»Hochul’s myopic view of migrants might bankrupt New York City and the state«
In her Tuesday State of the State address, New York Governor Kathy Hochul did not mention the massive influx of migrants (40,000 and counting) into New York City because the issue lacks “widespread statewide interest.” Huh?
Kate, the migrant situation in the lower state is of great importance to the rest of New York. Again, “if the city gets a cold, the state gets pneumonia” applies.
First, not all illegal immigrants reside in urban areas. MS-13 and other gangs that plague Long Island are sufficient evidence of this. And while Hochul will not consider admitting migrants from the city upstate, they will spread as the crisis continues, if only to hunt for undocumented employment.
Second, the city is the primary economic engine of the state. If an increasing immigrant population slows the return of New York City residents to the workforce, the state’s tax revenue and economy will suffer.
In addition, Mayor Eric Adams cautions that New York City cannot handle a constant influx of migrants without assistance from state and federal officials “without going bankrupt.” Moreover, city financial crises have traditionally led to state crises as well.
To now, the federal government has allotted only $8 million to assist, and President Joe Biden’s “every city for itself” policy means that New York City may receive significantly less than the $1 billion that Adams estimates the situation will cost this year alone. In addition, City Comptroller Brad Lander estimates it to be $1 billion every year for at least three years.
Also contributing to the “statewide interest” is the implication that the state will have to spend a lot of money.
Moreover, Hochul devoted the most of her speech on housing, which is likewise primarily a city-centric issue, despite the fact that her solution entails the construction of new dwellings within commuting distance.
It appears that the governor’s reticence on the problem of migrants is a result of her unwillingness to push the legislature on another matter. Or possibly, like other Democratic politicians across the country, she simply does not wish to embarrass Biden, whose policies are largely responsible for the entire disaster.
Regardless of her motivation for evasion, it is her political calculations that matter, not what the public cares about.
»Hochul’s myopic view of migrants might bankrupt New York City and the state«