Hiram Alejandro Durán/THE CITY
The $900 billion federal pandemic relief bill expected to be passed by Congress on Monday will provide a major if temporary boost to New Yorkers grappling with unemployment and food and housing insecurity.
There’s at least $4 billion on the way to help keep the trains and buses running. And while the city and state won’t reap any direct aid, there’s new leeway to use funds allocated under the CARES relief bill passed in March to balance current fiscal year budgets without major spending cuts.
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) Sunday night characterized the deal he helped negotiate over recent fraught weeks as providing much-needed “emergency aid” with tough times destined to drag on.