Friday Headlines: Got The Budget Blues Edition

State lawmakers passed their 12th budget extender today that will run through Monday, and the timeline to vote on the state’s spending plan varies depending on who you ask.

State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Mike Gianaris told reporters yesterday that chances were “very slim” that a budget would be finalized before Memorial Day on May 25. However, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie is more optimistic.

“Some of the other Article IIVs…some are either being worked out or being dropped, and we’ll continue to work on them after budget,” he told reporters. “I think the money conversation is going very well, so I’m hoping that we can get this wrapped up, I’d say, actually passing bills, by the middle to end of next week.”

And during floor debate for the day’s extender, State Sen. José Serrano said that the budget’s status was anyone’s guess. “Right now, I don’t have a concrete update on where we are with a final budget,” Serrano said.

Even with handshake agreements on major parts of the governor’s budget like auto insurance, immigration, building regulations and climate, there is little faith in an agreement coming soon.

With the legislative session wrapping up on June 4 and primary races taking place across the state, legislative leaders are trying to use this time to get regular bills out of the way. But even with that approach in mind, there are real fears that a special session could be warranted and lawmakers could return to finish passing non-budget legislation.

This year’s negotiations and Hochul’s premature announcement of an agreement had Heastie incensed a week ago, and even though he’s elaborated that his frustration is with the budget process rather than with the governor personally, he still wants to see some change.

“I’ve been very clear, I’m not backtracking, I think, and even in the governor’s comments, she admitted that maybe we could talk about money earlier, and that’s really what it is,” he said. “I believe this: Budgets are fiscal documents. We want to give people certainty.”

More news:

• Probational LIRR employees face termination if a strike begins tomorrow. And NYU Langone is drawing up plans to ferry its workers from Glen Cove to the city if there is a service disruption. (Newsday)
• Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s bid for state matching funds to help his Republican gubernatorial campaign faces yet another legal challenge. (Newsday)
• A fire at Penn Station disrupted service for many passengers. (News 12 Long Island)
• Jack Schlossberg’s congressional campaign is being undercut by his lack of professionalism and commitment. (The New York Times)
• An MTA security guard was accepting cash to open the gates for subway fare evaders. (The New York Post)
• New York City’s teachers union endorsed Rep. Dan Goldman (D-Manhattan) in his reelection campaign. (The Daily News)
• A Newburgh councilman is proposing the removal of street surveillance cameras in the city. (Mid Hudson News)
• How much is an endorsement from the governor worth? (Gothamist)
• Part of a lawsuit concerning retaliation and harassment in state Attorney General Letitia James’ office has been revived. (The Times Union)
• Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-Brooklyn) wants New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to do more to restrict cooperation between ICE and the NYPD after a recent clash with protesters has become an issue in the race to succeed her. (Gothamist)