He mayor of new yorkEric Adams, announced this Thursday cuts to the city budget approved in June for next year, which will affect the police and the education system, a reduction that he attributed to the humanitarian crisis created by the arrival of thousands of immigrants and the end of pandemic-era stimulus policies.
The reduction that Adams has applied to the police – the largest security force in the nation – will not allow hiring in that agency for the next two years.
In addition, he cut a billion dollars from the Department of Education, local media report.
The city’s deficit for next year rose from $5 billion in June to $7 billion in November.
The president of the Police Benevolent Association, Patrick Henry, reacted immediately by pointing out that “this is going to turn the Police Department’s personnel crisis into a disaster for public safety. “Police officers are already stretched thin and these cuts are giving us will return to staffing levels we have not seen since the crime epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s,” he said.
In September, Adams warned that the arrival of thousands of immigrants “is going to destroy New York,” and that it would force services to be reduced.
He asked the agencies to cut expenses by at least 5 percent, while on the other hand he limited the stay of immigrants in the shelters to 30 days – a time in which they are provided with shelter and food – to face the humanitarian and economic crisis. which he alleges affects the city.
As indicated by the mayor in a statement today, “specific but significant and necessary measures were taken to responsibly manage finances, with minimal impact on services” and comply with a balanced budget, as required by law.
During this fiscal year, municipal services have invested $1.45 billion to solve the humanitarian crisis due to the arrival of immigrants and another $11 million will be spent during the 2024-25 fiscal years.
“While we made it this time, make no mistake: migrant costs are rising, tax revenue growth is slowing, and Covid stimulus funds are running out,” he argued.
He reiterated that no city should face a national humanitarian crisis alone, “and without the significant and timely support we need from Washington, DC, today’s budget will be just the beginning.”
Explains in the statement that to address the rising costs associated with caring for asylum seekers, the city added $6.2 billion for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 in this plan, bringing the total funds to $10.8 billion. .
The cuts will also affect libraries, as well as rat control programs and climate change mitigation measures.
“Once again, the mayor is scapegoating asylum seekers while refusing to implement solutions that we know can save the city billions of dollars annually and relieve pressure on our shelter system.” commented the Immigrant Coalition.
2023-11-17 00:10:00
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