New York City wins for clean water
July 1, 2026
Riverkeeper Team
Riverkeeper applauds Mayor Mamdani, Speaker Menin, and the New York City Council for making climate resilience a priority in New York City's Fiscal Year 2027 Budget, released last night. The budget includes significant investments to protect communities from extreme rainfall and coastal flooding, advancing funding priorities Riverkeeper has championed for years, including a $1.8 billion budget for the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP), increased funding and staff for the Bureau of Coastal Resiliency, and $30 million in new funding for the Department of Parks and Recreation.
These investments are a major win for clean water and climate resilience, demonstrating Mayor Mamdani and the City Council's commitment to protecting New Yorkers from the growing impacts of climate change. While we welcome these critical investments, we are disappointed that the final budget retains the $315 million Water Board rental payment. This annual charge increases water bills for New Yorkers while diverting much-needed resources from the NYC DEP.
Riverkeeper congratulates the Mamdani administration on delivering a budget that makes meaningful investments in New York City's climate future, and we look forward to partnering with the administration and the City Council to build on this momentum and continue advancing policies that protect clean water, strengthen climate resilience, and benefit all New Yorkers.
These investments are a major win for clean water and climate resilience, demonstrating Mayor Mamdani and the City Council's commitment to protecting New Yorkers from the growing impacts of climate change. While we welcome these critical investments, we are disappointed that the final budget retains the $315 million Water Board rental payment. This annual charge increases water bills for New Yorkers while diverting much-needed resources from the NYC DEP.
Riverkeeper congratulates the Mamdani administration on delivering a budget that makes meaningful investments in New York City's climate future, and we look forward to partnering with the administration and the City Council to build on this momentum and continue advancing policies that protect clean water, strengthen climate resilience, and benefit all New Yorkers.
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