The MTA's financial condition has considerably improved for funding its capital program, according to a new report.

The analysis conducted by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli shows the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is making strides in ramping up spending on its capital construction and maintenance program without over-relying on its operating budget to cover debt costs.

Revenues from congestion pricing, the state mobility tax and other assistance from Albany have helped stabilize the MTA's finances, particularly its capital program, DiNapoli said.

 “The MTA has made progress towards implementing the largest capital program in its history, work that is critical to providing the kind of frequent and reliable service that brings riders back,” DiNapoli said.

Debt backed by the MTA’s operating budget dropped from 37% for the 2015-2019 capital program to 19% in the 2025-2029 capital program, according to the analysis.

The report stated that the MTA spent $800 million less in operating funds to cover capital debt service last year than in 2024, thanks to the influx of other revenues dedicated to funding the capital program..

 The MTA projects dedicating only 13.5% of its operating budget for capital debt service through this year, with the goal of remaining at or under 15%.

Without the additional congestion toll and tax revenues, the MTA’s debt burden could hit 25% by 2023, DiNapoli said.

The comptroller said the wild card is federal funding the MTA is counting on to help fund its capital needs, which includes the expansion of the Second Avenue subway.

 “While the outlook for capital funding and debt levels has improved this year, federal uncertainties remain," DiNapoli said.

"The MTA is counting on $14 billion in federal funds for its current capital program. If that money becomes entangled in federal politics or delayed, it could force the MTA into making hard choices between increasing its debt load or deferring critical improvements needed to keep the system safe and functional," he cautioned.

Two transport union chapters are backing Republican Bruce Blakeman in a snub to incumbent Democrat Kathy Hochul for governor, The Post has learned.

Leaders of TWU Local 106, which represents frontline supervisors in New York City Transit's bus and subways, will officially endorse Blakeman at its union headquarters in the Bronx on Friday.

Representatives from TWU Local 252, which represents transit operators, school bus drivers and other workers on Long Island, will also endorse Blakeman at the event

"Bruce Blakeman-Candidate for Governor will be at our office in the Bronx on May 29th for a meet and greet and an Endorsement from Local 106," the TWU Local 6 website said. "The leadership from TWU Local 252 will be here as well to also endorse Bruce Blakeman for Governor of New York."

Local 106 president Phil Valenti blamed the MTA and Hochul for the three-day Long Island Rail Road Strike earlier this month.

"We know firsthand how bad things have become. TWU Local 106 will be filing Bargaining in Bad Faith charges against the MTA after contracts that should have been settled months ago continue to be withheld while management plays games instead of negotiating honestly," Valenti said in a recent post on the union website.

"Bruce Blakeman will win in November! Blakeman will fix the MTA and New York State!," he added.

Hochul has huge sway over the MTA, via her apoointments of the chairman/CEO and many of the board members.

The MTA is locked in intense contract negotiations with TWU Local 100 representing 41,000 city subway, bus and other transit workers in NYC Transit.

TWU International and Local 100 have yet to endorse in the governor's race.

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Mayor Zohran Mamdani is expected to name a former NYPD officer — who made headlines for suing the police department more than a decade ago — to serve as the Big Apple's next sheriff, The Post has confirmed.

Ex-Lt. Edwin Raymond is set to benamedto the spot as soon as Friday, according to people with knowledge of the announcement.

Anthony Miranda, a holdover from ex-Mayor Eric Adams' tenure, was formally let go as sheriff on Thursday ahead of the new appointment, according to the sources.

“Edwin Raymond represents the kind of public servant New Yorkers deserve: principled, courageous and deeply committed to justice,” Mamdani said in a statement. 

“Throughout his career, he has fought to build a public safety system rooted in effectiveness, accountability and public trust," he said. "Edwin understands that true safety comes when government earns the confidence of the people it serves, and I am proud to welcome him to our administration as Sheriff of the City of New York.” 

In 2015, Raymond and 11 other black and Hispanic cops filed a federal lawsuit against the department, accusing supervisors in the NYPD transit bureau of mandating arrest quotas of people of color.

The cop-turned-activist ran an unsuccessful bid for City Council in 2020 when he was still on the force, marking a first in Big Apple history.

He retired from the NYPD in 2023.

“I’m grateful to now be part of Mayor Mamdani’s administration as the city’s new sheriff,” Raymond said in a statement.

Calls to Miranda were not returned.

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Kathy Hochul's pied-a-terre tax now targets second-home apartments and co-ops valued at $1 million, a massive drop from the $5 million originally pitched by the governor.

After weeks of speculation with the governor announcing the new levy with little to no info, details were finally released with Albany leaders striking a deal on the state budget overnight.

The only nugget the governor did provide — targeting high-value second-homes worth $5 million or more — has changed.

Under the state legislation for phase one:

• Apartments and co-ops valued at between $1 million and $3 million will be hit with a 4% tax .
• Similar properties valued at $3 to $5 million will see 5.25% added vat
• Anything worth over $5 million will be taxes an extra 6.5%

Phase one will be based on the city's Department of Finance model.

But it was still unclear how the Big Apple will collect the tax with wildly inaccurate valuations of home across the city. The city also only estimates a condo or co-ops rental potential, not total value.

By 2028, the city will now have to create a sweeping new property assessment to find the market value of homes through recent comparable sales for phase two.

Under that phase, all second-homes — condos, co-ops and single family homes — will face:

• A 0.8% tax for those valued at $5 to $15 million
• A 1.05% tax for ones valued at $15 to $25 million
• And a 1.3% tax for anything about $25 million

The phases were meant to help the city enact the tax while city bureaucrats try to figure out how to collect the fees based on incomplete assessment data.

Hochul and Mayor Mamdani — whose jubilee over the tax has managed to tick off one of the most powerful business men in NYC — have claimed the pied-a-terre tax will raise $500 million.

Others put the tally at around $320 million.

Insiders believe the new levy will be an uphill battle with legal challenges likely and crafty owners expected to find any loopholes they can to avoid the tax.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Thursday doubled down on his plan to strip landlords of their property to put non-profits and tenants in charge.

Mamdani, during an unrelated press conference, was pressed on The Post's reporting that his proposal makes use of existing programs that have been floundering, with the residential buildings involved even requiring government bailouts.

"We are talking about programs, many of which have existed before, but frankly, that have not been invested in," Mamdani retorted.

"When nonprofits or tenants are in a position to take over those responsibilities, we're going to make sure that they are equipped to do a better job than the current landlord who is violating housing law.”

Hizzoner called for the ramping up of tenant and non-profit-owned buildings while unveiling his sprawling housing plan on Tuesday -- vowing to use city resources to go after chronically neglectful landlords.

But the programs at the center of his plan have existed for decades and have already needed a government bailout with another on the horizon, The Post revealed Wednesday.

Studies showed some 290,000 non-profit-owned apartments were at a "breaking point" and in financial distress.

The state Attorney General's Office separately launched a bailout program just last year for hundreds of tenant-owned co-ops across the city after finding nearly all had mismanaged their books, running up massive amounts of debt.

Zo and The Donald share hoop dreams.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani joked Thursday that his political polar opposite texting buddy President Donald Trump both want the same thing: seeing the Knicks prevail in the 2026 NBA Finals.

“I'll say one of the few things that the President and I agree on is not just that New York City is the greatest city in the world, but that we do want the Knicks to win the championship," he said Thursday when ambushed by TMZ reporter.

The Knicks are en route to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 -- or, as Mamdani kept pointing out this week, since Ricky Martin's "Livin' la Vida Loca" topped the music charts.

Mamdani has made no secret about his excitement for the Knicks break a championship drought that goes back to 1973.

And Trump -- an only-in-New York icon -- has hinted he plans to attend a Finals game in Madison Square Garden.

The mayor, when asked if he'd sit with Trump, wouldn't commit to joining the president.

"You know, if the President comes to watch the Knicks, I'll leave the President to watch the Knicks as he wants to watch the Knicks," Mamdani said.

"You know, I've been lucky enough to go to a few games this season. Recently, I was at a game with the Public Advocate (Jumaane Williams). It was lovely to be in the nosebleeds, and we'll see where I end up in the future, but I'll be sure to let you know once I know."

When pressed by TMZ, Mamdani also jokingly said he's considering an executive order giving kids a pass on bedtime during the Finals.

"We're looking into an executive order to let the kids stay up late, but I'll leave it at that," he said.

ALBANY – GOP candidate for governor Bruce Blakeman will be able to tap into up to $4 million in campaign matching funds under a state program, an appeals court ruled Thursday.

The state’s Democratic-controlled Public Campaign Finance Board improperly denied Blakeman access to the funds by flimsily arguing he failed to submit paperwork, said the unanimous 5-0 decision from the 1st appellate division.

The ruling, which affirmed a lower court's finding, agreed the board was wrong not to give Blakeman and his running mate, Oneida County Sheriff Todd Hood, a standard one-week window to fix any paperwork errors.

"PCFB's determination to exclude petitioners from the Program under a theory of strict compliance was irrational,” the judges wrote.

Blakeman’s camp quickly cheered the decision.

"The PCFB tried to play a hidden ball trick to exclude Blakeman and Hood from being able to participate in the program. Instead of fostering participation in the electoral process, the PCFB resorted to partisan politics,” Blakeman’s lawyer, Adam Fusco, wrote in a statement.

Gov. Kathy Hochul, who claims no involvement in the PCFB’s effort to keep Blakeman from public funds, is not opting into the program.

Her campaign and the state Democratic committee had a massive $32 million on-hand at the start of the year.

“While Bruce Blakeman burns campaign cash on his Trump loyalty tour, promising to bring his toxic ICE partnership and untrained, armed MAGA militia to the entire state, Governor Hochul is focused on lowering costs and fighting back against Trump. That’s the choice in this race," Hochul Campaign Spokesperson Sarafina Chitika wrote in a statement.

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More than 1,300 Jewish New Yorkers – including rabbis and cantors from across the city -- signed open letters demanding Mayor Zohran Mamdani do more to combat antisemitism.

The appeal, just days before Sunday's Israel Day Parade, comes after a recent poll conducted by The Jewish Majority found that 82% of Jewish New Yorkers -- including Mamdani supporters -- are worried about rising antisemitism.

A majority of Jews directly link the rise in antisemitism to the normalization of anti-Zionism, or opposition to Israel as a Jewish state, and Mamdani's Israel-bashing has "emboldened pro-Hamas protesters," the letters said.

More than half of the city's reported hate crimes targeted Jews through the first quarter of 2026, though Jews comprise only 10% of the Big Apple's population, the letters said.

The signatories also slammed Mamdani for vetoing legislation that would have created buffer zones and barred harassment around yeshivas and other educational institutions including universities.

The mayor said the legislation went too far and would have stifled legitimate protests.

But Mamdani's veto has "only deepened the sense that Jewish security is not being treated with the urgency this moment demands. This veto told Jewish New Yorkers that practical measures to strengthen communal safety are negotiable," the letters said.

“The Jewish community of New York City is speaking with one voice, and what they are saying is unmistakable,” said Jonathan Schulman, executive director of The Jewish Majority, an advocacy research group.

“More than 1,300 Jewish leaders from Brooklyn to the Bronx, Staten Island to Queens, signed these letters because they are tired of watching their mayor equivocate while their community bears the consequences," he said.

"Jewish New Yorkers are asking for what every community deserves: to be seen, to be heard, and to be protected in order to live with dignity in the greatest city in the world.”

The signatories included Rabbi David Ingber, the founding rabbi of Romemu and head of the Bronfman Center for Jewish Life at 92NY.

 "New York’s Jewish community is not asking for special treatment. We are asking for moral clarity and basic safety," Ingber said.

"Most Jews believe that the normalization of anti-Zionism is linked to rising antisemitism, so when the mayor promotes anti-Zionism, vetoes practical security measures, and refuses to condemn calls to globalize the Intifada, Jewish New Yorkers hear a message that our safety is negotiable."

Blu Greenberg, founder of the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance, and investment trader Rick Bensigonor also joined the cause.

Mamdani defended his record to combat antisemitism, though he's skipping the Israel Day Parade.

"You know, I said on the campaign trail that I wouldn't be attending the parade, and I've made my views on the Israeli government abundantly clear," Mamdani said Thursday.

He said the safety of Jews and all residents is "something we take incredibly seriously."

"And what we also take seriously as an administration. Is to ensure that we are delivering on not just keeping Jewish New Yorkers safe, but ensuring that Jewish New Yorkers understand that they belong in this city, that they are cherished by this city," Mamdani told reporters during a press conference.

He praised the work of the Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism, headed by Phylisa Wisdom in tackling Jew hatred.

"And we've coupled that with an investment of more than an 800% increase in the office to prevent hate crimes in funding that will actually support the very programs we've seen to be effective at that kind of work," Mamdani said.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani unveiled a "Commission on Government Efficiency" Thursday -- but it's got nothing to do with cutting waste and fraud despite its DOGE-like name.

Mamdani said COGE -- unlike the federal Department of Government Efficiency previously led by billionaire Elon Musk for the Trump administration -- will focus on "unlocking the full potential of city government," instead of trimming the fat.

"What we are speaking about is a sincere fulfillment of a vision that ensures that city government is operating with the same level of focus that a working-class New Yorker is when they're trying to balance their belts," Hizzoner told reporters in Queens.

"And that means looking at the processes we have, that means looking at the procedures of city government, and that means looking at anything we can do to deliver a more efficient and more excellent government."

The new commission -- chaired by longtime ally of ex-Mayor Bill de Blasio and Mamdani adviser Patrick Gaspard -- will be tasked with proposing ballot measures to voters that have the vague directive of "improving efficiency" and "modernizing city government."

"The Commission on Government Efficiency will take a hard look at how city government functions and identify the reforms we need to deliver faster, smarter and more effectively for working people,” Mamdani said.

Ann Cheng, another de Blasio administration alum, who also served under former Mayor Eric Adams, will serve as executive director.

The panel's creation comes with the democratic socialist putting the kibosh on one of his predecessor's pet projects, Adams' so-called zombie "charter revision commission," which lived on into Mamdani's tenure.

Mamdani had been openly critical of Adams' commission, which was tasked with advancing proposals on the November ballot -- including about whether New York City should adopt an open primary system, and also regarding ways to combat antisemitism and other hate crimes.

Political insiders believe open primaries would make narrow the chances of another far-left pol like Mamdani getting elected, as it would expand the voter base outside party lines, to independent voters, who tend to skew more moderate.

State Democrats, as part of New York's new budget, gave Mamdani the power to kill his predecessor's attempt to makes changes to the city charter after leaving office.

Good government group Citizens Union slammed Mamdani for rushing his own charter review commission.

"The charter commission announced by Mayor Zohran Mamdani intends to focus on a set of important and timely reforms, but if it seeks to put charter reform questions before voters in November, it will have less time to seek public input, conduct research, and deliberate than even the highly criticized, rushed commission established by Eric Adams in 2024," the group said.

"While promoting government efficiency is a laudable goal, the commission must show that its efforts do not come at the expense of careful research, public engagement, and transparency, which New Yorkers deserve."

Mamdani defended the panel's obscure mandate, and took a shot at DOGE when pressed by reporters.

“It's just the name and what it should have been, you know. I think government efficiency—these are words that somehow have been understood as if they are Republican priorities, when in fact they are the priorities of anyone who believes in the public sector," he said. "And yet Elon Musk took that language and used it to cut as many jobs that were as critical as possible for so many of the neediest people across the country and across the world.”

Notable members of the board are Mamdani union confidante Henry Garrido, the head of DC37, and the mayor's business leader whisperer Kathy Wylde, who just recently stepped down as CEO of Partnership for New York.

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New York lawmakers finally greenlit a massive $269 billion state budget late Wednesday – two months after its due date.

The spending plan includes a pied-à-terre tax on luxury second homes in New York City, rolls back cost state climate goals, adds 50-foot buffer zone around houses of worship for protests and extends mayoral control of Big Apple schools for two years.

The final budget also includes a “no tax on tips” plan.

Gov. Kathy Hochul had yet to sign three of 10 budget bills as of Thursday, but state lawmakers are done with their work on the spending plan.

State Assembly members finished voting around 8 p.m., with their state Senate counterparts wrapping up shortly after 11 p.m. 

The legislature is done with the session next week, but the drawn-out budget fight has left lawmakers just six legislative days to vote on non-budget items before they hit the campaign trail.

He's raining on Zo's boycott parade.

Ex-Hizzoner Eric Adams trolled Zohran Mamdani by announcing he'll attend the Israel Day Parade on Sunday that the current mayor plans to skip.

“As your mayor, I was proud to march in this parade for all four years I was in office – and this year will be no different,” Adams said in an X video posted Wednesday. “I’ll be right there, marching with tens of thousands of New Yorkers.”

The subtle, yet clear dig at Mamdani is only the latest time Adams has broken with the tradition of former mayors being hesitant to criticize their successors.

Adams has blasted Mamdani over the city's budget, deaths of homeless people during a winter storm and the new mayor's harsh criticism of Israel.

Mamdani has maintained his stance on Israel is separate from his support for Jewish people and New Yorkers, including after he said he wouldn't attend the parade.

“While I will not be attending the Israel Day Parade, my lack of attendance should not be mistaken for a refusal to provide security or the necessary permits for its safety," he said.

"I’ve been very clear: I believe in equal rights for all people — everywhere. That principle guides me consistently.”

But Adams argued attending the parade is more important this year.

“At a time when antisemitism is rising across our country and Jewish New Yorkers are facing hatred, intimidation and attacks at unprecedented levels, you cannot afford silence," he said in the video.

Who's taking who to school?

A plan to give the Big Apple extra time to comply with a school class-size caps was supposed to save the city $500 million -- but it wasn't included in the state's key education budget bill.

A deal to extend the timeline to comply with the rule saw fierce opposition from the powerful teachers union, but lawmakers said the delay will still be handled as a separate bill in the final days of the legislative session.

Under the state’s 2022 law, 80% of classrooms must have no more than 20-25 students by next year, depending on the grade level.

Absent waivers, all classrooms must abide by those caps by the following 2027-28 school year — 20 students for K-3rd grade, 23 for grades 4 to 8 and 25 for high schools.

The United Federation of Teachers championed the class size reduction law even though enrollment is plummeting in the Big Apple school system.

“For an extension to be considered the DOE needs to produce a clear capital construction plan to build seats where they are needed for class size reduction,” UFT president Michael Mulgrew said Wednesday.

Sen. John Liu (D-Queens), who chairs the committee overseeing New York City schools and sponsored the class size reduction law, said talks on changing the law are ongoing.

“Negotiations continue on legislation to provide more time for the city to comply with class-size limitations, pending clear plans for classroom construction and teacher recruitment from the city," Liu said.

Assembly Education Committee Chairman Michael Benedetto (D-Bronx) said he expected a compromise on class size will be reached before the legislature adjourns for the summer.

"I heard that the Mayor and the UFT came to some sort of agreement about handling this. I don’t know what the deal was," Benedetto told The Post.

Benedetto said although a standalone bill may be coming, he has yet to be notified.