NY Mayor Adams say city's migrant crisis major factor in proposed budget cut, including police dept

A New York police union has already criticized this plan, arguing it would reduce safety of those in the city.

Published: November 17, 2023 2:11pm

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is proposing $4 billion in budget cuts including that includes a hiring freeze on police officers and tightened spending for the public school system, citing in large the cost of providing for the influx of migrants.

"Migrant costs are going up, tax revenue growth is slowing, and COVID stimulus funding is drying up," the Democrat mayor said Thursday in announcing the plan. "No city should be left to handle a national humanitarian crisis largely on its own, and without the significant and timely support we need from Washington, D.C., today’s budget will be only the beginning.”

The New York Police Department will freeze hiring and bring numbers under 30,000 by the end of 2025, according to Fox News. The education budget is also going to take a hit.

A New York police union argues the plan as will reduce safety of those in the city.

"This is truly a disaster for every New Yorker who cares about safe streets," said Patrick Hendry, president of the Police Benevolent Association, a major NYPD police union. "Cops are already stretched to our breaking point, and these cuts will return us to staffing levels we haven’t seen since the crime epidemic of the ‘80s and ‘90s."

A teachers union also spoke out against reduction happening in education.

"Rather than protect our public schools, City Hall proposes to cut overall funding, and on top of that, is making good on another threat by clawing back $109 million from city classrooms," United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew said.

"That means 653 schools – 43% of the school system – will be hit now with midyear budget cuts. Class sizes will rise, and school communities will be needlessly damaged."

Hundreds and thousands of migrants have arrived in New York City over the last year.

Adams has previously stated that the city could not handle the amount of people arriving and has reached out to President Biden and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul for assistance.