NYC Council Overrules Mayor's Veto, Blocking Potential Rent Hike for Thousands of Vulnerable Tenants
The New York City Council voted unanimously on Thursday to override Mayor Eric Adams' veto of a bill that would have increased rent payments for thousands of low-income New Yorkers relying on the city's housing voucher program. The measure, which was passed with broad bipartisan support, blocks a proposed rent hike that would have been implemented by the Adams administration in an attempt to offset the rising costs of the program.
The CityFHEPS voucher program is one of the nation's largest rental subsidy programs, providing assistance to over 60,000 New York families who struggle to pay rent. Despite this vital support, many households remain "cost-burdened," meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing costs. The current 30% limit would have been increased to 40%, but the Council rejected the proposal, citing concerns that it would disproportionately harm vulnerable tenants.
The move has been welcomed by advocates for homeless New Yorkers and those who rely on the program. "This is about getting people housed, but also us staying housed," said Milton Perez, a leader with VOCAL-NY's Homelessness Union. "It's all about helping people get somewhere that can actually be thought of as home."
The override comes after weeks of controversy over the rent hike proposal, which was vetoed by Mayor Adams in an effort to offset the program's rising costs. However, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and other lawmakers argued that the measure would have unfairly burdened low-income tenants.
The decision is part of a broader pattern of tensions between the City Council and the Adams administration, with several bills being overridden or defeated on Thursday. The Council also overrode vetoes on measures requiring private employers to submit pay data reports and establish an office of contract services.
As the year draws to a close, some officials have expressed concerns that the override could limit future mayoral authority and burden businesses with unenforceable requirements. However, advocates for low-income New Yorkers say the move is a crucial step towards ensuring affordable rents and protecting vulnerable tenants from further financial hardship.
The New York City Council voted unanimously on Thursday to override Mayor Eric Adams' veto of a bill that would have increased rent payments for thousands of low-income New Yorkers relying on the city's housing voucher program. The measure, which was passed with broad bipartisan support, blocks a proposed rent hike that would have been implemented by the Adams administration in an attempt to offset the rising costs of the program.
The CityFHEPS voucher program is one of the nation's largest rental subsidy programs, providing assistance to over 60,000 New York families who struggle to pay rent. Despite this vital support, many households remain "cost-burdened," meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing costs. The current 30% limit would have been increased to 40%, but the Council rejected the proposal, citing concerns that it would disproportionately harm vulnerable tenants.
The move has been welcomed by advocates for homeless New Yorkers and those who rely on the program. "This is about getting people housed, but also us staying housed," said Milton Perez, a leader with VOCAL-NY's Homelessness Union. "It's all about helping people get somewhere that can actually be thought of as home."
The override comes after weeks of controversy over the rent hike proposal, which was vetoed by Mayor Adams in an effort to offset the program's rising costs. However, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and other lawmakers argued that the measure would have unfairly burdened low-income tenants.
The decision is part of a broader pattern of tensions between the City Council and the Adams administration, with several bills being overridden or defeated on Thursday. The Council also overrode vetoes on measures requiring private employers to submit pay data reports and establish an office of contract services.
As the year draws to a close, some officials have expressed concerns that the override could limit future mayoral authority and burden businesses with unenforceable requirements. However, advocates for low-income New Yorkers say the move is a crucial step towards ensuring affordable rents and protecting vulnerable tenants from further financial hardship.
the NYC council just saved thousands of low-income fams from rent hikes that would've been super devastating. it's about time we prioritize people over profit 
i mean, who benefits from raising rents anyway? not the ppl who need a place to call home, obviously 
thousands of ppl are struggling to make ends meet just cuz they don't have enough money for housing. we gotta prioritize affordable housing and not just leave people in the dark 
and thanks to all the advocates who fought hard for this 
The city's gonna let those thousands of low-income fams breathe a sigh of relief... I gotta give credit to the Council for standing firm on this one, it's not like they were just rubber-stamping whatever the Mayor wanted 
. Vulnerable tenants are already struggling to make ends meet, and we shouldn't be making things worse by slapping them with even more rent hikes 
. I mean, what's next? Making them pay for their own healthcare? 
It's all about getting people housed, but it's also about keeping a roof over their heads, you know? 
The fact that the Mayor vetoed this bill in the first place just shows how out of touch they are with the real issues 
. Anyway, gotta give props to the advocates who fought for this one – it's not like we don't need more affordable housing options around here 
.
so like NYC council just overrode mayor's veto on rent hike bill that woulda affected thousands of ppl relying on housing voucher program lol what even is goin on?? 
the council voted 12-0 to block the proposal which would've increased rent payments for low-income families. i gotta give it to them tho, they're lookin out for the ppl who need it most. like, cost-burdened households spend over 30% of their income on housing lol how are u even supposed to afford that?! 
just read about this news and gotta say its crazy how much power the city council has over the mayor. i mean idc about the rent hike but its good to know that those who need help will get it 
. 40% limit for housing costs is a pretty big deal tho, doesnt seem like a lot considering how expensive nyc is. any way hope all the low income families in the city can finally breathe easy and not have to worry about being kicked out of their homes 
the city council literally voted to block a proposed rent hike that would've affected thousands of ppl relying on the housing voucher program its like, they're prioritizing affordability over profits and i am HERE. FOR. IT 
its not rocket science, ppl need help paying their rents and this move is gonna make a huge difference for so many families 
. Now, it seems like they've overridden his veto again 
. Still, it's good that the Council is looking out for vulnerable tenants 
. I guess we'll just have to see how this all plays out in 2025 
.
, this is some good news!!! i feel so bad for those low-income families who are struggling to make ends meet... the thought of having their rent increased even more can be super stressful 
. but it's amazing that the council stood up for these vulnerable tenants and refused to go along with the mayor's plan 
.
it's like, yeah, maybe the proposed rent hike was a bad idea, but is this really the best solution? I mean, we're still talking about thousands of people who can barely make ends meet, and now we're just going to roll back the clock even further? 
what's next, are they gonna override every little thing that comes their way?