New Yorkers Applaud Mayor Adams’ FY 2025 Budget For Smart Investments And Fiscal Responsibility

Following the release of New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Executive Budget, New York’s leaders.

From across labor, business, advocacy, arts and culture, tech and more –  joined in applauding the Adams administration’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Executive Budget. Mayor Adams’ budget builds on the administration’s actions, since last fall, to stabilize the city’s fiscal outlook, and has positioned the city to backfill long-term programs that had only been funded with temporary stimulus funds while making the investments that double down on the city’s efforts to strengthen public safety, rebuild the economy, and make the city more livable.

“.. improve the quality of life for working-class New Yorkers.”

These investments will specifically add more police officers to city streets and subways, protect educational programs with city and recurring state funds and increase access to early childhood education, provide support for thousands of cultural institutions, and boost programs that improve the quality of life for working-class New Yorkers. By virtue of Mayor Adams’ strong fiscal management and better-than-expected revenue, the Adams administration balanced the budget, stabilized the city’s fiscal position and outlook, and prevented major service cuts, tax hikes, or layoffs.

Here’s what New Yorkers are saying:

“Working class New Yorkers make up the heart and soul of our city and they deserve support in accessing simple necessities like stable career paths, sustainable housing, basic healthcare, and a solid education for their children,” said Gary LaBarbera, president, The Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York. “The new initiatives outlined in Mayor Adams’ executive budget will do just that by providing fundamental resources that will enable low-and-middle income people to successfully raise their families, reinvest in their communities, and ascend into the middle class. We applaud his commitment to uplifting hard working people and look forward to seeing the ways in which these investments boost our economy, close wealth gaps, and create a brighter future for all New Yorkers.”

“Mayor Adams’ executive budget includes funding for programs and initiatives that are absolutely critical for working and middle-class families,” said Rich Maroko, president, The Hotel & Gaming Trades Council. “From funding for expansion of early childhood learning, to dollars to fight against unfair health care costs for New Yorkers, this budget proposal prioritizes the well-being of working New Yorkers like hospitality workers.”

“Mayor Adams’ executive budget proposal goes a long way to prioritize the needs of working families in New York,” said Manny Pastreich, president, SEIU 32BJ. “By investing in the expansion of early childhood education and ensuring funding for clean, safe schools, our city has an opportunity to make a down payment for our children’s future. We commend the mayor’s efforts, and we look forward to working with the administration and the city council to achieve a budget that reflects the values of fairness, equity, and progress for all New Yorkers.”

“Mayor Adams is making New York City work better for working people and the most vulnerable New Yorkers,” said Shams DaBaron, housing and homelessness advocate. “From the historic creation of affordable and supportive housing, to delivering the NYCHA trust to unlock critical resources for NYCHA residents, to the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity zoning proposal to build a little more housing in every neighborhood and investments in CityFHEPS vouchers, it’s clear this administration is committed to lifting up working families across the five boroughs.”

“As a community-based organization serving over 45,000 people annually, we have observed that during challenging times, Mayor Adams has consistently delivered valuable solutions for our city, said Mohammad Razvi, chief executive officer, Council of People Organization. “His decision to allocate resources to essential educational programs and to increase the New York City Police Department force by 1,200 recruits are pivotal measures that will enhance our city’s safety and well-being.”

“Human service workers and leaders have worked for years to receive the Just Pay they deserve. This budget – which provides a three percent cost-of-living adjustment in each of the next three years, along with a workforce enhancement – is a testament to their sacrifices in our city’s moments of need,” said Michelle Jackson, executive director, Human Services Council. “I’m proud to stand with the Just Pay movement and Mayor Adams in celebrating an executive budget that honors the tireless work of the sector and treats our workers as the essential pieces they are in the fabric of our communities.”

“In a challenging fiscal year, United Way of New York City (UWNYC) commends the Adams administration for prioritizing our communities with the fewest resources,” said Grace Bonilla, president and chief executive officer, United Way. “This budget demonstrates the Adams administration’s commitment to our city’s children, working New Yorkers who deserve to live in dignity, and the broader fiscal health of the city. Appreciating there is certainly more to do, we are grateful to see critical investments made to neighborhood safety through evidence-based programming like the Crisis Management System and Neighborhood Safety Alliance. UWNYC is proud to partner with the City of New York to uplift community-driven solutions for public safety and looks forward to working together to help to build a more equitable New York City.”

“As a long time New Yorker, I know that the surest sign of a great mayor is one who invests in our city’s future,” said Andrew Rasiej, founder, Civic Hall at Union Square. “By protecting more than $500 million in key education programs that were funded by federal stimulus, Mayor Adams is prioritizing the future of our children. As the founder of Civic Hall, the largest digital skills training center in the country, I have seen how an opportunity can change a life. Today’s commitments will do just that for students across the five boroughs.”

“With a combination of responsible stewardship and an ambitious vision for New York, the Adams administration has been able to restore services, balance the budget and improve our city’s outlook,” said Steven Rubenstein, chairman, Association for a Better New York. “We applaud Mayor Adams and his team for prioritizing public safety and economic prosperity in this budget, even as it faced down unprecedented challenges.”

“We are pleased that investing in New York City’s small businesses continues to be a priority for Mayor Adams,” said Linda Baran, president and chief executive officer, Staten Island Chamber of Commerce. “Among the items outlined in the FY 2025 budget, the chamber is particularly happy to see plans to accelerate Minority and Women-Owned Business (M/WBE) tools, to create new Business Improvement Districts and merchant associations, and to establish of the NYC Future Fund. These initiatives will help small businesses of all shapes and sizes – owned and operated by a diverse population of New Yorkers – ensure their businesses remain safe and solvent.”

“Small businesses are the catalyst behind New York City’s economic recovery, contributing to record job numbers,” said Tom Grech, president and chief executive officer, Queens Chamber of Commerce. “As we continue to build out more tech incubators in addition to the five we already have in operation throughout Queens, these entrepreneurs are sure to benefit from the mayor’s budget. Currently, we have 15 tech firms that are 70 percent M/WBE. The mayor’s executive budget builds on this progress by making historic investments in small businesses, including access to grants and capital, and will ensure we have vibrant commercial corridors in all five boroughs.

“We thank Mayor Adams for continuing investments in Business Improvement District operations, formation, and expansion in communities where they are needed the most,” said Robert J. Benfatto and Erin Piscopink, co-chairs, NYC BID Association. “Over the last two years, our smallest BIDs have used these funds to expand basic services and innovate with new, responsive programming to meet our communities’ needs. We also applaud increased investment in public safety which is a pre-requisite for vibrant economic activity in the communities we are proud to serve.”

“… encourages young families to live and work in New York …”

“The 5BORO Institute’s recent policy roadmap to address New York City’s child care needs made it clear that we need to do more to connect families to care and ensure that every family that wants a 3-K or Pre-K seat for their child can get one,” said Grace Rauh, executive director, The 5BORO Institute. “We applaud the new proposed investments in child care and early childhood education. This is a step in the right direction. To have a thriving economy that encourages young families to live and work in New York, our city needs accessible, high-quality child care for all children under five.”

“Today’s restorations to the Department of Cultural Affairs is a positive step forward in the city’s support of their cultural anchors and economic engines like The New York Botanical Garden,” said Aaron Bouska, vice president, government and community relations, New York Botanical Garden. “Thank you, Mayor Adams, Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer, and Commissioner Cumbo, for restoring critical operating support that employs hundreds of Bronxites serving their communities. Thank you to Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Council Finance Chair Justin Brannan, and Cultural Affairs Chair Carlina Rivera for their early advocacy leadership and support of our cultural community.”

“We wholeheartedly thank Mayor Adams, Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer, and Commissioner Cumbo for the full restoration of the January budget cuts to culture,” said Clive Gillinson, executive and artistic director, Carnegie Hall. “This is a significant step toward making our sector whole this year, and we look forward to working with the administration to ensure both the full restoration of November’s cuts and full investment in the health and vitality of New York City’s arts and culture community in next year’s budget.”

“The hundreds of cultural groups who received cuts this year are deeply grateful that the mayor has reversed a good portion of them,” said Lucy Sexton, executive director, New Yorkers for Culture & Arts. “The continued investment in cultural centers, dance studios, small theater companies, musical groups of all types, art programs for youth and seniors, and so much more is critical to building a vibrant safe city and a thriving economy!”

“Today, we are pleased to see that our advocacy efforts, and the efforts of our partners in government, labor, tourism, workforce development and the greater cultural community, have resulted in arts investment in the mayor’s planned Executive Budget,” said Coco Killingsworth, chair, Cultural Institutions Group and vice president, creative social impact, BAM. “We want to thank Mayor Adams, Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer and Commissioner Laurie Cumbo for heeding our calls and for acknowledging the important place arts and culture have in the fabric of our great city. As a result of these restorations, our small, medium, and large institutions in all five boroughs will be able to stave off further cuts. We urge the mayor, the City Council, and our advocacy partners to continue to fight to restore cuts and baseline arts funding moving forward. Today is a great day for arts and culture. Let’s make sure tomorrow, next year, and the decades to follow are even greater.”

“We are immensely grateful to the administration for recognizing the vital role that culture plays in our community and for restoring the cuts that were impacting the commitment our institutions have to the City of New York. This funding not only enriches our cultural landscape but also fosters creativity, innovation, diversity, and community engagement,” said Minerva Tantoco, interim president & chief executive officer, The New York Hall of Science.  “As the discussion for FY25 continues, it is imperative that we maintain support for our cultural institutions and ensure they have the resources they need to thrive. Investing in CIGs like ours is an investment in the soul and future of our community, and we applaud Mayor Adams, Commissioner Cumbo, City Council Speaker Adams, Finance Chair Brannan, Cultural Affairs and Libraries Chair Rivera, and the New York City Council for their dedication to preserving and nurturing culture.”

“The heartbeat of New York City culture can be heard louder today, as we show our gratitude to Mayor Eric Adams, Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer and Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo for their show of support of New York City culture with the restoration of $22.6 million to the culture budget,” said Jessica B. Phillips, chief operating officer, Historic Richmond Town. “Specifically, the $7.43 million restoration exemplifies a shared dedication to enriching our community through arts and culture. Together, we will continue to ensure our great city remains the cultural capital of the world.”

“The Met is pleased that the administration is taking this important step to restore $22.6 million to the Department of Cultural Affairs,” said Max Hollein, director and chief executive officer, The Met’s Marina Kellen French Director. “This critical funding allows cultural organizations to continue serving as both key economic drivers and as sites of solace and inspiration for communities across the five boroughs, and we are deeply grateful for the support.”

“The Museum of the City of New York is pleased to learn of the partial restoration of cuts to the cultural sector,” said Stephanie Hill Wilchfort and Ronay Menschel, director and president, The Museum of the City of New York. “The cultural sector is an economic backbone of the city, representing 13 percent of our economy and generating $110 billion for our neighborhoods and communities. At MCNY, this support is helping us to launch the first major exhibition about Shirley Chisholm in June, allowing us to share an important New York story. Thank you to Mayor Adams and the administration for supporting our sector and the many New Yorkers who depend on our institutions for their livelihoods, inspiration, and wellbeing.”

“New York City Ballet was thrilled and relieved to learn of Mayor Eric Adams’ restoration of cuts to the Department of Cultural Affairs’ budget,” said Katherine Brown, executive director, New York City Ballet. “We are deeply grateful to the mayor for recognizing the importance of the arts for all New Yorkers. We would also like to thank Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer, Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo, New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Council Member Carlina Rivera, and Council Member Justin Brannan for their tireless work in advocating for culture.”

“New Yorkers can celebrate a step forward in the restoration of funding for arts and culture in the city’s executive budget,” said John F. Calvelli, executive vice president, public affairs, Wildlife Conservation Society. “We applaud Mayor Adams, Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer and Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo for supporting non-profit cultural organizations, both large and small, and their understanding of the economic impact this sector has on the city. We thank the many champions for culture on the City Council including Speaker Adrienne Adams, Chair Carlina Rivera and Chair Justin Brannan. This support from the city directly helps WCS’s Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo and New York Aquarium provide millions of New Yorkers each year with a great educational and fun experience.”

“LMCC is thrilled to learn that prior cuts to DCLA’s budget are getting restored and that the mayor is prioritizing funding for arts and culture,” said Craig T. Peterson, president, LMCC. “As we have always known, artist communities are a vital economic driver in New York City. This budget restoration is an investment in our city’s future that will pay dividends in the years to come. As the arts council for the borough of Manhattan, we are grateful to know that this funding will be invested in creative communities and projects across the city.”

“On behalf of the staff and communities served, Brooklyn Children’s Museum is thankful to Mayor Eric Adams, Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer, DCLA Commissioner Laurie Cumbo in this tremendous victory for the sector,” said Atiba T. Edwards, president and chief executive officer, Brooklyn Children’s Museum. “This reversal of the January PEG cuts and also the FY25 and FY26 planned cuts allows for BCM to continue to invest in providing great opportunities for our youngest stewards of our future, families, school groups and a broader community. Arts and culture provide tremendous opportunities to enrich general lives and advance academic achievement across New York City. Thank you to Speaker Adrienne Adams, Chair of the Committee on Culture Carlina Rivera, Chair of the Committee on Finance Justin Brannan and the many other elected officials for advocating for the needed support and growth in support of culture.”

“On behalf of the board, staff, and almost 1 million visitors to Brooklyn Botanic Garden, we thank Mayor Adams, Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer, and Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo for this significant restoration of the cultural affairs budget,” said Adrian Benepe, president and chief executive officer, Brooklyn Botanic Garden. “We are also grateful to City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Finance Committee Chair Justin Brannan, and Cultural Affairs and Libraries Committee Chair Carlina Rivera for their advocacy on behalf of arts and culture in New York City. We look forward to working with the administration and council on building back toward full funding for culture in the face of many years of diminished investment in this vital aspect of New York City’s social and economic health.”

“The restored budget cuts will have an immediate impact for Queens Theatre, increasing our capacity to bring programming to the communities we serve, and we are tremendously grateful to Mayor Adams, Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer and Commissioner Cumbo,” said Taryn Sacramone, executive director, Queens Theatre. “This is an important step toward funding New York City cultural institutions at a level commensurate with the sector’s importance to the economic and social health of the city. We are also thankful for the consistent support of Speaker Adams, Councilmember Rivera and Councilmember Justin Brannan, as reflected in their strong advocacy for culture funding in their Budget response.”

“I would like to thank the mayor for the reversal of the January PEG cuts to culture,” said Lisa Gold, executive director, Asian American Arts Alliance. “New York City culture is the envy of the world, and we need support from the city to ensure our artists and arts organizations are able to thrive. I am so grateful to the mayor for recognizing the importance of culture to the city — not just to the millions of tourists who flock here annually to catch Broadway shows and world-class museum exhibitions, but also the millions of New Yorkers who take pride in seeing their culture and communities represented in dance, film, theater, and more!”

“On behalf of the hundreds of immigrant students and professional artists we work with, we are grateful the mayor has reversed the January peg cuts for the Department of Cultural Affairs,” said Mino Lora, artistic executive director, People’s Theatre Project. “Culture in our city is vital! We know neighborhoods across our city are able to thrive when New York City invests in cultural groups across the boroughs and across artistic disciplines and applaud the mayor for this announcement.”

“… nurturing New York City’s vibrant cultural landscape …”

“We are heartened by the restoration of major funding to the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, a crucial initial stride towards nurturing New York City’s vibrant cultural landscape,” said Anne Pasternak, director, The Brooklyn Museum. “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mayor Adams, Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer, Commissioner Cumbo, and the City Council, particularly Speaker Adrienne Adams, Finance Committee Chair Justin Brannan, and Cultural Affairs Committee Chair Carlina Rivera, for showing the importance of prioritizing our city’s cultural institutions for generations to come.”

“We are thankful to Mayor Eric Adams for the significant cultural sector restoration of funds that will help New York City communities thrive,” said Regina Bain, executive director, Louis Armstrong House Museum. “Art and culture are critical to the success of our neighborhoods. Thank you as well to Commissioner Cumbo, Speaker Adams, Chair Rivera, Council Member Moya, and to arts and culture colleagues throughout the city who are preparing to bring this important work to the students, seniors, travelers, and families we serve.” 

“This is a major victory for New Yorkers.”

“On behalf of the staff and Board of New York City Center – an organization designated as ‘the People’s Theater’ by Fiorello La Guardia — we are all so grateful to Mayor Eric Adams, Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer, and DCLA Commissioner Laurie Cumbo for their work in restoring vital funding to the Department of Cultural Affairs,” said Michael Rosenberg, president & CEO, New York City Center. “This is a major victory for New Yorkers. We all benefit from our city’s outstanding cultural institutions, and this is a vital first step towards the full restoration of budget cuts from the past year, allowing us to continue our expansion of accessible programming for audiences and students across the city. We also recognize the outstanding support that Speaker Adams and Council Members Rivera and Brannon have offered in advocating for arts and culture throughout the budgeting process.”

“The Mayor’s Executive budget includes funding for a multi-year cost-of-living-adjustment for human services workers, a workforce that has long gone unrecognized, said Dr. Damyn Kelly, president and chief executive officer, Lutheran Social Services of New York. “In addition, key funding was provided to protect and support key educational programs as well as assisting in maximizing enrollment in early childhood education programs. As an employer of more than 650 human service professionals the cost-of-living adjustment will assist in the recruitment and retention of staff who serve the most vulnerable amongst us. As education is a key component of escaping poverty, the city’s investment is important to the growth and development of future generations.”

Photo credit: NYC.gov