Mayor Vetoes Sweeping NYC Housing Bills In City Council Fight

NEW YORK CITY — Mayor Eric Adams vetoed a sweeping package of housing bills Friday amid a widening public rift with the City Council and advocates over how to tackle homelessness.

Adams argued the four bills would have led to long shelter stays for vulnerable New Yorkers and billions of dollars in yearly added costs.

"What they passed was a package of bills that would make it harder for those experiencing homelessness to find a permanent home," he said in a statement that announced the veto.

The veto isn't much of a surprise, given that last week Adams ended the so-called "90-day rule" for homeless New Yorkers to apply for rental vouchers.

Though the move gave advocates a victory, it was widely seen as a set-up to veto the bills because they would also do away with the rule, along with vastly expanding eligibility for the vouchers.

Advocates and supportive City Council member, however, maintained the bills would pave a path to permanent housing for New Yorkers stuck in the cycle of homelessness.

After Adams' veto, advocates with The Legal Aid Society implored the City Council to override it.

"The Mayor's veto of a package of legislation that would have greatly increased housing stability for our clients is a needless and unfortunate political stunt that delays viable solutions to combat our worsening homelessness and eviction crises," said Adriene Holder, an attorney with the group, in a statement.

Adams' stance that the bills would cost more than they're worth didn't hold water either, argued Christine Quinn, president and CEO of Win, the city's largest provider of shelter for homeless families.

Keeping a family in an emergency hotel shelter for one year costs more than housing that family in a two-bedroom apartment for five years, according to a Win analysis.

"New York is facing the worst homelessness crisis since the Great Depression — but today, the Mayor vetoed a historic legislative package that would have helped families move out of shelter sooner and saved the City millions of dollars," Quinn said in a statement. "Make no mistake, vetoing these bills will prolong homelessness for New Yorkers and put an unnecessary strain on the City’s budget."