Dear President Biden: NY Has A Wishlist For Your Presidency

New York City NY

22 January, 2021

3:07 PM

Description

NEW YORK CITY — President Joe Biden's presidency is only a few days old but New York's city and state leaders have long-held — and expensive — wishes they hope he fulfills. The coronavirus pandemic coupled with the often-antagonistic former New Yorker and President Donald Trump left the state and city in rough straits. Mayor Bill de Blasio, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and others have pinned their hopes on the new administration — and incoming Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Park Sloper — to deliver several lifelines. Here are the highlights from New York's wishlist. $15 Billion, Hold The SALT Cuomo recently took the unusual step of presenting two state budgets, both depending a promise from Biden. Biden slated $350 billion in state and local aid as part of his economic recovery plan, although it remains to be seen how that gets carved up. This is where the two budgets come into play — in one budget, Cuomo assumed New York would only receive $5 billion; in the other, he penciled in $15 billion in aid. But Cuomo made clear his two options were really a plea for "fairness" in the form of $15 billion. "So we're asking for fairness — fairness from Washington," Cuomo said. The "worst case" $5 billion budget would lead to continued strain for New Yorkers, Cuomo said, outlining cuts to services and upper-class tax hikes. The $15 billion option would cover all the state's COVID-related budget deficit, plus make up for years of abuse from the federal government, Cuomo said. Cuomo also called repeal of a cap on state and local tax, or SALT, that Cuomo said sapped $12.3 billion from New Yorkers every year in favor of tax cut for the wealthy. Vaccine 'Freedom,' Plus A Stimulus There are two things de Blasio said he wants for New York City from Biden. "It's vaccine supply and vaccine flexibility, is number one," he told WNYC's Brian Lehrer on Friday. "And stimulus is number two." De Blasio made his two-part wish as New York City's COVID-19 vaccine supply dwindled down to nothing and 23,000 appointments for first doses got canceled. He has pressed Cuomo and the federal government for "freedom" to use second doses currently held in reserve for first shots, as well as for a greater swath of New Yorkers. New York City has its own $5 billion COVID budget hole to fill — and de Blasio spent months pleading for federal or state help to do so. But de Blasio's recently-unveiled 2022 proposed city budget does so without depending on a federal stimulus. Still, he has made clear the austere budget could use a little help. MTA Boost A late-minute relief bill in December gave MTA $4.2 billion to help avert a devastating wave of service cuts, but the transit agency's officials are pressing for more. For months, MTA officials warned that a $12 billion budget hole driven by cratering ridership amid the pandemic could devastate the lives of New Yorkers reliant on public transit. The federal infusion helped MTA delay cuts for now — and gave them a cushion to postpone fare hikes — but officials still hope for Biden and Congress to deliver many more billions. "Buoyed by President-elect Biden, incoming Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the MTA also has hope for $8 billion in additional pandemic relief and continued federal investment in mass transit in 2021 and beyond," Patrick Foye, chairman and CEO of MTA, said in a recent statement. Restaurant Relief The pandemic devastated the city's vibrant restaurant industry as closures and capacity limits 86'd eateries' cash flow — and restaurateurs are demanding help. Restaurants and bars lost 140,700 jobs during the crisis, Andrew Rigie, executive director of the NYC Hospitality Alliance, said in a statement. "The industry lost another 11,700 jobs between November and December 2020, which can be attributed to more permanent restaurant closures, the state shutting down indoor dining for a second time, and fewer people eating outside in winter temperatures," he said. "If New York City is to pull itself out of this economic grave and gain jobs, we must safely bring back regulated indoor dining like it's permitted in the rest of New York State, and the Biden Administration and Congress must enact the RESTAURANTS Act stimulus plan very soon." The RESTAURANTS Act sets aside $120 billion in aid for eateries nationwide. It's unclear how much New York City could receive but advocates hope with Biden in office that the restaurant rescue is back on the table.