.

 

Salgado: Y he sido bien claro, mi trabajo no es preocuparme por el presidente, sino trabajar con el presidente, para beneficio de neoyorquinos, una Nueva York con estatus de ciudad santuario, que ha gastado más de 5 mil millones en los dos últimos años por la crisis migratoria. 

 

Translation: And I’ve been very clear, my job is not to worry about the president, but to work with the president, for the benefit of New Yorkers, a New York with sanctuary city status, which has spent more than 5 billion in the last two years due to the immigration crisis.

 

Salgado: ¿Cómo se ve una administración de Adams, que es una ciudad santuario, con una administración como la de Donald Trump, que promete estas deportaciones masivas? 

 

Translation: What does an Adams administration, which is a sanctuary city, look like with an administration like Donald Trump’s, which is promising these mass deportations?

 

Mayor Adams: When I’m moving around the immigrant community, in general–

 

Salgado: Cuando ando por comunidades migrantes, especialmente la hispana, indocumentados, otros soñadores, han sido claros. Este es un país para inmigrantes que están dispuestos a trabajar en lo que sea.

 

Translation: When I walk through immigrant communities, especially Hispanic ones, undocumented people, other dreamers, they have been clear. This is a country for immigrants who are willing to work in whatever they can.

 

Mayor Adams: They did not want anything free.

 

Salgado: No pidieron, no tuvieron nada gratis, solo querían tener el derecho de estar en América. 

 

Translation: They didn’t ask for anything, they didn’t get anything for free, they just wanted the right to be in America.

 

Salgado: Entonces, cuando se trata de criminales, ¿la administración suya va a colaborar con ICE?

 

Translation: So when it comes to criminals, is your administration going to collaborate with ICE?

 

Mayor Adams: Yes, and there are some very dangerous individuals.

 

Salgado: Sí, hay algunos individuos bien peligrosos, son grupos pequeños, no la mayoría de los inmigrantes. 

 

Translation: Yes, there are some very dangerous individuals, they are small groups, not the majority of immigrants.

 

Salgado: ¿Podría el presidente Trump perdonarlo a usted? ¿Piensa en eso a veces, señor alcalde? Y dice, ¿quizás el presidente me puede perdonar? 

 

Could President Trump pardon you? Do you think about that sometimes, Mr. Mayor? And you say, maybe the president can pardon me?

 

Mayor Adams: Well think about it for a moment.

 

Salgado:Bueno, piense por un momento. En este hermoso país que llamamos América, hay varios caminos hacia la justicia. Cuando se cierra uno, se abre otro. Y vamos a buscar cualquier forma de justicia. Desde la alcaldía, en la ciudad de Nueva York, Mariela Salgado, Noticias Univisión 41.

 

Translation: Well, think for a moment. In this beautiful country we call America, there are several paths to justice. When one closes, another opens. And we are going to seek any form of justice. From the mayor’s office in New York City, Mariela Salgado, Univision News 41.

 

TRANSCRIPT: MAYOR ADAMS HOLDS IN-PERSON MEDIA AVAILABILITY

Mayor Eric Adams: Good morning, or good afternoon. You know, [inaudible]. It’s great to be over at the museum. It’s the new museum dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community. That’s why we had to change the time to later. They had a ceremony to the new wing. We allocated $10 million to that new wing. And hats off to the former mayor, Bill de Blasio, the continuation of his vision. And we wanted to make sure that vision was actualized. 

As always, we like to start off our off topics talking about public safety, the prerequisite to our prosperity. And we were happy to have a safe Thanksgiving Day weekend. As I stated to the grinches that attempted to stop the parade, we will immediately move them off of the parade route and the parade was allowed to continue. Even with the inclement weather, people lined the roadways to see and celebrate Thanksgiving. 

To kick off our Christmas shopping season, Black Friday on Friday was extremely successful. And the amount of revenue that is generated from the parade and people stay around the shop, it really helps our city as we continue to move in a correct area for financial stability. 

And you hear me say over and over again that New York must be safe and feel safe. And that is why it’s imperative as we continue to keep crime down. Crime is down this year as we move into the final month of the year. I was on the phone today with the team finding out how we’re looking and we continue to move in the right direction. 

Crime was down in November citywide by over five percent. And last month specifically, we saw reductions in homicides, robberies, burglaries, grand larceny, stolen vehicles and shootings down year to date as well. And transit crime continues to move in the same direction, 15.8 percent in November decrease. And we have the safest subways and 14 years. 

These latest achievements build on our committed commitment to success and really hats off to NYPD, FDNY, emergency management, sanitation, the Department of Transportation, citywide events and more for the outstanding work for ensuring that another major event in the city went off without any major incidents. 

And New Yorkers can rest assured that we’re going into the holiday season. Be careful of those who like to pickpocket, particularly in our subway system and those who are in crowded areas, be conscious of where your items are at all times. And if you see something, say something. And of course, do something. Notify the Police Department. 

Lastly, affordability. We’re excited about this week. Thursday, the City Council will be voting on our City of Yes. And we look forward to the initiative passing the council and their full frontal approach to dealing with housing. I know that today the speaker did something around housing as well. Just really want to thank her and her team because this was a real significant passage of legislation. And we could get it out. We got it out of the committees. Now we need to get it out of the full council. And we’re looking for their help to do so. 

But we also announced yesterday the Future Ready New York City. I’m excited about that. These this program is now available in 135 schools. This is given 15,000 high school students the training they need for real life experience. We’re expanding this life experience in HVAC, which is air conditioning, decarbonization and human and social services. This is giving them training while they’re in school, getting the certifications that they need, giving them real internship, paid internship possibilities. And I’m excited about the program and what it’s going to accomplish. And we look forward to making it happen as we move forward. So why don’t we open up to answer some of your questions?

Question: I have two questions that have to do with immigrants and the possibility that they could be deported under the new administration. Number one, there were a number of people in the city government and the immigration community at a press conference today calling on the state to spend 165 million dollars to upgrade legal services to protect people who might face deportation. Not only new immigrants, but other people who are here that haven’t gotten their green cards yet. So, number one, I’m asking your reaction to that. And that’s something— I’m wondering what you will be doing in terms of trying to protect immigrants in the city. 

And secondly, do you plan to meet with the president-elect’s new homeland and border securities czar. And what will you be telling him? And what do you hope to come from the exchange?

Mayor Adams: Well, as you know, we have a nation leading asylum application help center. National leaders in this space, they visited the city. They looked at what we were doing and they stated no one is doing what you’re doing in the country. And so those national advocates that don’t try to play the politics of it locally, they came in and did a walkthrough. And we’re going to continue to do the good work we’re doing. And this include the TPS, temporary protective status. This include work authorization. All the things I’ve been advocating for. 

Migrants, asylum seekers and others. They want to work. They want to participate in the American dream. And we need to find a way for them to do that. But we cannot ignore ignore the fact that the American people have communicated to us loudly and clearly. We have a broken system they want to fix and we need to fix our immigration system. We need to secure our border and we need to make sure that whomever we parole into this country is going to have an opportunity to work in this country. 

Particularly the irony of this all Marcia is that we have municipalities that are looking for workers, including New York, and that have a population crisis. This is not making any sense to me at all. When I speak to my electors across the country, they’re saying, Eric, we need workers. We’re willing to take migrants and asylum seekers that are not criminals and committing crimes. We’re willing to take them, but they have to be able to work. So I don’t understand why this wasn’t clear to the previous administration. 

And so your question about meeting with the new border czar. Yes, I reached out to him and shared that would like to sit down and speak with them to hear what are his ideas. You know, because I don’t want people talking at each other. I want people to talk to each other. And I made it clear that I’m not going to be warring with this administration. I’m going to be working with this administration. President Trump is the president elect and whomever he chooses to run his agencies, I’m looking forward to sit down and see how we better New York.

Question: The question is, what level of cooperation will you be giving them if they send ICE agents and other people here to try to deport people who are in New York City? And then what will you do to protect the people who are already here?

Mayor Adams: Well, listen, I’m not going to speculate on what the plans are. We just scenario communications with the team. I would like to speak with our border czar and find out what his plans are, where our common grounds are. We can work together. And I strongly believe, I’ve always– my history is sitting down with those across the aisle with different ways of thinking and sit down and share my ideas. 

I believe I have some ideas that could deal with this issue and we can reach what the American people have been saying to us. Secure our borders, address the people who are committing violent acts in our country and make sure that we have our citizens— are going to be safe. That’s where I am. 

[Crosstalk.]

Why don’t I get on your show this week and sit down and do it. So can we set that up? Let me go on. This way you and I could have a nice conversation. Well, I’m going to do it as soon as I meet with the border czar so I could talk with you about it. Yes. If I meet with him this this week. 

[Crosstalk.]

Mayor Adams: Okay, I’m going to come on your show so we can have a good conversation on it.

Question: I wanted to stay on the topic of immigration. This week you closed— you’re up to now almost closing a dozen migrant shelters. I wanted to know, in your opinion, how much of that do you think is actually the work of the city on case management versus immigrants who are coming, are fearful of a Trump administration and might want to go into the shadows or might not want to be on a list? 

And then separately, you mentioned the City of Yes, that’s passing this Thursday. Do you feel any disappointment that the number of potential housing units decreased so much from 108, which wasn’t that many to begin with, to 80,000 units after you made some concessions?

Mayor Adams: Okay, so first, the decrease in migrants and asylum seekers in our care dropped before the election. Okay, so I want history be accurate. Prior to the election, prior to people knowing who was going to be the president, you saw our case management go from 220,000 and dropped substantially. I think we were around, prior to the election, we were around 60 something thousand. 

So to state that the drop happened after the election is just factually incorrect. It was happening because of our case management, the 30 to 60 day program, which many people who yelled the loudest were criticizing. But we were able to get a substantial number of people to take the next step in their journey. That’s what you call case management. We were able to get thousands to go through TPS. We were able to get a substantial number of people to get their work authorization. We advocated for smart policies. We stated that we were going to do a peg in the migrants and asylum seekers. We brought down the cost. You saw a successful management of a crisis that the federal government left us alone to handle. And we were able to accomplish that. 

So we’re now at 21 weeks in a row where we have had decreased in the population. 21 weeks. When was the election? How many weeks? Four weeks, election. Twenty one weeks. We witnessed a decrease. Okay, so we should be factually accurate with that. 

There is no housing program or no housing initiative that any mayor, as long as I can remember, that didn’t sit down with the city council and whomever else in Albany and had to compromise in some way. To compromise is not to lose. We are talking of 80,000 units is successful. Now, add that on to the fact year one, year two, we have record numbers of housing and what we’ve done. Added on to including NYCHA in our housing plan, added on to the five billion dollars we put into housing. 

We have led the way on affordability, led the way on building and retaining housing. The records don’t lie. These numbers don’t lie. So I don’t understand. When you look at it, we will be– we will have more new homes zoned than any administration in the last half century, 2.5 times more than all of the rezone is under the previous administration combined. How is that a loss? 

I mean, there’s so much you can hit me on. Give me my wins. 

[Crosstalk.]

No, no, I’m not disappointed when I’m going to build 80,000 new homes. And many of us sat in this room and you said I wasn’t going to get City of Yes done. All said— oh, no, no, no. Don’t take this away from me. Let me have some opportunities. 

You said I would not win in Albany. I won every time I went up. You said I would not get City of Yes done. I was able to get City of Yes done. We wouldn’t bring down crime in the subway system. We brought down crime in the subway system. You keep saying what I can’t do and I keep doing it. Come on. Oh, now we don’t remember those conversations. The City Council don’t like you. So you never get it over the finish line. Oh, you didn’t do it. Your team did. Your staff did it. I picked the staff. 

No, before we move on, I’m going to go into the migrants for a moment. Bring that screen up. Because I really need people– people stop me on the street, Marcia– no go to the migrant. When people talk to me about the migrant, I say 6.4 billion dollars. It’s not really resonating. And a lot of people said that, it happened, it’s over. We lost the money. And you said it’s going to have a devastating impact on our city. 

We have not seen the full cost of what this did to us. I came into politics because of the 11 year old boy that was arrested. He was absent from school a substantial number of time. The DOE never saw him. He was arrested for robbery two times. The long term impact of that 6.4 billion dollars has not materialized yet. 

We could have spent 400 million on community schools to handle chronic absentees. We could have spent 600 million on 2000 guiding counselors and social workers in schools. 39 million on summer rise and extended hours for 30,000 children. 22 million on MetroCard for 70,000, 75,000 summer youth employment participants. 200 million could have gone to a thousand more police officers. 84 million could have gone to 730 park staff. You see some of the other numbers, go to our agencies. Public schools, 33 billion, 50 percent of what it costs to run HRA went to this crisis. 50 percent. The police budget is less than what we spent. The entire NYPD is only 6.2 billion, Fire Department only 2.6 billion. 

The impact of those programs that didn’t materialize is we created more of those 11 year old boys that I saw in our precinct in the 88th precinct. The long term impact of what we did to this city is going to– you’re going to see it materialize in administrations in the future. They hurt the future of New York City. And and when people hear me say 6.4 billion dollars, they may say, okay, just a billion here, billion there. No. 

We didn’t invest in seniors the way we should have and young people the way we should have. We’re not going out to get these chronic absentee students the way we should have, the crimes that we’ve witnessed. This impacted our city and people don’t seem to understand why were you fighting so hard for this? Because I reflected on that 11 year old boy that was denied and I went into government to stop these 11 year old boys. And I came up with a plan to do so. And the federal government made me take six point four billion dollars out of providing these services that we should– We all should be angry at what happened to our city under this administration.

Question: Yes. Good afternoon. With respect, I think you should clarify your position, if you would, because a week ago, maybe two weeks ago, I asked you specifically about mass deportations. And you told this group that you oppose mass deportation. You were on Channel 41 last night and they quoted you as saying that you think the city should cooperate with ICE under certain circumstances. Yes. So can you explain to us what your point is on this and what your position is?

Mayor Adams: You have Miss Jones from some country, has been here for 10 years, undocumented, working hard, trying to provide a way, not committing a crime. Or you have a commissioner of my Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. A dreamer came here, crossed the river with his mother to participate in American dream. And he now is a commissioner that is in charge of other dreamers. Those people should not be rounded up in the middle of the night. You know, these are people who love our country and they’re participating in our country. 

Those who are here committing crimes, robberies, shooting at police officers, raping innocent people have been a harm to our country. I want to sit down and hear the plan on how we’re going to address them. Those are the people I am talking about. And I would love to sit down with the border czar and hear his thoughts on how we’re going to address those who are harming our citizens.

Question: Open to hearing what their plan is to deport some of these folks. And you think the city in some circumstances should cooperate with ICE?

Mayor Adams: Let me– know what’s interesting? And I was talking to the team the other day. I want you to all go back and Google Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Google what they said about those who commit crimes in our city and what they said in our country. 

They said those who commit crimes need to get out right away. That was their position. So this is not a new position. You know, because in this state of– in the era of cancel culture, no one’s afraid to be honest about the truth. 

Well, cancel me because I’m going to protect the people of the city. And if you come into this country in this city and think you’re going to harm innocent New Yorkers and innocent migrants and asylum seekers, this is not the mayor you want to be in the city under.  

[Crosstalk.]

How are you?

Question: Good. Great. Thanks. During the pandemic, undocumented workers were essential workers, a step up in a major way. There’s precedent. I think even my paternal grandmother was a nurse during the Great Influenza, came from Canada. She was granted citizenship and recognition for her service during that time, putting her life at risk. Is that something you would be willing to work with [inaudible] unions to say, people that stepped up like that in a major way to help us keep on, they should get some kind of consideration?

Mayor Adams: Look, the reason I know undocumented and other workers were doing what you said is because I was out there. I wasn’t at home social distancing. I was not sheltering in place. I was on the streets with people who were willing to help those who were social distancing and who were able to shelter in place. When you were as food service workers responding to your Uber Eats, you could not do it remotely. You had to go out and expose yourself. So I am with you on that. 

People who are giving back to this city should have an opportunity to participate in the American dream. And I said we should send people to certain cities, I can’t say this over and over again, certain cities that are dealing with population problems and need workers. I need food service workers. Kentucky needs backstretch workers. You go all over this country and there are many cities and municipalities that are saying we need more people. 

Questions: We, my colleagues at WorkBytes have a piece speaking with the doctor’s council. Still don’t have a contract. There’s a lot of people leaving the profession or leaving New York City in health and hospitals to go to more wealthier suburban districts. They say that right now an emergency room wait can be eight hours. Are you concerned about this? And when’s the last time you visited an ER? We might know that you get around the city a lot. Have you thought about popping in and seeing what an ER is happening in Elmhurst Hospital?

Mayor Adams: I’m in hospitals a lot, thanking our doctors, thanking our workers, because I know how challenging it is. We are in the midst of these contract negotiations, as well as EMS and EMTs, making sure they get a fair contract.

And also to manage the taxpayers dollars, because that’s my responsibility. My responsibility is to do what we’ve done for 97 percent of our union employees, give them a fair contract. But I have to protect taxpayers dollars in the process of doing so. If not, that would not be responsible. 

And we’re going to do that. We’re going to land the plane with our doctors. We’re going to land the plane with our favorite topic of EMS. But we have an obligation of making sure we give fairness to the workers, but protect New York taxpayers dollars.

Question: Hi, Mr. Mayor. How are you?

Mayor Adams: Good. How are you doing?

Question: Vivek Ramaswamy tweeted the other day about how the Pakistan International Airlines are leasing the Roosevelt Hotel. The city is in a contract with them to house migrants there. So just wondering if you guys have an update there. Is the city under contract with the Pakistan government or any other Pakistan entities when it comes to housing migrants? 

And then second question for you, just looking for your reaction on the Hunter Biden pardon by President Joe Biden.

Mayor Adams: First, I think he was right in his his tweet. It breaks my heart that we’re spending this much money following the law. We’re New York City requires us to do. And many people don’t remember those first few months we had. We were getting those buses in the middle of the night of Zach Iscol from OEM Deputy Mayor Williams-Isom. I assume my chief of staff will respond in the middle of the night. 

We were getting 4000 a week at one time. Eight thousand every two weeks, 16,000 a month. And we were required in the beginning that by a certain time we had to find housing for them. We had to have them. They had to be in a bed by a certain time until we had to go back and forth to court to fight that. But in those first few months, if you came in at one hour, you had to be inside a place by a certain hour. And we had to live up to that. 

And so when you saw we had to find space wherever we could. We were in emergency status. We had to find a law. And so his tweet is the same thing I’m saying that for the most part that we shouldn’t have to be paying this. This should not fall on the backs of New York City taxpayers. I’ve said this over and over again. So we see it as him because he’s going into the efficiency of government. This is inefficient. This is inefficient to do. And so I’m hoping he’s going to examine all of the inefficiencies that we’re seeing in government because I came in with the same energy and spirit. We have been wasting taxpayers money for far too long and we need to stop wasting taxpayers money. So his observation is the observation that I had. But we had no other choice but to do just that. 

Would you talk about the… Yeah. Hunter Biden. Out of all of this, you know, there’s there’s almost a level of irony to this, to this all. I just want to bring out something. I want to read. I’m going to read the front page of the New York Times. Okay, let me find that sentence. President Biden and President-elect Donald Trump now agree on one thing. The Biden Justice Department has been politicized. Does that sound familiar? Rest my case.

Question: I’d love to expand on that. You know, you said in The Wall Street Journal the other day that you do believe that you were targeted because of your speaking up about migrants. I guess I want to ask, I mean, why do you think you were targeted? I believe that the Southern District has said that this investigation into your campaign began before you were mayor. It began in 2021, I believe they said. So, I mean, what would they be targeting or were they just chasing a lead and found something?

Mayor Adams: Listen, one in all my life, I never had to have a level of discipline that I have right now. Nothing is more harmful and hurtful to have leaks come out. The assault on your character and you have to sit back. You know, there was this photo of Muhammad Ali when he was like had the arrows in him. He was like, do you know how much I want to respond to this stuff? I just want to respond to all of this that has unfolded for the last couple of months. 

And every day before I do off topics, my lawyer said, don’t you do it because, you know, I’m just I’m just a fighter. I believe in fighting for my rights. And this is the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my entire life of the onslaught of this. And I have to remain silent and I can’t answer and defend myself. That’s the hardest thing. 

But life is kind. There’s going to be an opportunity one day to really dig into all that has unfolded. But you cannot ignore the fact because because I know I read a little fast. President Biden and President-elect Donald Trump now agree on one thing. The Biden Justice Department has been politicized. Now, you know, if this is in the New York Times, it has to be true.

Question: First, I have to ask you about your reaction to the first ever Polish-heritage breakfast at Gracie Mansion. But the second question I have is–

Mayor Adams: A beautiful event, by the way. 

Question: Thank you. And thank you for doing it. And the second question. Are you looking forward to working with Elon Musk and the government efficiency department to work on government efficiency?

Mayor Adams: I like that. I like that. And, you know, it’s interesting that whenever I agree on what this administration is doing, people say, oh, you know, you’re agreeing because you’re hoping he looks favorable on you. Look at what they are saying. And then look at what I have been saying for years, for years. 

I came in office talking about government inefficiency. I came in office saying that our city must be safe. I came in office– This is what I’ve been saying for years. So I’m not agreeing with them because of any other reason than I agree with them. How about that? How about we’ve had a broken country and city that has betrayed everyday people? Why every year the same communities look the same, but people get rich over and over again. It’s time to fix government. And I look forward to Elon Musk, who can take us to Mars. Then he can also finally have an educational system that is not denying poor people in the city and bringing innovation. This is innovation. We should be… We were a country and a city that led the globe in innovation. And look at us now. It’s time. It’s time for change. And I’ve said this for years and I’m happy that Elon is going to be part of those who are moving that change forward. 

We should not be afraid of Bitcoin. Remember y’all laughed at me when I first got my Bitcoin. Who’s laughing now? Go look at my Bitcoin now. You all mock me. You’re taking your first three paychecks in Bitcoin. What’s wrong with you? Now you wish you would have done it. You know. And so I am happy that we’re having people who are willing to think outside the box to do the things we need to do. 

Why are we afraid of AI? We shouldn’t be afraid of AI. China’s not afraid of AI. We have been holding back. This has been a racehorse that wanted to run at its right pace. And we’ve been holding back that racehorse out of fear of being canceled. And now you have a bunch of people that are not afraid of being canceled. 

Question: Clearly, you do want to talk then, about the investigation. Do you plan on testifying at your trial? My second question is, you said repeatedly you want to roll back certain aspects, at least of the sanctuary city laws. Can you specify where exactly you would like to see more city cooperation with ICE? 

Would you only want to see that cooperation in cases of violent crimes? Or would you want to see a broader standard to cover suspected criminal wrongdoing of any type? And then what’s your return on the Bitcoin paycheck?

Mayor Adams: It’s always on my COIB. They make me say how much I have in it. My attorneys would decide the strategies of any sort of dealing with our case. I have a lot of confidence in my legal team and they’re going to decide our strategies and look forward to whatever strategy they state. I’m going to move towards it. 

Yes, I’ve made it clear prior to the election. Again, I got to go prior to the election. I never thought I would be quoting Warner Wolf. But let’s go back to the videotape. Prior to the election, I stated our current sanctuary city laws went too far. Mayor Koch started it. Bloomberg made a modification. But the previous administration, they went too far. 

We should be able to address and coordinate with any entity when you’re dealing with those commit crimes in our city. And I’m looking forward to sit down with the border czar and hear his thoughts on that. 

[Crosstalk.]

Question: Aaron Regan, Voice of America, mayor, Bennett Field migrant shelters located on federal land. Are you concerned about the potential challenges or complications that might arise from the incoming Trump administration there? And what steps are you taking to address these challenges and others may face?

Mayor Adams: We’ve done several scenario plannings and our goal is to keep decreasing our numbers. And because of what the team has done around the decreasing in the numbers, we’re hoping we won’t have to use any of these HERRCs. We want these numbers to continue to decrease. We want to take that six point four billion dollars and whatever it is and put it into the services of New Yorkers. So our goal is to see these numbers continue to decrease. That is that is what we what we’re looking forward. And the team is looking over, if for whatever reason we have to change where we are, we’re going to pivot and shift. 

Question: It’s on federal land. I mean, theoretically, ICE could come in. I mean, I’m wondering if people are talking there right now that they’re scared compared to being in another shelter. What are you going to do to protect these people? 

Mayor Adams: We did several scenario plannings. And once I sit down with the border czar to get a full understanding, and I don’t want to speculate on what the next steps are. What’s happening?

Question: I wanted to follow up on Josie’s question about where you stand when it comes to undocumented New Yorkers who are accused of committing crimes. I have heard you say that you thought de Blasio and the former City Council went too far when they came up with that rule that it had to be yet to be convicted of a crime. A certain list, 170 crimes that they laid out. 

I’ve also heard you recently say that you are in favor of cooperating with ICE after the person serves their time. So does that mean that you would like to see them get due process as opposed to just being charged, which is what it was under Bloomberg?

Mayor Adams: Well, you know, Mike is one of my favorite mayors. You know, I’m my position is people commit crimes in our city, you have abdicated your right to be in our city. And I’m open to figure out the best way to address that. My goal is to always give people due process. But my goal is to sit down and hear what the plans are on the current administration to address this issue. 

You commit crimes in our city, I’m always going to be of the belief in a position that you don’t have the right to be in in our city. And if someone committed a crime and they face jail time, I want them deported after they serve. But I’m willing to sit down and hear the plan of the border czar.

[Crosstalk.]

I’m open to anything to get criminals out of our city. I’m open to anything to get criminals who come to our country and attack and abuse innocent. 

Question: [Inaudible.]

Mayor Adams: No, no. I think that’s what… you are either or. That’s not that’s not [who] I am. I’m willing to sit down with the border czar and find out what his plans are.

Question: Two questions. First, the broker fee bill that council passed in almost a month. Do you have any any position yet on whether you’re going to veto it or not? 

And second question on the Rikers possible receivership. Like, you know, if the average person looks at this, this ruling and this potential likelihood of a receiver taking over, would it be reasonable for people to see this as sort of a black mark or a sign that your administration hadn’t handled records?

Mayor Adams: That’s a great question. The broker bill, I’m not going to veto the bill. The question is, if I’m going to sign it or not. So the broker bill is going to be law because they have a veto proof majority. And so I’m not vetoing the bill. I don’t want to put New Yorkers through distress and strife. Stories about, oh, you know, we are, you know, a bill just for it to be voted into law. That’s just, you know, I’m just not in that space of just just these headlines of dispute. We need to we need to be in a better, calm place. And so I won’t veto the bill. 

The question is, if I’m going to sign it into law, I shared what my concerns are. And life will determine if I was accurate in my concerns. If this go[es] into the of the rent of New Yorkers as they pay their rent. And many people who make these decisions, you know, I have a lot of life experiences. Somebody was laughing the other day when they learned that I was a mechanic. You know, there’s a lot of life experiences, not only [was I] a small property owner, but I was a real estate agent. 

So I know what it is to pass off course into the owners of buildings. And so people who are dismissive of that is because the real life experience of having to live through that. I come from a different approach. You know, a lot of people are, you know, they’re so young. They have not had all these full experiences. And so I’m not going to veto the bill. The question is going to be, you know, if I’m going to sign, or if it’s going to just lapse into law. Your second question was… 

Question: [Inaudible.]

Mayor Adams: That’s a good question. If the judge would have stated that, Eric, in your three years, you have failed. If she would have made this this administration’s issue, then it is a black mark against me. But she was clear for nine years they have been talking about this. And I know it seems like I’ve been here for nine years, but I haven’t. I’ve been here for two years and 11 months. And in two years and 11 months, the monitor has talked about how good it has become under the commissioner. We are starting to turn the corner of six years prior to my arrival. They have been in discussions about this. 

And prior to the nine years, Rikers has been a mess. Rikers has always been a mess as long as I can remember. So this is not an Eric Adams issue. It is the history of Rikers Island. Now, I’ve been on Rikers Island more than any mayor in the history of the city visiting inmates, visiting correction officers, finding out what needs to be done on the front line. Seeing I was there on Thanksgiving Day, speaking with young men who the commissioner has now sitting around to bring down youth violence on Rikers Island. 

And so we know we’re moving in the right direction. If the judge made the decision that, you know what, those other six years, they didn’t do what they were supposed to do. You did not get to where I believe you need to be fast enough. She has to make the decision. But I would say over and over again, it is not like federal prisons are pictures of what’s great about the institution. Just go right down on Third Avenue and 30 something street and see what’s happening at the federal prison that’s there. But the judge, she has the power to make the decision. And we’re going to follow whatever decision she makes.

Question: Yeah, we have two questions. So the first one is [Governor] Hochul is expected to announce a cell phone ban in schools. Your admin has flip flopped on it. Do you support the governor’s cell phone ban?

Mayor Adams: I’m sorry say that one more time? I know she said the part about my admin, did you say… what?

Question: Hochul is expected to announce a cell phone ban in schools. Your administration has gone back and forth on whether or not you support that. Do you support the governor’s ban on cell phones in schools?

Mayor Adams: Okay, okay. The governor is the chief executive of the State of New York. And if she puts in place a ban that we are required to follow, we’re going to do that. If she leaves it up to like we’ve done in Albany before, a city of X number of people, they can make their determination. Then we are not ready to make that decision yet because we need to get it right. And others tried and others failed. 

Now, we have a history of trying to succeed like Willets Point, like Brooklyn Army Terminal. You know, we’ve been able to land all these planes. I will ask the governor. Let me do it, so it’s right. And then the other state could follow me because we’re going to get it right. We’re not going to do it and then have to go backwards. So I will in my conversation with the governor, she hasn’t mentioned that to me. I will share with the governor. Give me an opportunity to get it right. And then the rest of the state can follow what I’m doing, because trust me, we won’t go backwards when we get it right.

Question: Our second question. I know Liz’s question. You seem to say that you are going to be open to deporting asylum seekers who have been charged with a crime. But you want to talk with the border czar. I just want to make sure that we got that right. And then in regards to meeting with the border czar has Homan responded to your request for a meeting, and is there one on the books?

Mayor Adams: This wasn’t new, I’ve always stated I wanted to address those who commit crimes. 

Question: [Inaudible.]

Mayor Adams: I’m open to having a conversation on how he will implement that. You got a guy, he’s on camera shooting at shooting a police officer. I don’t want that guy in my city. You know, plain and simple. You got a guy that rapes one young lady, gets out, and go rape another person. I don’t want them in the city. 

Question: Did Homan respond to your request for [inaudible]?

Mayor Adams: Yes. Yes, he did. And actually, I think he was on one of my favorite stations, Fox, you know, talking about… talking about that he’s looking forward to something about that, that I reached out and that he’s looking forward to meet this week or next week. So we communicated this morning and he stated that, you know, once he settles, we’ll reach out and we’ll coordinate, our teams will coordinate for the most part.

Question: Two questions on the immigration deportation front. First, so in your view, someone is a criminal if they have been charged with a crime, because you yourself have been charged with crime. 

But, you know, so that’s one question. The other is if you were a law abiding asylum seeker in New York City, you know, someone who’s doing the best they can to get ahead. All of that, sending their kids to school. Would you be scared about the prospect of the incoming administration?

Mayor Adams: Okay, two things. First part, I’m an American. Americans have certain rights. You know, the Constitution is for Americans. And I’m not a person that snuck into this country. My ancestors have been here for a long time, for a long time. And I don’t know if your blouse is made of cotton, but they used to pick some of that. 

So what rights I have, the person that decides to shoot a police officer, they should not have those same rights. Okay, that’s my position. And I look forward to hearing what is the idea of the border czar. I’m looking forward to that. I’ve said it over and over again. We need to fix the immigration problem in this city. The American people said that. I don’t know if you really watch the election results. The president-elect hit the popular vote, hit the electoral vote. He was not undecisive, indecisive on what his positions were. He was clear we need to secure our border deal with the immigration issue. The American people heard it. They voted for it. 

I’ve said it before, over and over and over again. It didn’t matter who was the president for me. I said the same thing. New York City should not be going through this. Chicago should not be going through this. Denver should not be going through this. The American people should not be going through this. And the migrants and asylum seekers should not be going through this. We’re placing them in a position that is unfair and is inhumane. I cannot make it any clearer.

Question: The second question, if you are a law-abiding migrant in New York City who is sending her kids to school and doing what they can to create a better future for themselves, would you be scared right now about the incoming administration?

Mayor Adams: I think they should do what we told them to do over and over again. If you need police services because you’re a victim of a crime, call the police. If you need healthcare here in the city, go to the hospital and get the medical attention you need. If you have a child, place that child in school so that child can be educated. 

Our city services are open to all people who are in this city. That is what we do. That is what the law requires us to do under the current law. And I believe we need to modify our existing law as I stated. But they should not be afraid in this city. That’s the purpose of sitting down and I want to share my ideas with the incoming border czar so I can hear his ideas. We don’t know. All of us are speculating right now. 

This city is a city and nation of immigrants, as was pointed out earlier during COVID. They were in our streets. They were doing our job. They built our bridges. They’ve done all the things we needed in this city. And this is a sanctuary city. There’s no getting away from that. And there are laws that are in place and we’re telling those law-abiding individuals that you just mentioned to use the city services that the law allows you to do. Thank you.

 

MAYOR ADAMS UNVEILS “AXE THE TAX FOR THE WORKING CLASS,” BOLD PROPOSAL TO ELIMINATE NEW YORK CITY
INCOME TAXES FOR WORKING-CLASS FAMILIES 

Plan Would Abolish New York City Personal Income Taxes for More Than 429,600 Filers and Their Dependents, Lower Taxes for Over 152,500 More 

Proposal Alone Would Put Over $63 Million Back Into Pockets of Over 582,000 New Yorkers

Axe the Tax Plan Follows Historic Expansion of NYC EITC, Which, Together With New Proposal, Would Deliver Collective $408 Million in Tax Relief to 2 Million New Yorkers 

Mayor Adams Calls on State Legislature to Pass Proposal as Part of FY26 State Budget

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced “Axe the Tax for the Working Class,” an ambitious proposal to bring significant tax relief to working-class families and return over $63 million to more than 582,000 New Yorkers. The plan would eliminate the New York City Personal Income Tax for filers with dependents living at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty line, as well as lower city personal income taxes for filers immediately above that threshold too. Mayor Adams will advocate for the proposal as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) New York state budget with the support of New York State Senator Leroy Comrie and New York State Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, who will introduce it during the upcoming legislative session. If passed into law, Axe the Tax for the Working Class could bring relief to working-class families as soon as tax year 2025

Axe the Tax for the Working Class builds on the Adams administrations’ continued efforts to help put money back into the pockets of working-class New Yorkers. In 2022, Mayor Adams successfully pushed Albany to expand the New York City Earned Income Tax Credit (NYC EITC) for the first time in nearly two decades, delivering more than $345 million in tax relief to New Yorkers over the 2023 tax season. When combined, both Axe the Tax for the Working Class and the new, enhanced NYC EITC would put more than a collective $408 million back into the pockets of 2 million New Yorkers and effectively eliminate New York City income taxes for a family of four making less than $46,350.

“Extreme costs are driving many working-class families out of cities like New York, and while, for too many decades, across too many administrations, we let these problems languish, our administration said enough is enough. Today, we are unveiling ‘Axe the Tax for the Working Class,’ a bold proposal to eliminate New York City income taxes for hundreds of thousands of working-class New Yorkers and their families here in the five boroughs and lower taxes for even more of our city’s residents,” said Mayor Adams. “This ambitious plan will put more than $63 million back into the pockets of over 582,000 New Yorkers, and, when combined with the New York City Earned Income Tax Credit, will put more than $400 million back into the pockets of 2 million working-class New Yorkers. I did not become mayor just to watch other families struggle the way that mine did, so this money will help more families cover rent, pay for prescriptions, and pick up groceries. On issue after issue, New York City is leading the nation, so we’re hopeful more cities across the country will ‘Axe the Tax.’ I want to thank Senator Comrie and Assemblymember Bichotte Hermelyn for agreeing to introduce this legislation, as well as HTC and 32BJ for their support. We look forward to working with Albany over the next few months to pass this landmark proposal and give working-class families the relief they finally deserve.”  

“From day one of our administration, Mayor Adams tasked me with supporting the families and working-class New Yorkers who keep our city running. That’s why we are turning New York into a ‘City of Yes’ with the most pro-housing zoning changes in our city’s history, increasing opportunities for good-paying jobs, and putting money back into working-people’s pockets,” said First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer. “Our ‘Axe the Tax’ proposal will give $63 million back to working people and ensure that over 582,000 New Yorkers will benefit from having more money for groceries, child care, health care, and the needs of everyday life. We want all New Yorkers to know that they can raise their family here in the five boroughs and thrive.”

“Working-class families are the beating heart of New York City, but too many of them are still struggling to get by. At a time when families need extra help with rent, child care, groceries, and more, this bold proposal will give tens of millions of dollars back to New Yorkers and help make our city more affordable for families,” said New York State Senator Comrie. “I commend Mayor Adams and his administration for the work they’ve already done to put money back in people’s pockets and help more people start and raise a family here in the five boroughs. I look forward to working with my partners in Albany to deliver this crucial relief for our city.”

“Despite the extraordinary progress we have made in creating a safer, more affordable city for New Yorkers, we know that there is even more we can do to support our working-class families. Mayor Adams’ ‘Axe the Tax’ proposal — along with a historic expansion of the New York City Earned Income Tax Credit he advocated for— will give hundreds of millions of dollars back to New Yorkers and help even more families get ahead in our city,” said New York State Assemblymember Bichotte Hermelyn. “I applaud the mayor and his team for putting forward this ambitious idea, and I look forward to making this proposal law in the upcoming legislative year.” 

Axe the Tax for the Working Class would eliminate New York City Personal Income Taxes for filers with dependents — largely families with children — living at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty line. Additionally, the proposal would gradually phase out the city personal income tax for filers immediately above — within $5,000 — of 150 percent of the federal poverty line.

Annual Family Income at 150 Percent of Federal Poverty Level
Table for illustrative purposes showing maximum annual income for different family sizes at 150 percent of the of the current U.S. Census Bureau’s Official Poverty MeasureData for larger family sizes can be found online.

By eliminating the New York City Personal Income Tax for working-class families, the proposal would return nearly $46 million to over 429,000 New Yorkers, including both tax filers and their dependents. Additionally, by lowering taxes for people immediately above 150 percent of the federal poverty line, the proposal would return another $17 million to over 152,500 New Yorkers, putting more than a collective $63 million back into the pockets of working-class people. The proposal alone will deliver an average benefit of approximately $350 per household.

Axe the Tax for the Working Class builds on the Adams administration’s work helping to put money back into people’s pockets. The Adams administration has already saved New Yorkers more than $30 billion by connecting people to city, state, and federal programs, including a historic expansion of the NYC EITC, which delivered an average benefit of approximately $450 per household. If passed into law, the Axe the Tax for the Working Class proposal and the NYC EITC would work together to deliver an average benefit of around $800 per household and effectively eliminate New York City income taxes for a family of four making less than $46,350.

Possible Tax Relief

Table showing possible tax relief for New York City families from
both Enhanced NYC EITC as well as Axe the Tax for the Working Class.

Additionally, since the start of the Adams administration, the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection’s (DCWP) “NYC Free Tax Prep” program has helped New Yorkers save nearly $57 million in tax preparation fees by helping filers file approximately 257,000 tax returns for free. And this past tax season, more than 140 in-person sites provided free tax preparation services across the five boroughs. NYC Free Tax Prep providers also offered drop-off services and virtual tax preparation services. Further, last fall, DCWP launched NYC Free Tax Prep for self-employed filers, offering specialized services tailored to gig workers, freelancers, and small business owners who often face barriers to filing taxes and managing financial recordkeeping. 

Banner Image: Construction worker. Image Credit – Scott Blake


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