Metropolis leaders slammed Mayor Invoice de Blasio Wednesday for his willingness to sacrifice the roles of metropolis cops, docs and lecturers earlier than chopping the fats from his $89.three billion spending plan — together with the embattled $1 billion psychological well being program headed by his spouse.
“At a time when metropolis employees are on the frontline of the pandemic, the mayor shouldn't threaten their livelihoods on this means,” Metropolis Comptroller Scott Stringer advised The Publish.
On CNN Wednesday de Blasio mentioned he was planning to furlough or lay off important municipal staff if the town doesn’t obtain federal stimulus funds to fill funds gaps brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
“From ballooning contracts to runaway spending with out outcomes, I've mentioned repeatedly that businesses can discover larger financial savings with out harming our employees,” Stringer mentioned.
On Tuesday, Stringer pointed to billions spent on homelessness with out lowering the variety of homeless within the metropolis, the $1 billion ThriveNYC psychological well being plan, pointless Division of Training contracts, and overhead.
Requested in regards to the cuts throughout his every day coronavirus briefing, de Blasio refused to offer specifics about potential layoffs, saying he was centered on securing a federal bailout.
Pat Lynch, head of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Affiliation, blasted the mayor for the proposal.
“New York Metropolis completely can't steadiness its funds on the backs of its employees, particularly law enforcement officials,” Lynch mentioned.
“Earlier than this pandemic, crime was spiraling uncontrolled. Now our total social cloth is underneath large pressure, and law enforcement officials are already stretched skinny making an attempt to take care of order. If we reduce cops, there will probably be chaos as an alternative of a restoration,” he added.
A number of Metropolis Council members additionally ripped Hizzoner’s priorities throughout a funds listening to Wednesday, saying the mayor ought to slash his spouse Chirlane McCray’s controversial $1 billion psychological well being plan ThriveNYC, bloated contracts and consultants earlier than placing important employees on the chopping block.
“We are able to reduce $1 billion from the failed NYC Thrive program that isn't serving New Yorkers, not yielding the outcomes for that form of cash,” Bronx Democrat Mark Gjonaj mentioned on the listening to.
Queens Councilwoman Adrienne Adams, one other Democrat, urged the town’s funds director Melanie Herzog to “please take a better take a look at ThriveNYC” after studying that this system will solely obtain about $20 million in cuts over two years.
“I perceive it’s a pet challenge, however there must be fairness throughout the system,” Adams mentioned.
Fellow Queens Democrat Robert Holden and Brooklyn Democrat Mark Treyger additionally grilled the mayor’s funds administrators about ThriveNYC.
“Thrive consultants who can't present any direct providers to our youngsters, do you contemplate [them] … to be important providers for the DOE’s funds?” Treyger requested.
“We’re very involved much more so now about psychological well being particularly relating to our college students who've been by a form of traumatic once-in-a-lifetime expertise,” Deputy Price range Director Kenneth Godiner replied.
“Can we reduce our bloated contracts?” Manhattan Democrat Ben Kallos requested Godiner.
Godiner promised to have a look at the difficulty.
De Blasio defended ThriveNYC throughout his press briefing, saying he disagreed with Stringer’s evaluation that it wasn’t making an influence.
“Something that’s about well being and security is a precedence whether or not it’s about bodily well being or psychological well being,” he mentioned.
A mayoral spokeswoman defended ThriveNYC’s annual funds of about $250 million a 12 months for 4 years, and as an alternative detailed deliberate cuts to psychological well being consultants in colleges in addition to delays to cell remedy groups and disaster response groups.
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