During State of the City Mayor Adams Unveils Bold Plan to Make NYC the Best City for Families

photo credit: NYC MAyor's Office

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In his fourth State of the City address at Harlem’s iconic Apollo Theater, Mayor Eric Adams introduced a bold, comprehensive plan to transform New York City into the safest, most affordable, and most family-friendly city in the world. Building on progress in crime reduction, housing development, and economic relief, Adams announced new initiatives aimed at supporting working-class families across all five boroughs.

“In the past year alone, we passed historic housing reforms, broke job creation records, and reduced major crimes. Yet, many New Yorkers—especially families—are still anxious about the future,” said Mayor Adams. “We must ensure that the greatest city in the world is also the greatest place to raise a family. From keeping young people safe to tackling homelessness and saving New Yorkers money, our initiatives will make this city safer, more affordable, and more family-friendly. I will never stop fighting for our families, just as my mother fought for me.”

Making NYC the Safest Big City for Families

photo credit: Shutterstock

Mayor Adams emphasized the city’s ongoing success in reducing crime in 2024:

7.3% decrease in shootings

3.6% drop in homicides

5.4% reduction in transit crime

The city has seized nearly 20,000 illegal guns and removed over 80,000 illegal motorized vehicles, including ghost cars, ATVs, and mopeds. Additionally, more than 1,300 illegal smoke shops have been shut down, and deaths from lithium-ion battery fires have dropped by 72%.

To keep young people safe, Adams unveiled a $485 million initiative focused on mentorship, mental health support, and job training for at-risk youth. Programs like Saturday Night Lights will expand, and $9 million will go toward upgrading Harlem’s Brigadier General Charles Young Field with new turf, lighting, and facilities for year-round use.

The mayor also committed $163 million over five years to expand youth programs like Fair Futures, College Choice, and Career Choice, reaching 8,000 young New Yorkers with educational and career support.

Tackling Street Homelessness with Bold Investments

Mayor Adams reaffirmed his commitment to ending street homelessness. Since launching the Subway Safety Plan in 2022, over 8,000 people have moved from subways into shelters, and a record 18,500 households transitioned to stable housing in Fiscal Year 2024.

To build on this progress, the city will invest $650 million to expand outreach and support services, including:

900 new Safe Haven beds for unsheltered individuals

•A new facility providing psychiatric care, substance use treatment, and housing support for those with serious mental illness

Adams set a bold goal: “No child should ever be born into New York City’s shelter system.” To achieve this, the city will pilot a program to connect expectant parents in shelters with housing services before their child is born.

He also renewed calls for Albany to pass the Supportive Interventions Act to ensure better care for New Yorkers with severe mental health challenges.

photo Credit: Alafia Development in Spring Creek

Solving the Housing Crisis with the “City of Yes for Families”

To address NYC’s housing shortage, Adams launched the “City of Yes for Families” initiative, building on previous housing reforms. Since 2022, the city has financed over 79,300 housing units and passed the historic “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity” zoning reform, expected to create 80,000 new homes over the next 15 years.

Key highlights of the new housing plan include:

Family-sized and multi-generational housing near schools, parks, transit, and libraries

•Redeveloping the Bloomingdale Library in Manhattan Valley to add 800+ units of mixed-income housing alongside a new library

•Launching “The Manhattan Plan,” a borough-wide zoning review to create 100,000 new homes in the next decade

To promote homeownership, the city will introduce programs to assist with down payments, expand accessory dwelling units, and allow rental payments to build credit history.

Adams also celebrated surpassing his “24 in 24” goal by advancing 26 housing projects on public land in 2024, totaling over 12,000 new units. Upcoming developments include sites at:

100 Gold Street near City Hall

395 Flatbush in Downtown Brooklyn

Coney Island West

St. George on Staten Island

Together, these projects will add an additional 8,700 homes.

Putting Money Back Into Families’ Pockets

Mayor Adams stressed the need to make NYC more affordable for working-class families. His administration has helped New Yorkers save over $30 billion through various programs.

Highlights include:

•Expanding the NYC Earned Income Tax Credit, returning $345 million to 1.7 million residents

•Proposing the “Axe the Tax for the Working Class” plan to eliminate or reduce city income taxes for working-class families, offering $63 million in relief to 582,000 New Yorkers

To tackle student debt, the city will partner with a private firm to enroll public servants in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, potentially forgiving $360 million in student loans for 100,000 city employees and their families.

The city’s Big Apple Connect program has also provided free internet and cable to 150,000 NYCHA households across 220 developments, bridging the digital divide for low-income families.

A Stronger, Family-First Future for NYC

Mayor Adams’ bold plan reflects a deep commitment to making New York City the safest, most affordable, and best place to raise a family. By investing in safety, housing, and economic relief, Adams aims to create a city where all families can thrive.

“My mother never stopped fighting to provide her family with a better life, and that is why I will never stop fighting to do the same for you,” Adams concluded.

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