Breaking Affordable Housing Records, NYC’s Fiscal Responsibility, Doubling Housing Lottery, Lowest Shootings In Recorded History, Q-Teams In Brooklyn, District Attorney Offices Funding, Midtown Plan Advances, Student Loan Program Expanded, West Village Corridor: Mayor Adams

NYC Mayor's Office

9 months ago

Editor’s note: Staten Islanders can see Mayor Adams’ rundown from last week here, as well as his previous op-ed.

The rundown featured stories on keeping seniors housed and a celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act passage.

Last week’s op-ed, about the culture of anything goes

MOST PRO-HOUSING ADMINISTRATION IN CITY HISTORY: MAYOR ADAMS’ ADMINISTRATION SHATTERS AFFORDABLE HOUSING RECORDS (AGAIN)

Adams Administration Produced Record Number of Affordable Rental Units in Fiscal Year 2025

Set Back-to-Back-to-Back Records for Producing Permanently Affordable Homes for Formerly-Homeless New Yorkers, Placing Homeless New Yorkers Into Housing, Connecting New Yorkers to Housing Through City’s Housing Lottery for Third Fiscal Year in a Row

Announcements Bring Total Number of Housing Units Created, Preserved, or Planned Through Adams Administration Efforts to Date to Approximately 426,800 Homes

Announcement Part of Mayor Adams’ “Housing Week” Highlighting City’s Efforts to Create More Homes, Connect More New Yorkers to Homes, and Keep New Yorkers in Homes They Already Have

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced that the city broke multiple records for producing and connecting New Yorkers to affordable homes in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, delivering the affordable housing that New Yorkers need and reinforcing the Adams administration’s position as the most pro-housing administration in city history. Additionally, Mayor Adams announced that his administration has created, preserved, or planned approximately 426,800 homes through its efforts to date. In FY 2025 specifically, through new construction and preservation programs, the Adams administration produced a total of 33,715 affordable homes — including 28,281 affordable homes through the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC), as well as 5,434 apartments that will be renovated through the New York City Housing Authority’s (NYCHA) Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) program.

Over the course of FY 2025, the Adams administration:

Produced the most affordable rental units in city history.
Produced the most affordable housing for formerly homeless households, for the third fiscal year in a row.
Placed the most homeless New Yorkers into permanent affordable housing, for the third fiscal year in a row.
Connected the most New Yorkers to affordable homes through the city’s affordable housing lottery, for the fiscal third year in a row.

For the first time, Mayor Adams today also announced the total number of affordable and market-rate homes created, preserved, or planned through the Adams administration’s housing initiatives to date. Between historic efforts by the Adams administration to finance the creation and preservation of housing; speed up the production of new homes through new initiatives like the Office Conversion Accelerator and the Green Fast Track; rehabilitate public housing through the PACT program and the New York City Public Housing Preservation Trust; pass landmark rezoning initiatives such as “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity” and the administration’s five neighborhood plans; successful advocacy in Albany to pass a historic housing deal last year; initiatives to build new homes on city-owned sites such as Executive Order 43 and the “24 in 24” plan; and much more, the Adams administration has created, preserved, or planned for approximately 426,800 homes for New Yorkers — including at least 250,000 affordable homes — over the next 15 years.

“Others may have talked about affordable housing, but we actually built it. Others may have talked about citywide rezoning, but we actually passed it. Others may have talked about taking on our city’s housing crisis, but we actually did it, and we’re continuing to do it every single day,” said Mayor Adams. “The numbers don’t lie: We have already laid the groundwork for over 426,000 homes across the five boroughs in the coming years, connecting over 31,000 New Yorkers to affordable homes. There’s no denying, we are the most pro-housing administration in city history, and we are continuing that work every day as we make New York a more affordable city for working-class families.”

“The numbers speak for themselves,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Adolfo Carrion, Jr. “This administration has proven that we are the most pro-housing administration in this city’s history. We have broken record after record in planning, preserving, and building over 426,000 units of housing. Every one of these numbers represents a person, a family, and a New Yorker that will be put on the path to stability and success.”

Producing the Affordable Housing New Yorkers Need

From day one, the Adams administration has focused on creating the affordable homes New Yorkers need, breaking affordable housing records in FY 2023 and again in FY 2024. The administration continued those efforts in FY 2025, with HPD and HDC financing the creation or preservation of 28,281 affordable homes — including a record 26,087 affordable rental apartments. HPD has now produced a total of 85,962 affordable homes since the start of the Adams administration, with the last three fiscal years representing the most new affordable homes ever created in a three fiscal-year stretch (FY 2023 – FY 2025).

Following Mayor Adams’ successful advocacy in Albany to pass a historic housing deal last year, the Adams administration also produced a record 6,593 421-A standalone units and advanced the first 467-M and 485-X projects in FY 2025.

The Adams administration remains focused on making sure that every New Yorker can find an affordable place to live, with more than 95 percent of subsidized new construction designated for low-income New Yorkers. This is the second highest percentage on record, eclipsed only by last fiscal year.

HPD’s historic successes come despite steep challenges facing the city — including high interest rates, federal tariffs, economic uncertainty, and increasing costs for maintenance and operations — reinforcing, once again, the Adams administration’s record as the most pro-housing in our city’s history.

Furthermore, the Adams administration is committed to supporting the most vulnerable New Yorkers, especially those struggling with homelessness or in need of additional services. In FY 2025, HPD produced a historic 4,178 homeless units, breaking the record for the third fiscal year in a row and bringing the total number of homeless units produced under the Adams administration to 12,920. Within those homeless units, HPD produced 1,962 supportive units in FY 2025, for a total of 6,714 affordable, supportive units financed under the Adams administration. These historic numbers follow Mayor Adams’ announcement, earlier this year, that the city will reimagine the 15/15 Supportive Housing Initiative and invest $339 million over several years to create and preserve more congregate site supportive housing.

The Adams administration has put public housing first, becoming the first mayoral administration to include NYCHA in its housing plan and advocating for the creation of the New York City Public Housing Preservation Trust. In FY 2025, NYCHA conducted votes at five developments where residents chose between joining the Trust, the PACT program, or remaining in Section 9 housing. Residents at Hylan Houses and Coney Island I (Site 1B) selected the Trust while residents at Randall Avenue-Balcom Avenue chose the PACT; because of these votes, over 650 apartments will be transferred to Project-Based Section 8 funding and renovated to address the capital needs at the developments. Since the start of these votes in fall of 2023, four developments have voted in favor of joining the Trust, with a total of 1,776 units planned to receive comprehensive renovations as a result.

In FY 2025, NYCHA also converted 5,434 apartments to the Project-Based Section 8 program through the PACT, representing $2.2 billion in capital repairs. To date, NYCHA has now used the PACT program to convert over 27,000 apartments at 101 developments, representing over $7.9 billion in capital repairs across the city. Overall, 145 NYCHA developments — representing over 39,000 apartments — are in pre-development, are under construction, or have completed construction through the program; this represents over $13.5 billion in capital repairs for public housing. Finally, NYCHA has doubled the number of New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS) placements from last fiscal year to this fiscal year and are on track to complete the most DHS placements in over three years.

Connecting a Record Numbers of New Yorkers to Affordable Homes

In addition to creating historic amounts of affordable housing, the Adams administration once again broke records for connecting New Yorkers to critically-needed affordable housing. In FY 2025, HPD connected a record 10,336 households to affordable homes through the city’s Housing Connect affordable housing lottery, breaking the record for the third fiscal year in a row and bringing the total number of households connected to affordable housing through Housing Connect under the Adams administration to 31,118 New Yorkers.

Additionally, for the third straight fiscal year, the Adams administration placed more formerly homeless households into permanent housing than ever before. A total of 4,651 homeless households were placed into affordable housing in FY 2025, with a total of 12,432 homeless households — representing approximately 26,000 New Yorkers — moving into permanent, affordable housing since the start of the Adams administration.

The New York City Department of Social Services also continued to build on its record-breaking progress, helping over 16,200 households move from shelter to subsidized permanent housing in just the first 11 months of FY 2025, a 30 percent increase over the same period in the last fiscal year and more than all of FY 2024. City Fighting Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement (CityFHEPS) continues to serve as the primary support for those exiting shelter, with over 11,000 households — the majority of households — exiting with the support of a CityFHEPS voucher. An additional 2,400 households used a CityFHEPS voucher to remain in their homes without entering shelter, meaning over 13,500 households were able to obtain or retain safe, stable, affordable housing thanks to the CityFHEPS program; this represents a 17 percent increase over FY 2024.

New Metrics, Greater Depth

Beyond HPD’s affordable housing production, the agency also assists with the creation of market rate housing through tax incentive programs, zoning rules, and certain HPD-funded projects. Combining these units with HPD’s affordable new construction production, the Adams administration helped create nearly 27,000 new units in FY 2025. HPD provided additional assistance to 8,600 existing homes outside of its traditional preservation work. Similarly, at NYCHA, 3,696 homes are undergoing Comprehensive Modernization with city capital investments.

How the Adams Administration Got it Done

The housing numbers unveiled today are a direct result of smart, focused strategies pursued by the Adams administration to boost housing production. The administration has committed $24.7 billion towards affordable housing through the city’s 10-Year Capital Plan. Additionally, the Adams administration rolled out major updates to the way HPD markets and leases-up affordable housing in New York City — cutting down on paperwork, streamlining eligibility, and connecting more New Yorkers to homes and homeownership opportunities faster.

The Most Pro-Housing Administration in City History

The Adams administration is using every tool available to produce the homes New Yorkers need and make generational progress against the city’s housing crisis. Since the start of the Adams administration, the city has supported the creation of 95,100 homes, including nearly 46,000 affordable homes, 47,000 additional market-rate units in mixed-income developments, and 2,300 units of office-to-residential conversion or Green Fast Track housing. Moreover, the Adams administration supported the preservation or stabilization of 134,700 homes, which includes 41,000 affordable homes and the ongoing stabilization of nearly 16,100 additional homes through the NYCHA PACT program, and the NYCHA Comprehensive Modernization Program to rehabilitate NYCHA units

In addition to tens of thousands of homes already created or preserved by city agencies, the Adams administration has launched ambitious initiatives that are expected to create tens of thousands of new homes as well. These include the Adams administration’s landmark City of Yes for Housing Opportunity rezoning plan passed by the New York City Council last year to create over 80,000 new homes; the administration’s five neighborhood plans to create nearly 50,000 new homes in the Bronx-Metro North area of the Bronx, along Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, throughout Midtown South in Manhattan, and in both Jamaica and Long Island City in Queens; initiatives to build new homes on city-owned sites such as Mayor Adams’ Executive Order 43; private rezoning applications to build new homes supported by city agencies such as the New York City Department of City Planning; the Adams administration’s “Green Fast Track” initiative to streamline the environmental review of modest housing projects and build homes faster; the NYCHA PACT; the NYCHA Trust; and the Adams administration’s “Office Conversion Accelerator” to turn underutilized offices into much-needed housing. Altogether, the Adams administration has planned for the creation of another 197,800 new homes over the next 15 years through these initiatives.

Number of Homes Created, Preserved, or Planned
Through Adams Administration’s Efforts to Date

Created	Homes
HPD Affordable New Construction	45,900
HPD Other New Construction	46,900
Office Conversion Accelerator and Green Fast Track	2,300
Total Created	95,100

Preserved
HPD Affordable Preservation	40,100
HPD and Other Stabilization Assistance	78,500
NYCHA PACT Program	12,400
NYCHA Comprehensive Modernization Program	3,700
Total Preserved	134,700
Planned
City of Yes for Housing Opportunity	82,000
Adams Administration’s Neighborhood Rezoning Plans	47,100
Additional Public and Private Rezonings	25,500
Redevelopment of Public Land	31,000
NYCHA PACT	5,500
NYCHA Trust	1,800
Green Fast Track Homes and Office Conversion Accelerator	4,100
Total Planned	197,000
Total Homes Thanks to Adams Administration Efforts to Date	426,800

Through its efforts to date, the Adams administration has supported the creation of 95,100 homes, supported the preservation or stabilization of 134,700 homes, and planned for another 197,000 homes. Altogether, these historic efforts have produced or will produce a total of approximately 426,800 homes for New Yorkers, including at least 250,000 affordable homes.

Making New York City the Best Place to Raise a Family

In addition to producing and placing New Yorkers in housing, the Adams administration is focused on making New York City the best place to raise a family. Building on the success of his signature City of Yes for Housing Opportunity initiative, Mayor Adams launched “City of Yes for Families” earlier this year to create more family-friendly neighborhoods across the five boroughs. Under City of Yes for Families, the Adams administration is advancing ambitious initiatives to support homeownership by expanding the city’s downpayment assistance program and helping affordable housing tenants report their rental payments to credit bureaus and build up their credit scores. Through City of Yes for Families, the Adams administration is also creating more affordable homes for inter-generational families and building more housing alongside schools, playgrounds, grocery stores, accessible transit stations, and libraries.

In addition to building more family-friendly neighborhoods, the Adams administration is actively working to strengthen tenant and homeowner protections. The “Partners in Preservation” program was expanded citywide in 2024 through a $24 million multi-year investment in local organizations to support tenant organizing and combat harassment in rent-regulated housing while the Homeowner Help Desk, a trusted one-stop shop for low-income homeowners to receive financial and legal counseling from local organizations, was also expanded citywide in 2024 with a $13 million multi-year funding commitment.

“The continued investment in affordable and supportive housing across New York City is a significant win, particularly in Brooklyn. It is helping to address the housing crisis while uplifting our most vulnerable neighbors,” said New York State Senator Roxanne J. Persaud. “Housing security is one of our top priorities in the state legislature, and I applaud the mayor and his team for working to expand access to permanent, stable, and affordable housing and making meaningful progress toward a more equitable and livable city.”

“REBNY commends Mayor Adams and his administration, as well as the growing consensus of public officials, who recognize a more robust production pipeline is needed to slow rising housing costs and facilitate the city’s continued economic vibrancy,” said James Whalen, president, REBNY. “While there has been an increase in housing development recently, much more needs to be done to spur greater production. We look forward to working with stakeholders to put in place economically viable programs that will produce much more rental housing production.”

“Today’s announcement shows what happens when the city chooses to house people rather than warehouse them — when they choose action over excuses,” said Shams DaBaron aka Da Housing Hero; commissioner, New York City Charter Revision Commission. “Mayor Adams and the team keep saying yes when others say no, and that’s why we’re breaking records again and again. As someone who has lived that life — who slept in the shelters, slept on park benches, and in the streets — I know what it means when someone finally gives you a key, a home, and hope. This isn’t just about numbers. This is about real people getting their lives back. It shows you what’s possible when we stop managing homelessness and start ending it — with housing. Thank you, Mayor Adams, for answering the call for a safer and more affordable New York.”

“Every new unit we’re able to build is a meaningful step toward tackling New York’s housing crisis,” said David Schwartz, co-founder and principal, Slate Property Group. “Thanks to the Adams administration, New York City is making fast progress to build quality affordable housing, and I look forward to working with City Hall on more innovative projects that unlock New York’s housing potential.”

“Across our great city, working young adults, adults, and families are struggling to navigate a tight, expensive housing market — a challenge that is only magnified for youth with histories of homelessness,” said Jeremy Kohomban, CEO, The Children’s Village. “To produce high-quality, affordable homes for people already enduring housing instability, nonprofits, private developers, and city government must commit to a new paradigm, building homes that are beautiful, integrated, affordable, and situated in desirable locations. Let us leave behind the historical legacy of separation that has led to over 85 percent of affordable housing being built in our most burdened communities. We have been proud to engage in these kinds of partnerships with this administration and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, including A Home for Harlem Dowling and The Eliza in Inwood, securing 175 new affordable homes.”

“We are grateful that this administration and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development have consistently prioritized the development of much needed affordable housing for older adults,” said Lisa Trub, executive director, Selfhelp Realty Group. “Housing instability among adults 60+ is unfortunately all too common. It is critical that city leaders, nonprofits, and developers collaborate to deliver more affordable homes, particularly those with onsite social services to help older adults maintain their independence. We have been proud to partner with HPD to advance multiple such projects, including The Perennial, formerly Parkway Hospital in Forest Hills, creating homes and intergenerational communities where older adults can age with dignity alongside their family and friends.”

“Breaking Ground applauds the dedicated teams at HPD and City Hall on another year of exceptional work to create and preserve affordable units and ease our housing crisis,” said Brenda Rosen, president and CEO, Breaking Ground. “We are especially encouraged that the administration’s efforts to target financing of units affordable to extremely-low and very low-income households are bearing fruit, and that this year saw another near-record for supportive units produced. We look forward to continuing our work together to help people overcome and avoid homelessness through the creation of new supportive and affordable apartments.”

“Expanding housing is the only way we’ll be able to conquer the affordability crisis affecting New York City, and it’s even more critical during this period of economic uncertainty,” said Valerie White, senior executive director, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) NY. “At LISC NY, we’re proud to partner with projects across the city to deliver investment, including during the pre-development phase, and work with emerging developers to help them access capital as together we all strive to keep the city’s housing production goals on track.”

“The Delaine Companies is committed to working alongside HPD to scale up affordable housing production and create pathways to housing stability across New York City,” said Jerrod Delanie, CEO, Delanie Companies. “This announcement highlights what’s possible when the public and private sectors work hand-in-hand to accelerate housing production and deliver results for New Yorkers.”

“We commend the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the Department of City Planning for their remarkable progress in advancing affordable housing production in 2025,” said Sabrina Lippman, CEO, Habitat for Humanity New York City and Westchester County. “We are proud to continue our partnership with the city to expand and preserve affordable homeownership opportunities for working-class families in every neighborhood.”

“Building and preserving affordable homes is a critical component of addressing our city’s affordable housing crisis and brings much-needed relief and stability to New Yorkers, including our most vulnerable populations,” said Rafael E. Cestero, CEO, Community Preservation Corporation. “We applaud the administration for delivering on its commitment to creating a ‘City of Yes for Housing Opportunity’ and look forward to continuing to work with all of our partners to help deliver the resources that help make our communities more affordable and livable.”

“We all know that New York City needs more housing, so it is wonderful to see things trending upwards,” said Kenny Burgos, CEO, New York Apartment Association. “The numbers reflect the great work of the administration to push through projects that increase the amount of affordable housing and supportive housing in the city. We especially thank them for stepping up their efforts to preserve rent-stabilized housing, much of which is in dire distress. Now, we must build on this success by unleashing private investment so we can finally have abundant housing in this great city.”

“The city is committed to tackling the housing crisis, and as the go-to agency for older adults in NYC, JASA is a proud partner of HPD in building affordable housing, improving tenants’ lives, and addressing homelessness with urgency,” said Gayle M. Horwitz, CEO, JASA. “Across our portfolio of services, impacting 40,000 seniors each year, JASA provides secure housing to 2,498 tenants, as well as property management and residential services at seven additional SARA sites. We recently partnered in the development of nearly 500 affordable apartments in the South Bronx and Bushwick. JASA will continue to work closely with HPD to meet the needs of our city’s seniors.”

“We know that safe and stable housing is the foundation upon which individuals impacted by the justice system can rebuild their lives, reconnect with family, and access the supports they need to succeed,” said Stanley Richards, president and CEO, The Fortune Society. “That is why we continue to grow our housing portfolio with projects like our soon-to-open permanent, supportive residences on West 97th Street and East 123rd Street — each designed to provide not only a roof over one’s head, but the services and community support that residents need to thrive. We are proud to work in partnership with HPD and the administration, whose leadership is helping to make this critical housing possible across the city.”

“We are encouraged to see HPD produce nearly 2,200 new affordable homeownership opportunities over the past year,” said Christie Peale, CEO and executive director, Center for NYC Neighborhoods. “At a time when New Yorkers are facing rising costs, federal funding cuts, and economic uncertainty, affordable homeownership is more important than ever. As the city advances the ‘City of Yes,’ we urge increased investments in affordable homeownership construction, down payment assistance, and first-time buyer education to ensure that the benefits of upzoning reach historically disenfranchised communities that need them most. Today’s announcement highlights the critical role of the public sector in making the dream of homeownership attainable for all New Yorkers.”

Flag Raising for Indonesia. Bowling Green, Manhattan. Wednesday, August 27, 2025. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.

RECOGNIZING ADAMS ADMINISTRATION’S CONTINUED STRONG FISCAL MANAGEMENT, LEADING CREDIT RATING AGENCIES AGAIN AFFIRM NEW YORK CITY’S STRONG FINANCIAL STANDING AND STABILITY

Four Internationally-Recognized, Independent Credit Rating Agencies — Moody’s, S&P, Fitch, and Kroll — Indicate Strong Confidence in City’s Stability, Resilience, and Fiscal Outlook

17^th Consecutive Time NYC GO Bonds Have Been Given AA Category Ratings Under Adams Administration

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today celebrated that four internationally-recognized, independent credit rating agencies — Moody’s Ratings, S&P Global Ratings, Fitch Ratings, and Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) — have, once again, affirmed the city’s strong bond ratings and stable outlook. Based on the strength of the city’s fiscal management, resilient economy, strong post-pandemic recovery, record-high private employment, and more, all four agencies assigned double-A category ratings and stable outlooks to the city’s upcoming sale of approximately $1.8 billion of General Obligation (GO) bonds. The city’s strong GO bond ratings and outlooks have been repeatedly upgraded or affirmed by all four rating agencies over the course of the Adams administration. On each occasion, the four agencies cited the city’s ongoing strong fiscal management in support of their decisions.

“It’s not a mystery that the four internationally-recognized, independent credit rating agencies have for the 17th time confirmed what we all know: that our administration has done an incredible job skillfully managing our city’s finances, which has allowed us to stabilize our city’s economy, grow jobs to record levels, and instill confidence in New York City,” said Mayor Adams. “I am proud of the tremendous work our team has consistently done to sustain this progress, and I thank the outside observers for recognizing our success.”

Maintaining a strong bond rating is an indication of the city’s financial strength and encourages continued investment in the city’s bonds, which help support funding to build and maintain schools, streets, parks, and other critical infrastructure that spans the five boroughs.

Moody’s Ratings affirmed the Adams administration’s measures to close budget gaps in the face of the unprecedented asylum seeker crisis, stating, “The Aa2 general obligation rating, the same as the city’s Aa2 issuer rating, reflects New York City’s post pandemic economic recovery, including record-high private employment, positive trends in assessed property values despite commercial real estate challenges, and steady tax revenue growth.”

Moody’s also noted that, “the expanding economy is driven by the city’s competitive advantages: a young, highly skilled labor pool that over time has helped make New York City households wealthier; strong higher education and medical centers that also contribute higher paying jobs; and strong domestic and international transportation links that support New York City’s position as a global economic, financial and cultural hub. Very strong institutional strength and financial governance have allowed successful implementation of budget control measures to close budget gaps primarily caused by now-waning asylum seeker costs.”

S&P Global Ratings affirmed the city’s strong bond rating, noting, “our ‘AA’ long-term rating on New York City is anchored by its governance strengths, as well as the dynamism and resilience of its economy, which we believe support stable credit quality over the outlook horizon. At the onset of fiscal 2026, we believe that the city’s fiscal trajectory remains stable, and budgetary reserves — while not projected to increase from current levels over the near-term — provide the city with financial flexibility to navigate near-term risks.”

S&P continued, “the stable outlook is also predicated on the city’s continuing ability to navigate potentially disruptive economic uncertainties and sustain financial stability in the near term, particularly amid a shifting federal and state funding landscape.”

KBRA lauded “the City’s role as an international business and cultural center, and its position as the hub of the country’s largest metropolitan economy highlight the diversity and resilience of the resource base supporting G.O. Bonds. Institutionalized, long-range financial management and capital planning practices support financial stability.”

Fitch’s Ratings praised “New York City’s ‘AA’ Long-Term Issuer Default Rating and GO bond rating reflect the city’s exceptionally strong budget monitoring and controls, supporting Fitch Ratings’ ‘aa’ financial resilience assessment…The city experienced record revenue performance and strong economic recovery following the pandemic, as well as improvement in reserve levels, which will help management navigate future economic downturns.”

The credit rating and stable outlook affirmations follow the passage of the city’s $115.9 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Adopted Budget, which builds on Mayor Adams’ FY 2026 Executive Budget — often called the “Best Budget Ever” — that prioritizes investments that will make New York City a safer, more affordable city that is the best place to raise a family. Additionally, this fiscal year, for the first-time ever, New York City personal income taxes for eligible low-income New Yorkers will be abolished. Thanks to ongoing careful fiscal management, including remaining focused on saving taxpayer dollars and strong revenue performance due to a robust New York City economy, the Adams administration overcame unprecedented challenges in this budget cycle to manage the budget responsibly, support essential services, and make upstream investments that will benefit New Yorkers for generations to come.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ) Director Deanna Logan today announce a massive expansion of its successful Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training program for justice-involved individuals at the Ferrari Driving School in Queens on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

MOST PRO-HOUSING ADMINISTRATION IN CITY HISTORY: MAYOR ADAMS CONTINUES “HOUSING WEEK” BY ANNOUNCING NEW EFFORT TO DOUBLE PERCENTAGE OF HOMES IN HOUSING LOTTERY WITH PREFERENCE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES, VETERANS

Longstanding Affordable Housing Preference Gives Priority to Specific Groups in Housing Lottery

Adams Administration Will Increase Affordable Housing Preference for City Employees From 5 Percent of Homes to 10 Percent, Expand Eligibility to Also Include Military Veterans

Expanded Preference Will Help More City Employees and Military Veterans Find Affordable Homes, Strengthen City’s Ability to Recruit and Retain Top-Tier Talent

Announcement Part of Mayor Adams’ “Housing Week,” Highlighting City’s Efforts to Create More Homes, Connect More People to Homes, and Keep More People in Homes They Have

NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Eric Adams today continued “Housing Week” by announcing the Adams administration will double the percentage of homes in the city’s affordable housing lottery that have a preference for city employees, and expand eligibility for this preference to include military veterans as well. Historically, city employees have been given priority on 5 percent of newly-constructed affordable homes financed by either the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) or the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) and listed on the city’s Housing Connect lottery. With this new policy, the Adams administration will increase that preference to 10 percent of homes and allow military veterans to qualify for this preference as well. The expanded preference will help connect more city employees, who are largely required to live in New York City, as well as military veterans, who face a range of challenges often associated with housing insecurity, to affordable housing. During Housing Week, Mayor Adams is making a series of announcements focused on creating more homes, connecting more New Yorkers to homes, and keeping more New Yorkers in the homes they already have.

“As a lifelong public servant, I know first-hand the sacrifices that our city employees make every day to keep our streets safe, teach our children, help families save money, and deliver every day for 8.5 million of their fellow New Yorkers. We want to make sure the public servants who power our city can afford to live in our city, which is why we are going to double the city’s affordable housing preference for our extraordinary city employees,” said Mayor Adams. “But we’re not stopping there. Too many military veterans still struggle with housing insecurity. If you served our country abroad or on a military base, you should be able to find an affordable place to live back home; that is why we are going to make military veterans eligible for these homes as well. We are not only proud to be the most pro-housing administration in city history but to be able to give back to the public servants who give their all every day for their city and their country.”

“New York City runs on the dedication of over 300,000 municipal workers — the people who keep us safe, clean our streets, deliver clean water, and keep this city moving forward every single day. Today’s investment is a commitment to the workforce that keeps this city alive — not just recognizing their essential work, but strengthening it for the future,” said HPD Acting Commissioner Ahmed Tigani. “We are also expanding the preference to those who have put their lives on the line in service of our nation. As we celebrate ‘Housing Week,’ this announcement reflects our continued commitment to removing barriers, expanding access, and getting more New Yorkers housed.”

“This expansion of the preference is the result of thoughtful collaboration — and a shared belief that those who serve our city and nation should have a fair shot at building a life right here in the five boroughs,” said New York City Department of Veterans’ Services Commissioner James Hendon. “By including veterans, this policy takes an important step toward ensuring that service is met with opportunity — and that no one who’s answered the call to serve is left behind.”

Increasing the preference percentage will help ensure the city can continue to attract and retain a strong public workforce that is generally required to live in the five boroughs. Additionally, by expanding eligibility for this preference to include military veterans as well, the Adams administration will help further address the relationship between housing instability and mental health challenges among veterans. Today’s announcement will help connect more veterans to affordable housing and support veteran well-being.

Once launched, the new 10 percent preference will apply to all HPD- and HDC-financed new construction listed on the Housing Connect lottery. Applicants must meet one of the following eligibility criteria to qualify:

Municipal Employees: Applicants currently employed by the City of New York can qualify by answering “yes” to the Housing Connect question about city employment and submitting proof, such as a recent paystub or tax document.
Military Veterans: Applicants who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard, or Reserves can qualify by answering “yes” to the Housing Connect question about military service and providing supporting documents, such as a military ID or U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) benefits statement.

“Anything we can do to help our veterans who served this country is welcome,” said New York City Councilmember Robert Holden. “I thank the city for taking this seriously.”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams hosts a reception to celebrate Ecuadorian Heritage at Gracie Mansion, on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. Photo Credit: Benny Polatseck/Mayoral Photography Office

MAYOR ADAMS AND NYPD COMMISSIONER TISCH ANNOUNCE LOWEST NUMBERS OF SHOOTINGS IN RECORDED HISTORY, LOWEST NUMBER OF TRANSIT CRIMES STATEMENTS ON JULY CRIME STATISTICS

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch today praised the brave men and women of the NYPD for their tireless work to keep New York City safe after the release of the July 2025 crime statistics, which again showed a decreased in most crime categories, including a 5.6 percent drop in overall crime.

“New York City is grieving this week after the tragic loss of four innocent lives — including an NYPD officer — in a senseless shooting in Midtown. As we mourn, we must also find ways to turn our pain into purpose; it’s the least we can do to honor the victims. While this incident will forever be a stain on our city, it happened against the backdrop of a larger, more hopeful picture — one where the brave men and women of the NYPD continue to drive down crime,” said Mayor Adams. “As we reflect on the month of July, we are exceptionally proud that overall crime continues to topple — leading off our SEVENTH consecutive quarter of crime reductions — with some of our most violent crimes at record lows across the city. July saw the lowest number of shooting incidents and shooting victims in recorded history. Additionally, crime in the subway system in July was at record lows, excluding the 2020 and 2021 pandemic years. The first seven months of 2025 also mark the fewest shooting incidents and shooting victims ever recorded. This incredible progress is no coincidence — it is thanks to our administration’s dedication to policing with precision and integrity. At a time when many want to defund the police, our administration will always defend them. I want to extend my deepest thanks to Police Commissioner Tisch and the courageous men and women of the NYPD who put on their uniforms every single day, running toward danger so we don’t have to face it ourselves, and fighting to keep New York City the safest big city in America.”

“New York City just recorded the lowest number of shooting incidents and shooting victims ever for the first seven months of any year, while major crime continued to decline citywide. Excluding the two pandemic years, it was also the safest July in our subway system in recorded history,” said NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “These achievements are to the direct credit of the women and men of the NYPD, who now carry forward the legacy of Detective First Grade Didarul Islam.”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams swears in Devarjaye “DJ” Daniel as Deputy Mayor for Public Safety for a day at City Hall on Tuesday, August 126, 2025. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

MAYOR ADAMS AND NYPD COMMISSIONER TISCH EXPAND QUALITY OF LIFE TEAMS ACROSS ALL OF BROOKLYN FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL PILOT LAUNCH

Since Inception, Q-Teams Have Responded to Over 23,400 Quality-of-Life Calls

Pilot Commands Reduced Non-Emergency Response Times by Average of 47 Minutes

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch today announced the expansion of the NYPD’s Quality of Life Teams across the entire borough of Brooklyn. This work is part of the NYPD’s focus on tackling the daily issues that impact New Yorkers’ sense of safety and well-being, including cracking down on illegal mopeds, towing abandoned and derelict vehicles, cleaning up encampments, addressing outdoor drug use, and responding to noise complaints.

Starting this past April, the NYPD launched “Q-Teams” in six pilot commands, and to date, these teams have improved non-emergency response times by an average of 47 minutes, towed 640 vehicles, and seized 299 illegal e-bikes, scooters, and mopeds. Following the success of the pilot program, the NYPD expanded Q-Teams to every precinct in Manhattan on July 14 and throughout the Bronx on July 21, and last Monday, they added every precinct in Brooklyn. To date, Q-Teams have responded to more than 23,400 911 and 311 calls. The NYPD will continue to expand these efforts to every precinct in Queens on August 11, Staten Island on August 18, and to all housing commands on August 25.

“Last week, we expanded our NYPD Quality of Life teams across Brooklyn as we continued to sweep out crime and deliver a safer city that is more livable, one neighborhood at a time,” said Mayor Adams. “Every New Yorker deserves to live in a neighborhood that is safe from gun violence, that has clean streets, and that is free from illegal activities — and our administration is delivering exactly that to our city’s residents. With this Brooklyn rollout and more boroughs to come in the next month, we are ensuring that New York City remains the safest big city in America and the best place to raise a family.”

“The Quality of Life Division’s mission is simple, yet vital: respond to real complaints from real people — and address the everyday issues they are dealing with,” said NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “The abandoned vehicle left on the corner, the illegal e-bike parked on the sidewalk, the unlicensed smoke shop that opened on your block — all these everyday concerns add up to New Yorkers not feeling safe in their communities. Those days are coming to an end. Every precinct in Brooklyn now has a Q-Team to ensure that a true quality of life is experienced by everyone who calls the borough home.”

Program Results

On April 14, the NYPD launched Q-Teams across six pilot commands: the 13th, 40th, 60th, 75th, and 101st precincts, along with Police Service Area 1. Since the launch and through July 31, Q-Teams have responded directly to communities and made significant improvements to New Yorkers’ quality-of-life concerns.

Six Pilot Commands:

Responded to 16,128 911 and 311 calls.

Towed 640 abandoned and derelict vehicles.

Seized 299 illegal e-bikes, scooters, and mopeds.

Manhattan Q-Teams:

Responded to 3,349 911 and 311 calls.

Towed 49 abandoned and derelict vehicles.

Seized 93 illegal e-bikes, scooters, and mopeds.

Bronx Q-Teams:

Responded to 2,649 911 and 311 calls.

Towed 36 abandoned and derelict vehicles.

Seized 26 illegal e-bikes, scooters, and mopeds.

Brooklyn Q-Teams:

Responded to 1,305 911 and 311 calls.

Towed 55 abandoned and derelict vehicles.

Seized 16 illegal e-bikes, scooters, and mopeds.

In addition to Q-Team operations, the following NYPD units also contributed to addressing quality-of-life conditions in the pilot commands, as well as in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn through July 31, with the results below:

Vehicle Response Team: Towed 5,352 abandoned or derelict vehicles.

Smoke Shop Task Force: Executed 1,034 inspections and padlocked 184 smoke shops.

Encampment Team: Resolved 1,317 homeless conditions.

Q-Teams are comprised of officers from across the NYPD who undergo specialized training on how to address non-emergency, quality-of-life concerns, including noise complaints, illegal vending, outdoor drug use, unregistered vehicles, encampments, and reckless e-bike and scooter riding. Each team receives additional instruction in discretionary responses to specific conditions as an alternative to using enforcement tools.

The NYPD holds monthly Q-Stat meetings — modeled after the NYPD’s main crime data tracker, “CompStat” — to analyze precinct and public service data related to 311 calls and requests. This process helps examine operation outcomes, identify neighborhoods that are most susceptible to recurring quality-of-life issues, and hold precincts accountable. New York City’s 311 system, NYC311, is a non-emergency service that allows New Yorkers to report non-emergency issues, request city services, and discover information about government programs.

“The expansion of the NYPD’s Quality of Life Teams across Brooklyn is a welcome step toward improving the everyday safety and well-being of our neighborhoods,” said New York State Senator Roxanne J. Persaud. “By addressing issues like illegal vehicles, abandoned properties, and persistent noise complaints, these teams are helping to restore peace and order in our communities while ensuring that residents feel heard and protected.”

“Brooklyn is experiencing record-low levels of gun violence, thanks to strong partnerships and smart, community-based strategies,” said Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. “As we continue to make our streets safer, it’s important to address the issues that affect people’s everyday lives, from noise complaints to abandoned vehicles. The expansion of Quality of Life Teams across Brooklyn is an important step in strengthening the sense of safety and well-being in our neighborhoods as we work together to make our borough a better place to live for all.”

“I want to thank Mayor Adams for his vision and insight in developing the NYPD’s Quality-of-Life Initiative,” said New York City Councilmember Darlene Mealy. “The expansion of this initiative to Brooklyn is a major step forward in ensuring that our neighborhoods are safe, clean, and livable for all residents. I am proud to welcome this initiative to communities across Brooklyn. These teams are making a real difference—responding faster, addressing chronic issues, and helping restore a sense of pride and peace in our public spaces. The Q-Team initiative has now been fully implemented in my district, and residents are already seeing the benefits. I look forward to working closely with the NYPD and local stakeholders to make this effort a lasting success.”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams shares remarks and marches in the New York Hindu Community Janmashtami Parade in Queens, on Sunday, August 24, 2025. Photo Credit: Benny Polatseck/Mayoral Photography Office

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES INCREASED FUNDING FOR FIVE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS’ OFFICES, RAISING BUDGETS TO $633 MILLLION TO DELIVER SMARTER, FASTER, FAIRER JUSTICE

23 Percent Increase Under Adams Administration Will Fund New ADAs, Restorative Justice, Youth Programming, Cybercrime Expansion, and More

Investment Part of Mayor Adams’ “Best Budget Ever,” Which Invests in Affordability, Public Safety, and Quality-of-Life Issues New Yorkers Care Most About

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced additional funding for the offices of the city’s five district attorneys and the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor, bringing funding to a total of $633 million — a 23 percent increase in the current fiscal year compared to when the Adams administration came into office. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Adopted Budget — which builds on the “Best Budget Ever” — also includes more than $17 million in new investments to expand prosecutorial capacity, strengthen diversion programs, and support tailored public safety initiatives in each borough. More specifically, these investments will allow District Attorney Offices to hire dozens of additional assistant district attorneys (ADAs), build out restorative justice and youth-focused programming, and launch or expand units targeting cybercrime, domestic violence, and forensic analysis.

“Justice delayed is justice denied — and that’s why our administration is investing in a system that delivers public safety quickly, fairly, and effectively,” said Mayor Adams. “Since day one, we’ve said public safety and justice are the prerequisites to prosperity, and that continues to stand true today. This means giving our city’s district attorneys the resources they need to protect both — from cutting case backlogs to expanding diversion initiatives to standing up new programs that keep our communities safe. By increasing their budgets to a total of $633 million annually, we are giving our local prosecutors their largest budgets ever, as we continue to invest — borough by borough, program by program, and investment by investment — in building a safer, fairer city for all.”

Borough-by Borough Highlights from the “Best Budget Ever”:

Bronx (Bronx County) – $6.08 million:

24 additional ADAs and two paralegals to increase case-processing capacity.

Launch of new Youth Justice Bureau to better prosecute youth cases and provide tailored services to reduce future violence.

Support for the opening of the South Bronx Community Justice Cetner, a new hub for community-based justice programming.

Brooklyn (Kings County) – $5.6 million:

20 additional ADAs and six paralegals to reduce case backlogs and support discovery compliance.

Continued funding for restorative justice programming aimed at engaging young involved in gang violence.

Technology upgrades to improve data management and operational efficiency.

Manhattan (New York County) – $2.98 million:

10 additional experienced mid-level ADAs to handle complex cases.

Nine additional paralegals and discovery specialists to assist with early case assessments.

Five additional re-entry and diversion staff members to expand access to problem-solving courts.

Eight additional security guards to enhance office safety.

Queens (Queens County) – $1.75 million:

18 additional staff members, including ADAs and investigators, to bolster expert forensic analysis and courtroom readiness.

Staten Island (Richmond County) – $970,000:

Creation of a dedicated Intimate Partner Violence Unit to handle specific domestic violence cases and provide early victim engagement to prevent further harm. The unit will include an ADA, victim advocates, and a unit chief.

An additional analyst, paralegal, unit chief, and two ADAs — along with new technology — to expand the office’s Cybercrimes Unit to better protect New Yorkers from online crime.

“This significant new funding is critical to keeping Manhattanites safe,” said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. “These additional resources will boost our ability to recruit and retain prosecutors, bring cases quickly and efficiently, and connect more people to services that can address recidivism and drive down crime further. I am grateful to Mayor Adams and the City Council for their commitment to investing in a holistic approach to public safety and look forward to continued collaboration and partnership.”

“In March, I testified to the City Council that I am fighting for the soul of the Bronx,” said Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark. “With this investment of $6 million, Mayor Adams and the Council are saying they are joining me in the battle. These funds will go toward more ADAs to resolve cases and to staff our Youth Justice Bureau, which will more effectively address youth gang violence that plagues the Bronx. The funds also will go toward making a long-sought South Bronx Community Justice Center a reality. I appreciate the financial support, and, as always, your support of the people of the Bronx.”

“We have made historic progress driving down crime across Brooklyn, with shootings reaching the lowest levels on record,” said Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. “That success reflects strong collaboration with law enforcement, focused efforts to prevent violence before it happens, and a commitment to building real safety in every neighborhood. This budget helps us continue that work by expanding Project Restore, our proven restorative justice program that has disrupted cycles of trauma, retaliation, and gang involvement, and by funding additional staff to fill critically needed roles in our office. I thank Mayor Adams and the City Council for their support in building a safer, more just Brooklyn.”

“Properly funding the district attorneys’ offices is essential to keeping New Yorkers safe while advancing meaningful criminal justice reform,” said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. “I thank the mayor for the city’s ongoing investments in local prosecutors. With continued support, my office will keep building a stronger, more effective system that serves every community in Queens and beyond.”

“As Staten Island’s chief law enforcement officer, it is my responsibility not only to prosecute dangerous criminals in the courtroom but to ensure that the men and women of my office have the technology, people power, and funding necessary to effectively combat and prevent crime,” said Staten Island District Attorney Michael McMahon. “And while we have made tremendous strides in reducing violent crime here on Staten Island in recent years, domestic violence and cybercrime remain significant drivers of crime in our borough, shattering families and robbing hard-working Staten Islanders of their hard-earned savings in the blink of an eye. I am incredibly proud to share that the city’s Fiscal Year 2026 Adopted Budget represents a remarkable investment in district attorneys’ offices across the five boroughs, including nearly $1 million in direct funding to my office to support the creation and proper staffing of a dedicated Intimate Partner Sexual Assault Unit and RCDA’s Cybercrimes Unit. Because of this vital funding, RCDA will receive an influx of new technology and funding for nearly a dozen new personnel members, including unit chiefs, ADAs, and support staff to provide early victim engagement to survivors, better protect our neighbors and loved ones from falling victim to pernicious scams, and strengthen my office’s ability to hold abusers and fraudsters alike more accountable in the courtroom. I am grateful to Mayor Eric Adams and the New York City Council, particularly our Staten Island delegation, for this essential investment in public safety and look forward to working with our partners in government to ensure Staten Island remains the safest community of its size in the country.”

This latest round of funding builds on past initiatives like Project Restore, which supports programming to address gun violence, housing insecurity, and other drivers of crime. It also reflects a shared commitment between the administration and the City Council to invest in smarter, more effective justice citywide.

This investment also complements the New York City Police Department’s targeted investigations into violent gangs, which have already resulted in 48 gang takedowns year-to-date, leading to the arrests of 347 gang members and associates, as well as the seizure of 236 firearms. These efforts are matched by long-haul, data-driven prosecutions by the city’s five district attorneys, directly contributing to fewer illegal guns on city streets and safer communities across the five boroughs.

As a result of the Adams administration’s relentless focus on public safety, from January 2025 through July 2025, New York City experienced the lowest number of shooting incidents and shooting victims in recorded history. These historic numbers have helped drive down major crime categories into the seventh consecutive quarter, with a 5.6 percent drop in July 2025 compared to the same month last year. Overall index crime across New York City is down 5 percent year-to-date — with reductions in homicides, robberies, burglaries, felony assaults, grand larcenies, vehicle theft, shootings, transit crime, housing crime, retail theft, hate crimes, and more. These significant declines resulted in 3,602 fewer victims of major crime in New York City so far this year, compared to the same period last year. The record-low crime statistics build on the Adams administration’s work to remove more than 22,900 illegal guns from New York City streets since taking office, including more than 3,100 illegal firearms removed year-to-date.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams delivers remarks at a Jazz Celebration for Life for Wilkins Cumbo. Brooklyn, New York. Sunday, August 24, 2025. Photo Credit: Benny Polatseck/Mayoral Photography Office

MAYOR ADAMS’ STATEMENT AFTER CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE VOTES UNANIMOUSLY TO ADVANCE MIDTOWN SOUTH MIXED-USE PLAN

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released the following statement after the New York City Council Land Use and Zoning Committees voted unanimously in favor of the Adams administration’s Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan, moving it on to a vote by the full Council:

“To address New York City’s dire housing crisis, we must take bold, transformative steps that build more housing in every neighborhood, including Midtown South. This community has long been a centerpiece of our city, brimming with iconic parks, buildings, and businesses, as well as fantastic transit access. This makes it all the more unbelievable that zoning rules have stopped the creation of new homes throughout the neighborhood; but now, we are going to change that.

“With today’s vote, we’re taking another step forward in helping to create a more dynamic Midtown South where New Yorkers of all income levels can live, work, and play. Not only will this plan deliver thousands of new homes for this central neighborhood, but it also represents a down payment on our vision of 100,000 new homes across all of Manhattan over the next decade. Furthermore, this agreement underscores our commitment to pairing housing with investments in our infrastructure — including the transformation and reconstruction of Broadway and 34th Street busway.

“Our administration is not just talking about our housing crisis; we are taking action to tackle it every single day. We have shattered affordable housing records year after year, passed the first citywide rezoning reform in six decades, and laid out ambitious plans to create more family-friendly neighborhoods across all five boroughs. When you put it all together, our administration has already created, preserved, or planned over 426,000 homes for New Yorkers through our work to date, reinforcing, once again, why we are the most pro-housing administration in city history.

“Thank you to Council Speaker Adams, Land Use Committee Chair Salamanca, Jr., Zoning Subcommittee Chair Riley, and Councilmembers Powers and Bottcher for their support for this ambitious proposal and for working with our administration to build the homes that New Yorkers need. We look forward to a full vote later this month and bringing this ambitious vision for Midtown to life.”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams delivers remarks at the New York City Police Department (NYPD) Muslim Officers Society’s 17th Annual Scholarship Award Dinner. Queens, New York. Thursday, August 22, 2025. Photo Credit: Benny Polatseck/Mayoral Photography Office

MAYOR ADAMS EXPANDS PARTNERSHIP WITH STUDENT LOAN ASSISTANCE COMPANY SUMMER TO HELP NEW YORKERS KEEP UP TO $1 BILLION IN THEIR POCKETS BY REDUCING MONTHLY STUDENT LOAN PAYMENTS AND IDENTIFYING WAYS TO SAVE ON COLLEGE

Builds on Adams Administration’s Program to Help Wipe Out Estimated $360 Million in Student Loan Debt for 100,000 Public Servants

Builds on Mayor Adams’ Efforts to Make New York City More Affordable, Best Place to Raise a Family

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga, and New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) Commissioner Louis Molina today announced a first-of-its-kind municipal student loan reduction and college savings assistance program now available to all New York City residents that will help them potentially keep $1 billion in their pockets. The program builds on the city’s recent partnership with Summer — a leading company that helps borrowers navigate student loan repayment options — to help wipe out $360 million in student loan debt for 100,000 public servants through enrollment in the federal government’s Income Driven Repayment Plans and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. The city’s program will now be expanded to also offer an estimated 1.4 million New Yorkers who have student loan debt or are enrolling in college with assistance on managing and paying down their existing loans with lower monthly payments, as well as specialized assistance for approximately 1.6 million parents and guardians of college-bound children in how to bring down the cost of a college education. The initiative is estimated to reduce annual student loan payments for New Yorkers by an average of $3,000 per year and an average of $7,000 per year for participants with advanced degrees. It will also help participants save up to $10,000 per year per child on total education expenses in an effort to help make New York City more affordable for families.

“Getting an education shouldn’t lead to a lifetime of debt; yet, for far too many New Yorkers, getting a college degree and a higher education means more bills, more debt, more money out of their pockets. We’re changing that by making higher education more affordable working-class families and helping put up to $1 billion back in their pockets,” said Mayor Adams. “Working with Summer, we will expand our groundbreaking partnership and help millions of New Yorkers bring down their monthly student loan payments by thousands of dollars and save even more on the cost of a college degree. We are lowering costs for families, helping them connect to debt relief, and making our city the best place to find opportunity, raise a family, and live the American Dream. New Yorkers deserve their fair share, and our administration is delivering it to them every day.”

“Leading a financially healthy life is a difficult task when you are tackling student loan debt — something I know firsthand,” said DCWP Commissioner Mayuga. “With this new expansion, we are extending support to millions of New Yorkers who have or are thinking of taking on student loans. Thank you to Mayor Adams, Commissioner Molina, and our partners at Summer for sharing our commitment to financially empower all New Yorkers and make our city more affordable for working-class families.”

“Student loan repayment and college cost planning are increasingly complex processes to navigate. Thankfully, the City of New York is stepping up to provide additional access to resources, tools, and programs to reduce that complexity,” said Will Sealy, founder and CEO, Summer. “In just the first three months of the city employee program, the city has achieved $13.8 million in savings and a $3,800 average reduction in annual student loan payments. We’re proud to extend that impact to residents while complementing the important work already being done by city and state agencies, and we thank Mayor Adams for taking this step to expand these life-changing opportunities to even more New Yorkers.”

First announced in May, the city’s pilot program with Summer to provide comprehensive assistance for city employees to take advantage of the federal government’s Public Service Loan Forgiveness program is on track to already help wipe out more than $13.8 million in student loan debt for city employees. Since launching, the program has served more than 2,000 civil servants and helped over 380 civil servants apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness and Income-Driven Repayment Plans at the three city agencies in the pilot program.

With the expansion of the program, city residents will have access to Summer’s online portal where residents can verify their eligibility for programs that lower payments, compare repayment options, manage their paperwork for enrollment in federal programs, and stay on track for loan forgiveness, if eligible. Through the partnership, city residents will be able to identify the best repayment and forgiveness strategy for their individual situation thanks to fast, free, and easy tools and customized recommendations. Additionally, the program’s college planning resources will help city residents across diverse financial and educational planning scenarios to help families navigate the challenges of preparing for higher education expenses. New Yorkers can use online tools to find out how much they need to save for college, identify ways to save, and other strategies for bridging financial gaps. These resources will supplement and coordinate with existing city resources, such as NYC Kids Rise, which helps New York City Public School students save for college.

Today’s announcement builds on Mayor Adams’ ongoing efforts to wipe out burdensome debt and put money back in New Yorkers’ pockets, including ambitious initiatives to eliminate and cut city personal income taxes for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers through his “Axe the Tax for the Working Class” plan, wipe out more than $2 billion in medical debt for working-class New Yorkers, invest hundreds of millions of dollars in early childhood education, launch free universal after-school programming, and more. The Adams administration has already saved New Yorkers more than $30 billion by connecting local residents to city, state, and federal programs, including a historic expansion of the New York City Earned Income Tax Credit that returned over $345 million to New Yorkers in tax year 2023 alone. Since the start of the Adams administration, DCWP’s Financial Empowerment Centers have helped tens of thousands of New Yorkers improve their credit, reduce their debt by more than $40 million, and increase their savings by $4.5 million through free one-on-one financial counseling services. DCWP’s “NYC Free Tax Prep” program has also helped New Yorkers save $220 million in tax refunds and nearly $57 million in tax preparation fees by helping filers file approximately 257,000 tax returns for free. NYC Free Tax Prep providers also offer drop-off services and virtual tax preparation services.

“Mayor Eric Adams’ new initiatives to reduce municipal student loan debt and expand college savings programs mark a critical step forward in making higher education more accessible and affordable for New Yorkers,” said New York State Assemblymember Alec Brook-Krasny. “By easing the financial burden on working families and investing in our students’ futures, the mayor is helping to build a stronger, more equitable city. I am proud to support these efforts and look forward to working together to ensure that every student has the opportunity to succeed.”

“We applaud New York City for stepping up and providing a service to help borrowers navigate the current uncertainty and chaos in the student loan system,” said Winston Berkman-Breen, legal director, Student Borrower Protection Center. “New York continues to set the standard nationally for how cities can address the student loan crisis, especially by meeting borrowers where they are and offering individualized assistance.”

Flag-raising ceremony for Ukraine. Bowling Green, Manhattan. Thursday, August 21, 2025. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.

MAYOR ADAMS UNVEILS $164 MILLION INVESTMENT TO TRANSFORM WEST VILLAGE CORRIDOR INTO NEW RECREATION, CULTURAL, AND FITNESS HUB

Project Features Approximately 100,000 Square Feet of Indoor and Outdoor Recreation Spanning Three Properties and Featuring State-of-the-Art Facilities, Indoor and Outdoor Aquatics, Public Art, and Green Space

New Web-Based Community Input Portal Launched to Solicit Feedback and Inform Project Design

Builds on Adams Administration’s Efforts to Make New York City Best Place to Raise a Family

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa today announced a transformative vision for the Clarkson Street corridor in the West Village. The city is investing nearly $164 million in the multi-agency project to enhance community health and wellness, develop local recreation space, and build more public space. Made possible, in part, through investments made in the city’s 10-Year Capital Plan as part of Mayor Adams’ “Best Budget Ever,” the project includes funding to build a new fully accessible outdoor pool and pool house on the site of the current Tony Dapolito Recreation Center, preserving the Keith Haring mural, and creating a new indoor recreation center to be located across the street. 

“A pillar of any community is its public spaces, which is where families and neighbors develop memories, participate in recreation, and share culture with one another,” said Mayor Adams. “This $164-million investment will revitalize a community that has consistently contributed to the rich history of our city. We will introduce new amenities into this neighborhood, including a fully accessible pool and pool house, as well as more affordable housing, all while honoring the rich history and legacy of the Keith Haring mural and preserving the community spirit rooted in West Village parks, where friends and families have long come together. Our mission is to make New York City a safer, more affordable city that is the best place to raise a family, and visionary plans like this, which invest in local communities, is exactly how we do just that.”

“This is a transformational milestone for this neighborhood and for Manhattan as a whole — and thanks to Mayor Adams’ ‘Celebrate Swimming’ funding, we’re turning that vision into reality,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Rodriguez-Rosa. “From a brand-new indoor pool and basketball gym to honoring the legacy of Keith Haring’s mural, we’re celebrating history as we plan for the future with expanded amenities that support community wellness. This project reflects what residents have asked for: inclusive, free, and accessible recreation that inspires healthier, more connected neighborhoods.” 

Aerial view of the full revitalization plan for the Clarkson Street Corridor. Credit: NYC Parks

The holistic plan for the neighborhood will unlock nearly 100,000 square feet of new and improved indoor and outdoor recreation and deliver a new outdoor Aquatics Complex, a new recreation center at 388 Hudson Street, the preservation of Keith Haring’s Carmine Street Pool Mural, and the new passive recreation at Hudson-Houston Plaza. The plan for the Clarkson Street corridor is shaped by feedback from the community about the need for recreation facilities and programming. To build on that input, NYC Parks has also launched a community online input portal, inviting the public to answer questions about the types of recreation programming they would like to see, which will serve as both a feedback tool for future designers and a forum for residents to share ideas.

The nearly $164-million revitalization plan includes: 

State-of-the-Art Indoor Recreation Center: The Clarkson Street Corridor vision will deliver a multi-million fully ADA-accessible indoor recreational facility located within the New York City Housing Preservation and Development planned mixed-use development at 388 Hudson Street. It will feature a modern, ADA-accessible indoor pool, gymnasium, and other program spaces. The new design reflects a 60 percent increase in indoor square footage compared to what has been previously available in the community.

Example designs of a new, but different NYC Parks recreation center gymnasium and indoor pool (Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center, Brooklyn; In Construction) Credit: NYC Parks / NYC DDC

New Outdoor Pool Aquatics Complex at Tony Dapolito: Tony Dapolito Recreation Center and the outdoor pool will see a transformation into a modern outdoor aquatics complex. The project will explore ways to honor the site’s history, including the potential reuse of exterior building elements along Seventh Avenue and Clarkson Street. The entire site will remain a public park with all improvements dedicated to park use. 

Example of a different, modern accessible NYC Parks outdoor pool (Sheltering Arms; Manhattan) Credit: NYC Parks

Public Art and Cultural Preservation: The plan reaffirms the city’s commitment to artistic heritage with the restoration of Keith Haring’s iconic Carmine Street Pool Mural. NYC Parks recognizes the deep cultural significance of the mural and will continue to partner with the Keith Haring Foundation, as it has done for over 30 years, to preserve this beloved artwork as part of the site’s reimagining. 

Diverse Recreational Programming: With spaces dedicated to both passive and active recreation, the Clarkson Street corridor will host programming that serves the West Village and Hudson Square communities, promoting wellness and offering a welcoming destination for all New Yorkers.

Dynamic New Public Space at Hudson Houston Plaza: This investment will transform an urban corner into newly accessible public open space, in partnership with New York City Department of Environmental Protection and Hudson Square BID. This vibrant, flexible multi-use gathering space inspired by Eduardo Kobra’s iconic Ellis mural will feature greenery, shade, seating and art.

Rendering of Hudson Houston Plaza (Manhattan; Completed design) Credit: NYC Parks / NYC DEP/ HSBID

The vision underscores the Adams administration’s commitment to fostering spaces where art, history, and active lifestyles intersect. This initiative will be a collaborative effort with the community, integrating thoughtful design and public input to create a strong neighborhood corridor that stands as an example of New York City’s innovation in public space. 

Banner Image: Flag Raising for Indonesia. Bowling Green, Manhattan. Wednesday, August 27, 2025. Image Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.