Exclusive | Mamdani, NYC Council reach handshake deal on colossal $125B budget without NYPD expansion

Mayor Zohran Mamdani struck a last-minute handshake deal on Tuesday morning with City Council Speaker Julie Menin on the Big Apple’s colossal, roughly $125 billion budget for next year — but the agreement notably leaves out an expanded headcount for the NYPD.The final deal comes right before a July 1 deadline to pass a budget for the 2027 fiscal year — and after a protracted, tense negotiation that nearly fell apart at the 11th hour over Mamdani’s backtracking on a campaign promise to fund the expansion of a housing voucher program.However, Mamdani and the Council came to a last-minute agreement Monday night to expand voucher access that will see the council voting to establish a new rental assistance program aimed at helping New Yorkers facing eviction or in the shelter system who aren’t eligible for the City Fighting Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement (CityFHEPS) program.Once the legislation passes, the Mamdani administration has agreed to drop its appeal of a lawsuit brought by the City Council after former Mayor Eric Adams’ veto of the expansion was overridden in 2024 and he refused to enact the approved reforms.“Every New Yorker deserves a safe, affordable home, and this agreement will help more families avoid eviction and homelessness,” said Speaker Julie Menin.“Our historic announcement includes the administration dropping their lawsuit against the Council and a new bill which addresses some of the fiscal concerns.

Housing vouchers are a smart investment that save taxpayers money by preventing homelessness before it happens,” Menin added.The spending plan’s contours are expected to closely match Mamdani’s $124.7 billion executive budget unveiled in May, but with more spending earmarked for Council members — and without the promised NYPD headcount boost after the mayor caved to activists who protested the increase, sources said.Mamdani allies and activists slammed Hizzoner for proposing to swell the police department’s...