The lone City Council Democrat who opposed the Big Apple’s newly-passed roughly $126 billion budget slammed Mayor Zohran Mamdani, claiming he short-changed her constituents while wealthier districts received more funding.
Bronx Councilwoman Althea Stevens blasted the democratic socialist mayor over what she called a lack of “equity” in his first budget — accusing him of not allotting enough cash for her district, which faces high rates of poverty and gun violence.
“What made this even more difficult was seeing districts with higher incomes and greater access to resources receive significantly larger investments while neighborhoods like mine continue to fight for the basics,” she said in a statement.
“Equity cannot simply be a word we use in speeches or campaign slogans. Equity means directing resources where the needs are greatest.”
The Council late Tuesday approved the record-breaking $125.8 billion spending plan for the 2027 fiscal year that started July 1 in a 45-6 vote, with Stevens crossing party lines to join the five dissenting Republicans on the legislative body.
Some lefty Council Members, including Brooklyn DSA Councilwoman Shahana Hanif and Progressive Caucus Co-Chair Sandy Nurse (D-Brooklyn) publicly voiced their support for Stevens, despite voting to approve the budget.
“I support her 100%,” Hanif posted to X, in response to a City and State op-ed Stevens wrote about her opposing vote.
“Truly, a shameful outcome this year. Standing with @althea4theBX!” Nurse posted.
Stevens’ District 16, which covers the South Bronx communities of Morrisania, Concourse, Highbridge and Morris Heights, received some $11.1 million in capital and expense funding, a Council spokesperson said.
“We’re proud of this budget, and the overwhelming support it received from 45 Democratic Council Members,” said the rep for Council Speaker Julie Menin’s office.
Councilwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers (D-Queens), who also voted yes on the spending plan, still lambasted Hizzoner for failing to fund a trauma center in her District 31, which covers Far Rockaway and other neighborhoods.
“The @NYCMayor has repeatedly said ‘healthcare is a human right.’ But those words ring hollow when his budget includes no capital funding for Far Rockaway’s Healthcare Trauma Access Center,” she posted on X.
In an interview with The Post, the councilwoman said that a trauma center would have saved the life of NYPD Det. Jonathan Diller, who was fatally shot during a March 2024 traffic stop outside of her district office.
“His son would be raised by him. His wife would not be a widow today. And I think it’s irresponsible to not invest in communities that we know have this gap,” she said.
Community advocates have long pushed for a Level 1 or Level 2 trauma center on Far Rockaway which has relied on Jamaica Hospital for serious injuries after the closure of Peninsula Hospital in 2012.
The trauma center still requires state approval and would need to find an operator before anything could be built.
While Far Rockaway doesn’t meet the case volume for the Level 1 or 2 trauma center that locals have advocated for, officials have considered pushing for a Level 3 center with higher staffing.
Former Mayor Eric Adams’ administration allocated $50 million in capital investment money, as well as scratch to facilitate a land transfer for a potential site for a center.
The mayor’s office didn’t comment on Stevens’ claims, but said it was in touch with Brooks-Powers and “committed to continuing the conversation and working on a solution.”
“We’re working with her and the other electeds in the area to try and come up with other alternative options, such as expanding trauma care access through existing facilities on the peninsula or a standalone emergency facility, as well as exploring other means of transporting patients to the closest trauma care facilities,” said a mayoral spokeswoman.
“We’ve committed to meeting with them over next month to try and come to a conclusion.”
A Council source claimed that Stevens was the only member who didn’t meet with the speaker to discuss her budget priorities during negotiations. A rep for Stevens didn’t return a request for comment.
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