The City Council on Thursday voted to override Mayor Adams’ vetoes of four pieces of legislation, and members slammed the mayor’s attempts to shut the legislation down as attacks on working-class New Yorkers.
“This Council … has been steadfast in working for the people of the city of New York, particularly for the least of these and the most underserved populations of this city,” Council Speaker Adrienne Adams said at a press conference ahead of the vote. “It’s unfortunate that the mayor abdicates his responsibility to working people, particularly with this legislation that we’re going to override today.”
The bills would seek to expand pay-equity reporting requirements, prevent CityFHEPS voucher holders from paying more than 30% of their income toward rent and codify the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services in an attempt to get nonprofits paid more promptly.
The overrides on pay equity and rent limits for voucher recipients were all passed by a vote of 40-7 and the Office of Contract Services veto was overridden by 46-1.
Mayor Adams, who has just a few weeks left in office, vetoed the four bills last month.
“It is our responsibility as government to ensure that all New Yorkers can lead lives with dignity, opportunity and safety,” Council Speaker Adams said. “That requires affordable rents, pay equity for people of color and women, and (that) city contracting functions effectively to allow nonprofits to focus on serving New Yorkers.”
The bills were sponsored by Councilmembers Amanda Farías, Tiffany Cabán, Diana Ayala and Speaker Adams. All originally passed with veto-proof majorities in October.
The two branches of City Hall have butted heads consistently throughout the Adams administration. In September, the Council overturned three other vetoes by Adams.
“These four bills are nothing but an attempt by the City Council to undermine any future mayor’s authority, burden businesses with unenforceable requirements, and encroach upon the state’s jurisdiction around social services,” First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro said in a statement ahead of the vote. “As we round out the year, we hope that the City Council will work with us on meaningful changes to make New York City a safer and more affordable place to live.”
Cabán called the mayor’s vetoes “a betrayal of the working class.”
“I’m proud to join my colleagues today, and we’re fighting his bid to impress the billionaires he’s soon going to need a job from,” Cabán said. “And when we shine a light on inequity, we create the conditions to end it. These are bills that are about accountability and equity for New Yorkers, especially the women and people of color who have been underpaid and undervalued for generations.”
During his tenure, the mayor has vetoed more than a dozen pieces of legislation. Former Mayor Bill de Blasio did not veto a single bill during his tenure, while Mayor Mike Bloomberg vetoed 70 bills.
In a statement after the vote, Legal Aid praised the override on the rent limits bill, which will prevent voucher-holders from paying more than 30% of their income in their sixth year of renewal.
“Particularly during a time of historic unaffordability and record-high, market-rate rent prices, this bill will ensure more New Yorkers and their families can remain in their longtime homes and communities,” the organization said.
