Lone NYC Council Dem to vote against Mamdanis $126B budget rips mayor for lack of equity

The lone City Council Democrat who opposed the Big Apple’s newly-passed roughly $126 billion budget slammed Mayor Zohran Mamdani, claiming he short-changed her constituents while wealthier districts received more funding.Bronx Councilwoman Althea Stevens blasted the democratic socialist mayor over what she called a lack of “equity” in his first budget — accusing him of not allotting enough cash for her district, which faces high rates of poverty and gun violence.“What made this even more difficult was seeing districts with higher incomes and greater access to resources receive significantly larger investments while neighborhoods like mine continue to fight for the basics,” she said in a statement. “Equity cannot simply be a word we use in speeches or campaign slogans.

Equity means directing resources where the needs are greatest.”The Council late Tuesday approved the record-breaking $125.8 billion spending plan for the 2027 fiscal year that started July 1 in a 45-6 vote, with Stevens crossing party lines to join the five dissenting Republicans on the legislative body.Some lefty Council Members, including Brooklyn DSA Councilwoman Shahana Hanif and Progressive Caucus Co-Chair Sandy Nurse (D-Brooklyn) publicly voiced their support for Stevens, despite voting to approve the budget.“I support her 100%,” Hanif posted to X, in response to a City and State op-ed Stevens wrote about her opposing vote.“Truly, a shameful outcome this year.

Standing with @althea4theBX!” Nurse posted.Stevens’ District 16, which covers the South Bronx communities of Morrisania, Concourse, Highbridge and Morris Heights, received some $11.1 million in capital and expense funding, a Council spokesperson said.“We’re proud of this budget, and the overwhelming support it received from 45 Democratic Council Members,” said the rep for Council Speaker Julie Menin’s office.Councilwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers (D-Queens), who also voted yes on the spending plan, still lam...