Opposition to cuts to municipal services proposed by mayor

“Those cuts are cuts specifically to our schools, (to) after-school care, the Health Department, the libraries. There are many of the institutions we need that New Yorkers use every day,” said Councilwoman Jennifer Gutiérrez.

Under the slogan “more care, fewer cuts,” dozens of institutions, led by a group of progressive councilors, demonstrated on Monday – just before a council hearing that questions the Mayor’s November Financial Plan – to demand that the administration to stop the budget cuts that they claim are seriously affecting various levels of the city.

A new economic report from the council’s finance division says the city will generate $1 billion in tax revenue this fiscal year, higher than the mayor’s office had projected last month.

“We have several reports, including from the council, that show that the cuts do not have to be as deep as they are proposing. And also that the mayor is blaming the crisis on migrants, on those who are seeking asylum. And that is not the truth either, because we have a lot of evidence that it is not the truth,” added Councilwoman Gutiérrez.

In addition to official leaders, several groups raised their voices such as the United Federation of Teachers, the New York State Nurses Association, the CUNY staff union and Se Hace Camino Nueva York.

Pérez.

“It affects us so much as mothers and fathers that we have children in schools and we are not going to have the essential services that we need. The schools are going to be greatly affected in the services that they really need, such as libraries, childcare, I have a little grandson too and I need that service so that I can go out to work,” said Sonia Pérez, from Make the Road NY. .

Let us remember that the administration announced a cut for fiscal year 2024 of 5% in PEG or program to eliminate the gap and that means cuts in all city agencies in more than $1.7 billion dollars.

The cuts are already affecting agencies such as public libraries, the fire department, the education department, including school safety officers, and public hospitals, among others.

Many cuts will take effect early next year and that is precisely what these groups want to avoid.