New York Note – Cancelled Budget Cuts, Noncitizen Voting Bill, Congressional Maps, Who’s Who in Budgeting and Finance

February 26, 2024

Adams Cancels Next Round of Budget Cuts

Mayor Adams announced that the next round of agency budget cuts, which was expected for April, has been cancelled. Adams originally announced three rounds of budget cuts planned for November 2023, January 2024, and April 2024. He cited a better-than-expected economic performance and a 20% decrease in spending on accommodating asylum seekers for the lack of budget cuts. In the announcement, the Mayor continued to call for state and federal aid to manage the influx of arriving asylum seekers in the City.

Noncitizen Voting Struck Down by Appeals Court

A New York State Appeals Court ruled that New York City’s noncitizen voting law violates the state constitution. The court upheld a 2022 decision by a Richmond County Supreme Court judge, following an appeal from the Adams administration. The law would open elections for citywide offices, City Council, and Borough Presidents to New Yorkers who are lawful permanent residents or authorized to work in the United States, residents of NYC for at least 30 days, and otherwise qualified to register to vote. The court found that the law violates New York State’s Home Rule Law, which stipulates that local elections can only be changed via ballot referendum. The Adams administration is currently “evaluating next steps” but have not said if they will pursue another appeal.

State Legislature to Vote Down Proposed Congressional Maps

The New York State Legislature is planning to vote today on the congressional maps recommended by the Independent Redistricting Commission. The legislature is widely expected to vote against the maps, meaning that elected officials will be able to draw the maps themselves. The maps recommended by the IRC make very minor edits to those currently in use, and no changes to battleground areas on Long Island or in Westchester.

City & State NY: Who’s Who in Budgeting and Finance

Nathan Toth has been named to City and State NY’s Who’s Who in Budgeting and Finance. The inaugural list honors fiscal and financial professionals throughout the City. Toth, a Principal in Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies’ New York office, previously had a 21-year finance career in New York City government. He noted that in the past year, CPS clients secured close to $50M in funding from the state and city.

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About Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies

Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, an affiliate of the international law firm Cozen O’Connor, is a bipartisan government relations practice representing clients before the federal government and in cities and states throughout the country. With offices in Washington D.C., Richmond, Albany, New York City, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Chicago, and Santa Monica, the firm’s public strategies professionals offer a full complement of government affairs services, including legislative and executive branch advocacy, policy analysis, assistance with government procurement and funding programs, and crisis management. Its client base spans multiple industries, including healthcare, transportation, hospitality, education, construction, energy, real estate, entertainment, financial services, and insurance.

About Cozen O’Connor

Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 775 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle-market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 31 offices across two continents.

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