Protesters rally against New York City budget cuts outside City Hall
NEW YORK -- Groups protested outside City Hall on Friday after Mayor Eric Adams unveiled the first round of budget cuts that will impact every city agency.
Community groups, elected officials and unions are asking the New York City Council to block the 5% cuts across the board. Specifically, they're against cuts to education, child care, CUNY, libraries, housing and social services.
There's a $7 billion budget gap and Adams has said the cuts are necessary in part due to the cost of the asylum seeker crisis and reduction in federal COVID aid.
"We should not be balancing the budget on the backs of the poorest New Yorkers," said Wayne Ho, president and CEO of the Chinese American Planning Council.
Sanitation, schools and the NYPD will all feel the pinch, Adams said.
The United Federation of Teachers said 43% of the school system would be hit with mid-year budget cuts.
Michael Mulgrew, president of the teachers union, blasted Adams and said none of the cuts make sense because tax revenues are up and the city's economy is rebounding.
"We need to hold the mayor and the budget director accountable," said Mulgrew.
"I know that the legislature and the governor, for the past two years, has sent every, single nickel and dime per pupil with foundation aid funding for schools. There is zero reason why there should be $1 cut from our New York City public schools. We did our job in the state senate," said Ramos.
The Department of Education said there would be a $120 million cut to Pre-K and 3-K programs.
"Why at this moment of fiscal crisis would we be starving our child care system, which not only takes care of our babies, but boosts our economy?" said Amshula Jayaram, with the Alliance for Quality Education.
Brooklyn Councilman Justin Brannan, head of the City Council Finance Committee, said lawmakers would work hard to find ways to roll back the cuts and hold oversight hearings on the city's reliance on expensive hotels to house migrants.
Adams is calling on the state and federal government to provide more assistance.