NYC NOW - Morning Headlines: Mayor Adams Faces Pushback on Immigration Policy, Gov. Hochul Warns of Tax Hikes if Trump Cuts Education Funding, and Lawmakers Delay Special Election for House Seat

Episode Date: February 10, 2025

New York City officials and immigration advocates are pushing back on Mayor Eric Adams’ new guidance that loosens restrictions on staff at migrant shelters and city facilities when interacting with federal immigration officers. Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul warns that New Yorkers could face tax hikes if President Donald Trump eliminates the U.S. Department of Education, which provides billions in subsidies to the state. Plus, New York lawmakers are advancing a bill that could delay a special election to replace Congressmember Elise Stefanik if she is confirmed as U.N. ambassador.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Monday, February 10th. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. New York City immigration advocates and politicians are pushing back on Mayor Adams' new guidance when it comes to interacting with immigration officers. City Hall sent a memo loosening restrictions on staff and nonprofit-run migrant shelters and other city-related facilities,

the memo instructs workers to cooperate with federal immigration enforcers if they, quote, reasonably feel threatened. Anna Maria Archela with the New York Working Families Party says the move will prompt federal officers to be more forceful. Encouraging, encouraging ICE officers to be aggressive, to intimidate our city workers. City Hall spokesperson Caleb Mollick said the city is finalizing further guidance on what she called a rapidly evolving situation. Governor Kathy Hokel is warning New Yorkers the state would need to hike its taxes if President Trump makes good on his promise to eliminate the Federal Department of Education.

Governor Hockel says New York State gets $5.5 billion in subsidies through the U.S. Education Department. Nearly half of that goes to local schools. If that money is jeopardized, what I can tell you will happen, localities lose that money, they will have to raise taxes. For outside the city, your largest part of your local property tax bill is your school taxes. President Trump, in recent weeks, has called to freeze the dispersal of billions in federal funds. Court orders so far have mostly halted those efforts. The president's moves come as Hogle is negotiating with lawmakers in Albany over the state's annual budget. New York lawmakers are advancing a bill that could affect the timing of a special election to replace Republican Congress member Elise Stefani.

The bill was added to today's assembly election law committee agenda. Right now, Governor Hokel must call an election within 90 days of a vacancy. This proposal extends the deadline by more than a month if it's approved. The change could be significant for northern New York, where Stefani is expected to resign if confirmed as ambassador to the United Nations. Republicans are favored to win the election to replace her, but an MTC could make it harder for Republicans to pass legislation in the House of Representatives in D.C. 32 with clouds down sunny and 37, feeling as cold as 20 today.

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