New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced that the budget cuts announced last November, specifically in the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and the Fire Department (FDNY), amid the financial emergency caused by the migratory crisis, will no longer have effect. That is, both institutions will be able to count on the funds originally projected.
This means that in the case of the Uniformed, they may add 600 new recruits next April and all personnel insertion plans remain untouchable, to increase public security in the coming months.
In addition, funds are restored to return the so-called ‘fifth man’ in 120 fire companiesto keep 190 officers on the payroll, who were not expected to be able to return to full service.
“Reasonable restorations to police and FDNY are due to the administration’s ability to implement creative policies as we continue to see an influx of asylum seekers. But we are not out of the woods and we have fiscal challenges in the coming year.”clarified the mayor.
In the numbers they are guaranteed again $42 million for the NYC Police School and $75 million so as not to sacrifice the number of firefighters who respond to emergencies.
This Thursday, the municipality also confirmed that funds will be restored to maintain 23,000 trash baskets from the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) Additionally, it was confirmed that funding will be permanently restored to the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (Parks NYC) and the City Department of Social Services (DSS), for programs that provide thousands of low-income New Yorkers with six-month paid opportunities and training programs each year.
These measures also aim not to let our guard down in reducing the time that garbage bags Stay on city streets and target hot spots for cleanup and rat mitigation inside the parks at night.
Why are the cuts reversed?
From April 2022 to December 2023, the city has already spent an estimated $3.5 billion in housing and services for more than 168,500 immigrantswho passed through the City’s intake center during that period.
In August 2023, Mayor Adams presented projections that estimated that the cost of the asylum seeker crisis would grow to more than $12 billion in three fiscal yearsif circumstances did not change.
The municipal government in the midst of a political controversy with elected Democratic leaders and the economic pressure generated by newcomers, announced a measure to cut 5% in most agencies.
According to the mayor’s reasoning, due to some measures to reduce the costs of caring for immigrants, The City is projected to save 20% by the end of FY24.
The key has been initiatives such as the 30 and 60 day notice for single people and families to stay in municipal shelters. More than 80 percent of those who took part in the 30-day notice, single men or single adults, are now self-sufficient.
“And that’s the same concept we have for the 60-day notice with families with children. And we have been extremely clear: no child, no family will sleep on the streets of New York City under our policies. But the goal is for them to be self-sufficient, as soon as possible”Adams argued.
Budget cut measures remain in place for other municipal agencies, such as schools and libraries.
“Good but not enough“
He President of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, Andrew Ansbro, He told local media that “he was happy” that the Mayor’s Office had managed to raise the funds for the “fifth man.” before the cuts proved deadly.
For the NYPD Benevolent Association (PBA) the “news” is good, but it does not address the overall staffing needs of the country’s largest police force.
“3,000 officers have retired in recent years or accepted other jobs last year. There are now almost 7,000 fewer officers than in 2001. Our police officers are overworked. “We must work on more incentives for our troops,” said in a statement Patrick Hendry, PBA president.
math question
This announcement by the municipal president, which shows a partial countermovement to the plans for budget scissors, basic services for New Yorkers, continues to generate strong criticism.
Such is the case of the councilor, Justin Brannan, President of Finance of the Municipal Council who reacted by warning that the “The Mayor’s rhetoric is not in tune with mathematics.”
The local legislator accuses Adams of managing the budget with explanations and “irrationally” changing numbers.
“The mayor claimed these cuts could be restored because they were small, but in reality, cuts to community schools in the middle of the school year and libraries to end 7-day service also don’t save much money and still inflict real damage to New Yorkers. Let’s stop playing budget games and prioritize the needs of New Yorkers”, he asserted.
Una crisis triple
On the one hand, all the surveys indicate that New York voters They do not want to continue paying all the costs of the newcomers. But on the other hand, organizations that defend the rights of immigrants criticize the municipal president for continuing to put limits on the right to refuge in the wave that continues to arrive by the thousands.
And in the other “corner” of this complicated debate Democratic elected leaders and union leaders continue to fight the funding cuts that to date remain in place public school and library programs and mental health initiatives.
Keys to the cuts:
- $7 billion is the budget “gap” that the Adams Administration projects for fiscal year 2025, due to the fact that federal stimulus funds are running out and the expenses of labor contracts inherited for years.
- It is estimated that 20% will save municipal coffers with the new rule that does not allow single immigrants stay in municipal shelters for more than 30 days and families for 60 days.
- 60% of asylum seekers who passed through the municipal reception centers left the emergency shelters and took the next steps in their travels.
- 25,000 work authorization applicationstemporary protected status (TPS) and asylum applications, has managed to establish the City’s legal aid centers, bringing immigrants closer to working legally and being self-sufficient.
2024-01-11 22:28:12
#NYC #longer #defund #police #firefighters #sanitation #plans
