Democratic Socialist City Council Members’ Hypocritical Budget Bragging Raises Eyebrows

Hilarious Hypocrisy: Council Members Brag About Budget ‘Wins’ They Voted Against

In a display of what some are calling “hilarious hypocrisy,” Democratic socialist City Council members are claiming credit for budget “wins” despite voting against the spending plan. Council members Tiffany Caban, Alex Aviles, and Shahana Hanif were the sole dissenters in the $112.4 billion 2025 budget, objecting to the allocation of funds to the NYPD. However, they wasted no time in touting their supposed victories to their constituents.

Hanif, who voted against the budget, sent two emails to her Brooklyn constituents, proudly proclaiming nearly $14 million in “capital budget wins” for District 39. She even praised Council Speaker Adrienne Adams for her “incredible partnership.” Yet, Hanif’s no vote meant she missed out on any discretionary funds from the speaker.

Similarly, Aviles celebrated securing a permanent home for a Sunset Park community organization that assists immigrants. She took to social media to claim credit for the $1 million funding. Meanwhile, Caban boasted about restored library funding in an email to her district. However, none of these lawmakers acknowledged that their votes against the budget made these victories possible.

Critics have not held back in their condemnation of the council members’ actions. One source described them as “knuckleheads” who engaged in “hilarious hypocrisy.” They accused the lawmakers of playing politics and virtue signaling to appease a fringe group of anarchist leftists. Another source pointed out that politicians celebrating funding they voted against is precisely the kind of hypocritical behavior that the public despises.

Sources revealed that the Democratic Socialists of America members had considered presenting their own budget, but the idea never materialized. When asked about her vote against the budget, Hanif’s spokesperson stated that she opposed it due to substantial cuts to education, CUNY, and parks. However, they did not address her boasting of financial wins.

Constituents in Hanif’s district were taken aback by this deceptive behavior. One voter described it as “extremist political behavior” and criticized Hanif for speaking out of both sides of her mouth. Another resident, Stella Belenkaya, expressed her lack of surprise, highlighting Hanif’s lack of response to her request for graffiti removal and her opposition to the police.

The actions of these council members have raised concerns among voters who question their principles and trustworthiness. The public expects elected officials to prioritize the needs of their districts over political posturing. The council members’ attempts to take credit for funding they voted against only serve to undermine their credibility and trust with their constituents.