NEW YORK, NY — Republican nominee for New York State Comptroller Joseph Hernandez sharply criticized Governor Kathy Hochul, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli following the announcement of a roughly $4 billion state-supported package aimed at helping New York City close its growing fiscal gap.
The arrangement includes pension modifications, delayed education spending requirements, additional state support, projected tax revenues, and hundreds of millions of dollars in unclear or unspecified savings measures as Mayor Mamdani prepares to release a nearly $125 billion city budget.
“Governor Hochul is effectively asking taxpayers across New York to underwrite Mayor Mamdani’s socialist spending spree,” Hernandez said. “Instead of forcing City Hall to get serious about waste, runaway spending, and fiscal discipline, Albany Democrats are giving away millions for things they haven’t even approved.”
Hernandez accused Mamdani of manufacturing a fiscal panic while advancing policies hostile to economic growth and affordability.
“For months, New Yorkers were told the city was staring into the abyss unless taxes went up and reserves were drained,” Hernandez continued. “Now we find out Albany conveniently found billions in backdoor financing to make the problem disappear. This entire episode exposed how unserious and politically driven this process has been from the beginning.”
Hernandez also faulted Comptroller DiNapoli for failing to push back against years of unchecked spending growth and mounting financial risk.
“DiNapoli has completely abandoned the watchdog role New Yorkers expect from the Comptroller’s office,” Hernandez said. “While state spending exploded and New York City moved closer to fiscal instability, DiNapoli stood by quietly as Albany enabled it every step of the way. Taxpayers are now paying the price for years of failed oversight.”
Hernandez warned that the state’s latest intervention does nothing to solve the structural issues driving New York’s affordability and fiscal crises.
“You cannot borrow, restructure, and gimmick your way to stability forever,” Hernandez added. “Working families in places like Buffalo, Rochester, the Southern Tier, and Long Island should not be forced to absorb the cost of New York City politicians chasing radical policies and unsustainable budgets.”
“As Comptroller, I will fight to restore independent oversight, expose budget games, and stop Albany from using taxpayers as an endless ATM for political bailouts,” Hernandez said.