Press Room

"Donald Trump’s threats to arrest and deport a New York elected official are dangerous and despicable, but not surprising. This is the result of a relentless campaign of lies and bigotry aimed at the Assembly Member and Democratic mayoral nominee because of his views and identity – a campaign aided by both the words and the silence of many other New York elected officials. We must all – including current Mayor Eric Adams – condemn these attacks for what they are, and stand in opposition to Trump’s misinformation and hate.

"This is yet another example of the Trump administration's true aims – to deport people because he doesn’t like their race, their religion, their beliefs. He is finding new ways to make Black and Brown people illegal, and this a moment to stand together, refusing to give in to his rhetoric and policies that make all of us less safe."

“It was always evident that Mayor Adams would try to find a way to defy Local Law 42 – he said so before it passed – and his declaration of a self-imposed state of emergency was never anything more than that. I am relieved that Judge Pearlman agrees that the mayor is not above the laws the Council passes – in this case, passed twice, after years of deliberation. This was an abuse of the concept of a 'state of emergency.' It should be obvious that the longstanding crisis on Rikers was not caused by a law which has not even been in effect.

“The harm of prolonged isolation is clear, documented, and dangerous for people on both sides of the bars. It is a threat to public safety and human dignity. I implore this mayor, after spending a year violating the law banning the practice, to finally follow it. We cannot address any issues on Rikers by doing the same things that have failed for many years – it’s long past time to implement real change.”

"Unaffordability is the top issue for New Yorkers, as they clearly told us last week. Housing costs are driving tenants from their homes and from our city – working families, must be our top priority. Once again, Mayor Adams supports increasing rents across the board for millions of renters. "The Board’s own data showed landlords are making a profit. I know some small owners are truly struggling – the solution is not to demand more money from tenants who simply don’t have it as homelessness increases. "Don’t wait til next year to do the right thing – freeze the rent today."

“This budget incorporates long-overdue steps to restore and strengthen critical services for New Yorkers. I’m encouraged to see baseline funding and investments for key programs—early childhood education, special education, mental health care, libraries, and immigrant legal services—investments communities have demanded for years. Years of cuts don’t disappear with a single budget. This mayor’s pattern of underfunding—fueled by misleading projections—has left deep scars in communities across the city. While these restorations are welcome, they do not erase the loss of momentum in delivering the services New Yorkers rely on. 

“I thank the Speaker and Council for standing firm: your advocacy shielded New Yorkers from the most damaging proposed cuts and ensured critical programs, especially in the face of misguided austerity. This budget shows progress, but it must be seen as a starting point for lasting reinvestment—not a comprehensive solution. My office will continue reviewing the details, ensuring this funding reaches the people it’s meant to serve, and pushing to address the deep inequities that remain across our city. Moving forward, we will hold the line for working families, vulnerable communities, and the promise of a more equitable, just city for all.”

"Donald Trump’s attacks on birthright citizenship are in line with his overall strategy to invalidate the presence and existence of anyone in this country who he opposes, no matter how long they’ve been here or how they arrived. In a decade, we’ve gone from his claims that President Obama wasn’t born in this country to claiming it’s not even enough for someone to be. This is not, and was never, about so-called 'criminals.' 

"As the son of immigrants I worry that by sidestepping the issues of birthright citizenship itself, while limiting the ability of lower courts to prevent this and other assaults on the Constitution and the rights it bestows, we are opening the door even further to authoritarian impulses.

"My fellow elected officials should be much more alarmed about this than a proposal for free buses in New York City."

"Tomorrow, on the hottest day of the year, at least hundreds of thousands of people will come out to cast ballots. I urge the administration to ensure that New Yorkers have adequate protections against extreme heat while doing their civic duty. Each polling place should function as a cooling center, and personnel there should be trained on what to do in the event of a heat-related health emergency. To prevent those emergencies, for voters and volunteers alike, water should be available on-site and all efforts should be made to keep lines short and vulnerable populations such as our seniors out of prolonged heat. A lack of protections such as air conditioning would make polling sites inaccessible, which would be unacceptable.

"The city has an obligation, together with community organizations, to ensure that civic engagement doesn’t mean risking one’s health. Voters can also take individual precautions to stay cool and hydrated. I want to encourage every eligible New Yorker to participate in our democracy tomorrow, safely."