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Claiming that she understands the rising cost of living in 2025, New York Governor Kathy Hochul is proposing the distribution of “inflation refund” checks to the amount of up to $500. Hochul claims the state can afford the refund due to an unexpected surplus in revenue generated by the state sales tax. Immediately, the Governor’s critics screamed the checks are nothing more than a gimmick to save her chances of getting re-elected in 2026. One of those critics is New York City Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli (R-NY 51). Borelli appeared on the WOR Morning Show to explain why the inflation rebate checks are a stunt at best.
As Borelli told host Larry Mendte, the problem is not in Hochul giving away the money. “The problem I have is that she is out there saying inflation is so bad, we have to give you back $300- at the same time she’s re-implementing congestion pricing, which is going to cause more inflation for the people in Manhattan. The governor, her and her predecessor have taken steps to increase the price of energy in New Yor City. We have local law 97; that’s going to impose penalties on buildings for carbon emission. In other words, we’re doing everything to be the cause of what she is now trying to save us from. Inflation is happening all over the country, but the cost of living in New York State has rose well beyond and far outpacing all the other states.”
Borelli drew upon a $500 million surplus in the city budget from three years ago to illustrate why Hochul’s check scheme should bounce. “By the time the liberals had all their way, there was maybe $100 million left that we were then able to give out to people; I think at the time it was $175 checks, whatever it was. But trust me- whatever that dollar amount that we think we have extra, the liberals are going to get to it and spend it on programs that don’t help anyone and nobody is asking for or wants well before they even come back to us in the form of a $300 check.”
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