Mamdani, Hochul push back on Trump's threat to cut funding to sanctuary cities like New York City
NEW YORK (WABC) -- After President Donald Trump threatened to cut off funding to sanctuary cities, Mayor Zohran Mamdani doubled down New York City's status and vowed to fight back.
It's been a busy 24 hours for Jessica Clemente, head of a South Bronx nonprofit focused on housing, youth services and economic development.
President Trump's threat to withhold federal dollars from sanctuary cities like New York would have a huge impact on her organization "WE STAY/Nos Quedamos" -- as 10% of its annual budget comes from Washington.
"The impact is broad in scope, it's not just one kind of area or category, we 're talking it could potentially impact housing stability, ware talking about services," Clemente said.
Trump said starting Feb. 1, his administration will not make payments to "sanctuaries or states having sanctuary cities."
According to the state comptroller, New York City's budget for this year relies on $7.4 billion in federal funding. The city allocates a significant portion of that money toward social services, education and housing.
On Wednesday, Mamdani exchanged texts with the president and made his feelings clear.
"Any cut in funding would have a significant impact on the city's ability to not only fulfill the budget that it has today, but also to fulfill an agenda that would ensure that more New Yorkers can afford to stay in the city," Mamdani said.
The rhetoric from Gov. Kathy Hochul was even more direct.
"This is just a threat to intimidate states like New York to bow in submission and that is something we'll never do," Hochul said. "So I say this: You touch any more money from the State of New York, we'll see you in court."
Back in the Bronx, Clemente has another concern. A slash in federal funding to the state would filter down to her organization, and others, who lean on services financed by Albany.
"We are all bracing ourselves, we are already trying to think about what are safety nets that we can put in place to assure that we are not in this precarious position," Clemente said.
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