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TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2025

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Dear New Yorkers,

The two leading candidates to become the next city comptroller agree on what the major challenge will be: fighting Donald Trump and the Republicans who control Washington.

But they disagree on how the city’s budget should be managed amid the threat that Republicans in Washington will slash aid to both the city and the state.

The comptroller is the city’s municipal auditor and financial watchdog. The comptroller, currently Brad Lander, oversees City Hall’s spending, which with a complicated $112 billion budget is a lot to handle even without potential federal cuts. This year, Councilmember Justin Brannan and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine are running for the position.

Both candidates agree that the Adams administration’s budget practices verge on dishonesty by underestimating revenues and overstating expected expenses — an opinion they share with independent fiscal organizations.

But they disagree on a key issue about the budget for the next fiscal year: Levine, echoing a proposal by Lander, wants to add $1 billion to the city’s $8 billion in reserves to increase the cushion in the event of federal budget cuts.

Brannan, on the other hand, thinks the reserve is adequate — and that any emphasis of the city’s self-sufficiency in the face of federal pressure might encourage the Trump administration to cut more services.

Read more here about the two candidates vying to keep tabs on the city’s enormous budget.

Weather ☀️

The sun comes out, with highs in the mid 50s.

MTA 🚇

The overnight 3 train won’t run all week. Find all the MTA’s planned changes and the latest delays here.

Alternate side parking 🚙

It’s suspended today, April 1, for Eid al-Fitr.

By the way…

It’s a bad day to be gullible — read here for our tips on how to spot prank links on April Fool’s Day.

Our Other Top Stories

A new play “Flood Sensor Aunty” taps South Asian culture to connect with New Yorkers on navigating flood preparedness. The zany show combines important messages about disaster response with original songs, slapstick comedy, free cups of chai and a tribute to Chappell Roan. A losing candidate in the heated competition to develop the Kingsbridge Armory in The Bronx says the process was tainted by corruption, favoritism and theft of intellectual property, according to a new lawsuit. The developer alleges that the Economic Development Corporation had told them they’d won the coveted contract only to abruptly reverse course and give it to a rival. There’s only two weeks left to file your taxes — and that’s no April Fool’s joke. We’ve revamped our guide on how to do it for free in New York. Read it here.  What’s the difference between a parking lot, a park and a casino? Just a few words scribbled on some paper if Mets owner Steve Cohen gets his way — and it looks like he might now with a well compensated assist from a state senator. On the latest episode of FAQ NYC, co-host Katie Honan explains it all. Listen here.  New merch alert! We’ve restocked the store with sold-out products like our Summer Tote and added baseball caps and onesies (for all the future reporters out there).

Reporter’s Notebook

Suit Seeks Climate Action

Four environmental groups filed a lawsuit on Monday in an effort to compel the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to release regulations for the program known as cap and invest, which is required under the state climate law.

Cap and invest would raise money for climate-related projects by charging some entities that emit a significant amount of planet-warming gas for their emissions, with a declining cap to drive down carbon over time.

The climate law’s deadline for regulations was in January 2024. Earlier this year, Gov. Kathy Hochul further delayed the regulations, though POLITICO reported DEC staff had finished drafting them.

DEC declined to comment on pending litigation, but in a statement pointed to the draft regulations related to the cap and invest reporting requirements released this month.

— Samantha Maldonado

Things To Do

Here are some free and low-cost things to do around the city this week.

Tuesday, April 1: Attend the 40th annual April Fool’s Day Parade, a satirical event that ends in the crowning of this year’s King or Queen of Fools. Starts at 5th Ave and 59th Street, 12 p.m. Wednesday, April 2: Manhattan Borough Historian Robert Snyder debuts his new book When the City Stopped, which tells the stories of essential workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. Elebash Recital Hall at CUNY Graduate Center, 6:30 p.m Thursday, April 3: Run a 5K through Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens with the New York Road Runners. 7 p.m.

THE KICKER: On Friday, Mets fans can take a vintage Redbird subway car out to the home opener at Citi Field.

Thanks, as always, for reading. Make it a great Tuesday.

Love,

THE CITY

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