Gov. Hochul’s $252 billion budget bomb: Letters to the Editor — Jan. 24, 2025

The Issue: Gov. Hochul unveiling a $252 billion state budget for 2025 earlier this week.

Perhaps Gov. Hochul hasn’t noticed, but the public is extremely unhappy with her congestion pricing “gift” to New Yorkers — and she now presents us with her new budget bomb that does nothing to lower our current taxes (“$252B NY Budget Bust,” Jan. 22).

The governor’s budget sits on shaky ground, based on unreliable income sources she hopes will refill NY’s coffers.

Her “sweet deals,” which will eventually be passed to taxpayers, and taxing health-care providers will inevitably drive up costs for consumers.

No matter how Hochul slices it, this budget bomb will become a boondoggle that New Yorkers will end up paying for eventually.

Just business as usual in New York.

J.M. Norris

Hempstead

I can’t help feeling that Gov. Hochul is right up there with the most ineffective leaders.

Her handling of congestion pricing — with her politically motivated back-and-forth — and appeasing us by scaling down the fee, was one great big sham. Her increase of patrol officers in the subways similarly feels like the showcasing of a sham.

And now her budget is anything but affordable.

The state will burn through taxpayer money like wildfire.

Tony Giametta

Oceanside

Hochul’s worries seem to be misplaced (“470,100 Empire workers ‘illegal,’ ” Jan. 22).

Reducing illegal immigrants in the state would likely help improve housing availability, something Hochul claims to want.

Moreover, fewer immigrants might reduce costs by billions each year for both the city and state.

Given Hochul is talking about a $252 billion state budget — more per capita than even California, and almost twice that of Florida — maybe it is time to figure out where to cut costs and not worry about subsidizing people who most likely don’t qualify for asylum.

Brian Brooks

Queens

Gov. Hochul unveiled her $252 billion budget, and a lot of it consists of handouts.

This is her version of the Oprah effect, where everyone gets something for free.

Margaret Thatcher said it best: The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.

Tommy DeJulio

Delray Beach, Fla.

The Issue: Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch’s plan to tackle New York’s violent recidivism problem.

It’s great to see that New York City has finally gotten someone with the nerve to take on Albany over the recidivist criminals roaming the streets of the city (“Time to end repeat crime: NYPD boss,” Jan. 19).

I’m hoping that Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch turns out to be the city’s “knight in shining armor.”

I, and many other Post readers, have been crying out for a solution to this problem for years, but our complaints have fallen on deaf ears.

Meanwhile, innocent people, including children, have needlessly become the victims of violent crimes.

My gut feeling is that Tisch will be able to restore some sense back to Albany.

She’s shaping up to be that knight.

Dick Mills

Bardonia

Jessica Tisch, in a short period of time, has shown to be an effective “getting things done” leader.

Take your pick: mayor or governor.

She’s as needed as any elected official.

Ed Houlihan

Ridgewood, NJ

Finally, a commissioner who gets it.

Hopefully Tisch and new Border Czar Tom Homan will bring some chutzpah and knock some common sense into the leaders who allowed the greatest city in the world to slip so far from normalcy.

Bill Lewis

Danbury, Conn.

Want to weigh in on today’s stories? Send your thoughts (along with your full name and city of residence) to [email protected]. Letters are subject to editing for clarity, length, accuracy, and style.