It's the brilliant Larry show on WNYC.

Good morning again, everyone.

And hey, let me just say, on behalf of all the Mets fans, it's only April.

So maybe they'll be the symbol for winning once we get to September and October. It's only April we keep telling ourselves.

But with us now for the second time since taking office in January is New York City

controller, Mark Levine. Last Thursday, his office announced a $4 billion

plan to put some of the city's pension money behind building and preserving affordable housing.

So we'll invite him to dig into the details of that in a minute. But in general, it's been a busy

few months. Also when controller Levine was with us last,

he rang the alarm bells on the city's dire financial situation for the coming budget year.

He had projected a $10.4 billion budget gap for the coming fiscal year. That gap now sits at

about half that, $5.4 billion, according to the mayor.

So that's an improvement, but still nothing to sneeze at. And the controller from what I've seen

still doesn't think Mayor Mamdani has a responsible budget plan yet. One big issue, how much to

spend on priorities like child care right now versus safe for a rainy day.

So as we wait for Albany to wrap up the state budget process there, which is going to affect the city,

Mayor Mamdani and the city council continue to feud over solutions to the deficit,

and the controller as his responsibility weighs in. So let's talk to the deficit, and the Comptroller, as his responsibility,

weighs in. So let's talk to the city's chief accountant, controller Mark Levine.

Controller, welcome back to WNYC.

Hey, Brian. Thanks. Great to be back.

Well, let's start with your big announcement from last week. As Comptroller, you get to

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