(Just The News)—New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is putting plans to expand the city’s housing voucher program on hold as his new administration grapples with budget shortfalls.
More than 60,000 families rely on the City Fighting Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement program, known as CityFHEPS, to help pay their rent. Participants are required to pay 30% of their income toward it. Mamdani’s plans called for expanding the program and dropping a lawsuit filed by his predecessor, Eric Adams, that challenged a law, expanding eligibility for the housing vouchers.
But at a budget briefing this week, Mamdani told reporters his administration needs more time to develop a plan to expand the program after learning of a projected $12 billion revenue shortfall for the next fiscal year.
To reduce the budget gap, Mamdani said he will pursue a campaign pledge to raise taxes by 2% on millionaires and increase the combined corporate tax rate to just over 22%, making it the highest rate in the nation. Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, who is seeking reelection this year, has ruled out support for higher taxes in the city.
The democratic socialist and former Queens Assemblyman has blamed former Mayor Eric Adams for leaving a budget deficit and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, his chief rival in November’s mayoral election, for not doing enough to help the city as governor. Both have denied responsibility for the Big Apple’s revenue shortfalls.
“The prior administration mismanaged not only the budget, but also, frankly, housing and assistance programs,” Mamdani said in remarks Wednesday. “Looking forward, we want to make sure that we balance New Yorkers’ access to medium- and long-term housing, while also crafting a sustained and balanced budget.”
Adams wanted to raise tenant rents under CityFHEPS to 40%, arguing the city needs to contain the program’s costs, which rose to more than $1.25 billion last year. But the City Council rejected his plan.
Meanwhile, the City Council failed to muster enough votes on Thursday to override Adams’ objections to the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act, which would give nonprofits and private developers a first crack at buying distressed apartment buildings to redevelop them for affordable housing. Mamdani had championed the bill on the campaign trail.
Adams vetoed the legislation on his final day in office amid opposition from real estate industry and landlord groups, who said the changes would increase red tape and contribute to a shortage of affordable housing.
Despite support for the measure, and a last-ditch effort by Mamdani to bring it up for a vote Thursday, Council Speaker Julie Menin didn’t have the two-thirds majority needed to override the veto.
Backers of the measure said they were undeterred by the failure to override Adams veto, and vowed to keep pushing for its passage.
“The bottom line is this: if we do not have stronger protections to keep working class New Yorkers here, they will continue to leave,” Councilmember Sandra Nurse said in a statement. “I look forward to working with Speaker Menin on re-introducing the bill and passing it this year.”
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.