ALBANY, New York — New York lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul were closing in on a $235 billion budget agreement late Friday that includes a sweeping housing package, provisions to crackdown retail theft and boosts funding to address the ongoing migrant crisis.
Hochul had insisted the negotiations were proceeding well even without a deal in place by the start of the state’s fiscal year. A budget could be voted in the coming days as the sides look to get it finalized before a two week break starting April 22. The state Assembly had raised concerns over measures to bolster tenant protections in the budget. | Hans Pennink/AP
Lawmakers were eyeing a tentative housing plan that would limit rent hikes on market-rate apartments and provide a tax break meant to encourage more affordable home building, three people familiar with the negotiations said on the condition of anonymity ahead of an official announcement. The sides were also planning to aggregate retail theft crimes in a bid to enhance penalties, two people said., including gang assault and first-degree rape. As many as 25 hate crimes charges could be added, according to people familiar with the negotiations.
The budget deal is expected to leave out a decision on mayoral control for New York City public schools, according to Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, pushing it off as an after-budget issue for the remainder of the session, which runs through early June.
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