New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s proposed $124.7 billion fiscal year 2027 executive budget is drawing mixed reactions from immigrant advocates and grassroots organizations, who praised key investments while urging deeper commitments to legal services and education.
The budget, released Tuesday, aims to close a $12 billion deficit left by the previous administration without cutting essential services such as libraries, schools, parks and affordable housing. It includes funding for immigration legal services, childcare, public safety and street vendor reforms.
Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, said the proposal makes “important progress” but falls short of fully addressing the needs of immigrant communities.
“During an unprecedented time in this country’s history, New York City’s budget must support every New Yorker living under threat,” Awawdeh said in a statement Wednesday. “Mayor Mamdani’s budget makes important progress by providing crucial support to hardworking families, but it must go further to truly meet the needs of all immigrant New Yorkers.”
The budget allocates $32.9 million for immigration legal services, which advocates describe as a critical safeguard as federal immigration enforcement intensifies. Awawdeh called the funding “a meaningful step in the right direction,” but said demand continues to outpace available resources.
The proposal also includes $25 million to baseline the Promise NYC childcare program, $33 million for childcare vouchers for low-income families, $20.5 million for street vendor reform implementation and $40.9 million for the Office of Community Safety. An additional $26 million is designated annually for the Office of Hate Crime Prevention.
Advocates welcomed several of those investments, particularly in childcare and street vendor reform, but raised concerns about potential cuts to education programs. The Immigrant Families Outreach Initiative is set to expire in June, and support for students with disabilities could be reduced.
“We look forward to working with the city to ensure that all students receive the appropriate educational services and support they are entitled to,” Awawdeh said.
Meanwhile, organizers with DRUM Desis Rising Up & Moving praised the administration for balancing the budget without reducing core services, crediting both city leadership and grassroots pressure.
“A mayor committed to working-class New Yorkers, partnered with robust movements, filled a $12 billion budget gap left behind by the previous administration,” said Fahd Ahmed, the group’s executive director.
Ahmed said the administration achieved savings through measures including cost-cutting and proposals such as a pied-à-terre tax targeting wealthy property owners. He also called on state leaders to increase taxes on the wealthy amid broader economic uncertainty.
“We don’t need to be stuck with annual political games around funding of libraries and schools,” Ahmed said. “In a time of unprecedented corporate profits and economic uncertainty for working people, Albany must tax the rich.”
The budget now heads to negotiations with the City Council, where advocates say they will push for expanded legal services, restored education funding and broader protections for immigrant communities.
Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
