In a bid to address a staggering $7.1 billion deficit projected for the 2025 fiscal year, Mayor Eric Adams has announced a series of budget cuts totaling $2.1 billion. The cuts come as part of a 5% city government-wide spending reduction proposed in September, aimed at meeting January goals.
During a town hall in Brooklyn on Monday night, Mayor Adams attributed the need for budget cuts to the surge in costs associated with addressing the influx of more than 125,000 migrants since last year. The city’s expenditure reached $1.45 billion in fiscal 2023 on the migrant crisis, necessitating measures to alleviate financial strain.
Adams expressed frustration with the federal government, claiming abandonment by Washington, D.C., and asserting that they should bear the costs of this “national problem.” The mayor specifically highlighted the challenges posed by the federal government’s failure to grant legal work permits to migrants, contributing to the strain on the city’s resources.
Despite widespread cuts across various departments, Adams announced exemptions for essential services provided by the NYPD, FDNY, and the Sanitation Department. Budget Director Jacques Jiha cited potential impacts on public safety, health, and cleanliness as reasons for sparing these agencies from further cuts.
To achieve the targeted $2.1 billion reduction, the mayor plans to heavily cut funding to housing and services for migrants, slashing predicted spending in these areas by 20% in the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years. The reduction will involve shortening the length of stays in shelters to 30 days for individuals and 60 days for families, a measure that has been under consideration since July.
City agencies primarily responsible for responding to the migrant crisis, including the Departments of Homeless Services, Housing Preservation and Development, Emergency Management, and Health+ Hospitals, will bear the brunt of the funding cuts.
Adams expressed regret at the necessity of these measures, stating, “I truly wish that there were other, less painful, ways to address this budget crisis.” He placed blame on both Washington D.C. and Albany for the drastic measures, further straining his relationship with the White House and President Joe Biden, whom he hasn’t spoken to in nearly a year.
Despite Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul’s repeated calls for increased federal support, the mayor’s plea for aid has been hindered by a federal investigation into his campaign finances. A planned meeting with White House officials earlier this month was abandoned as Adams returned to New York to address the FBI probe.
As the city grapples with financial challenges exacerbated by the migrant crisis, Mayor Adams remains resolute in his calls for federal assistance, asserting, “We deserve better as a city.”