Recap: 2025 State of the City
with contributions from Laura Gruberg
On Thursday, January 9, 2025, New York City Mayor Eric Adams unveiled the City’s priorities during New York City’s 2025 State of the City. It covered public safety, “City of Yes for Families” housing initiatives, reducing the financial burden on families, youth development and childcare, and economic growth.
Public safety in cities has been top of mind across the country, with extensive coverage during the election season, and Mayor Adams kicked off his speech citing the successes in this arena: 2024 showed a 7.3% reduction in shootings, a 3.6% reduction in homicides, and a 5.4% reduction in transit crime. Nearly 200,000 illegal guns and over 80,000 ghost cars (a car with license plates that are either fake, missing, faulted, obstructed, or fraudulent) and illegal vehicles were seized. Over 1,300 illegal smoke shops were shut down; 12 consecutive months of declining car theft reported; and lithium-ion battery fire deaths were reduced by 72%. Mayor Adams attempted to give context to the omnipresent stories of City disorder, putting individual stories into context of an overall improvement in public safety.
The Mayor then outlined his investments in youth development, starting with a $485 million blueprint for gun violence prevention spanning mentorship, mental health, and job training. He announced a $9 million renovation of Brigadier General Charles Young Field for year-round youth activities, turning it into a “Harlem Field of Dreams,” and a $163 million (over 5 years) expansion of youth programs like Fair Futures (which Capalino was proud to work on), College Choice, and Career Choice.
The ubiquity and seeming spread of street homelessness was next on the State of the City’s agenda, and Mayor Adams announced major expansions of city support, like $650 million to support those living on subways, struggling with mental illness, or at risk of entering shelters; and 900 new Safe Haven beds for flexible, personalized shelter options. Additionally, there are plans for a new facility for unsheltered individuals with serious mental illness offering psychiatric care and substance use treatment, and a pilot program to prevent children from being born into shelters by connecting soon-to-be-parents with permanent housing.
In December, Mayor Adams’ “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity” zoning text amendment was adopted by the City Council, which will enable the creation of up to 80,000 new homes across the City. Focusing on the “City of Yes for Families,” the Mayor noted successes like over 79,000 housing units financed since 2022 and 26 public housing projects advanced in 2024 (exceeding the goal of 24), and developing future policies like multi-generational housing projects sited near schools, parks and public transit, as well as The Manhattan Plan which will unlock zoning for 100,000 new homes. Highlighted projects included the co-located library and 800-unit housing project at Bloomingdale Library in Manhattan Valley, and development at 395 Flatbush, Coney Island West, and Staten Island, producing more than 8,700 units.
Mayor Adams cast his plans for tax and debt reduction as “financial relief for families,” sharing a plan to eliminate city income taxes for working-class families (saving $63 million for nearly 600,000 New Yorkers) and forgiving student loans for 100,000 public servants totaling $360 million through PSLF program expansion. The Mayor wanted to continue on the path of economic growth and job creation, as there have been a record-breaking number of jobs and small businesses created in 2024, and more than 15,000 apprenticeships completed since 2022. He wants to develop the “Harbor of the Future” with facilities like the Science Park in Kips Bay and South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, and invest in tourism, maritime ports, and clean energy projects.
To build a more stimulating environment for growing children, the Mayor proposed launching “Neighborhood Internet” to provide free internet for 2,000 low-income households, expanding NYC Reads and NYC Solves for reading and math literacy, and financial education for all students by 2030 with new curricula and real-world banking experience. He also wants to double the Department of Youth and Community Development’s Fatherhood Initiative to serve 3,000 fathers, and expand free swim classes to reach 18,000 students. In 2024, 24 new school buildings opened with 11,000 seats available; $1.9 billion was saved through childcare vouchers; and all families received 3-K offers for the first time.
Mayor Adams outlined an ambitious plan for New York City, and time will tell how many of his initiatives will come to fruition. To stay up to date on the City’s development this year, sign up for our weekly newsletter “Affairs+Appointments” by entering your email below where it says “Subscribe.” If your team needs help getting a project over the finish line, whether it’s increasing your nonprofit’s impact or creating an ambitious project, don’t hesitate to reach out.
