Mayor Vetoes Housing Voucher Bills, Challenging City Council

Mayor Eric Adams vetoed a package of bills that would have expanded housing voucher eligibility, setting the stage for a showdown with the City Council.

The mayor on Friday vetoed four bills that the Council had overwhelmingly approved last month. One of the measures expanded income eligibility for vouchers: Instead of 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or $60,000 for a family of four, the upper limit would be changed to 50 percent of area median income, or $70,600.

Another vetoed bill repealed a rule requiring individuals and families to spend at least 90 days in homeless shelters before they can apply for the City Fighting Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement, or CityFHEPS. The other two measures sought to expand voucher eligibility to those at risk of homelessness or eviction and help low-income tenants pay utilities.

On Friday, Adams said the measures “would take us backwards, by leading to longer shelter stays for the most vulnerable New Yorkers, while simultaneously creating a structure that could saddle taxpayers with billions of dollars in costs each year. This legislation also clearly exceeds the Council’s legal authority.”

In response, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams said the body is prepared to override the vetoes, which she called a “futile political act.”

“The mayor is only hurting the city by delaying solutions and contributing to the eviction crisis that leads more New Yorkers to lose their homes, become homeless, and join the already-high shelter population,” she said in a statement.

The mayor’s veto was largely expected. Last week, he signed an executive order suspending the 90-day rule and called the other Council bills “problematic,” citing the costs to taxpayers and increased competition for the city’s existing 20,000 voucher holders.

The Adams administration estimates that the bills would cost $17 billion in the first five years. The Council pegged the cost at $11 billion. Eliminating the 90-day rule alone will cost $123 million each year, according to administration estimates.

The measures had garnered support from both tenant advocates and real estate groups — an uncommon alliance. The Real Estate Board of New York testified in favor of the measures eliminating the 90-day rule and raising the income threshold.

Leading up to last month’s vote, the mayor had pushed for lifting the 90-day rule for only families. To the chagrin of tenant advocates, his executive order also added work requirements for vouchers, according to City Limits.

Mayoral vetoes are rare, but this is not a first for Adams. Soon after becoming mayor, he vetoed a measure that would have increased penalties for non-artist residents living in designated artist lofts in Soho and Noho. The City Council last overrode a mayoral veto in 2013, during the Bloomberg administration.