XPost: alt.politics.democrats, alt.fan.rush-limbaugh, talk.politics.guns   
   XPost: talk.politics.misc, soc.culture.african.american   
   From: yourdime@outlook.com   
      
   The City Council is expected to “roll over” and allow most if not all of   
   the controversial budget cuts proposed by Mayor Eric Adams, sources   
   predicted Sunday.   
      
   The newly unveiled 2024 financial plan from City Hall would shrink the   
   police department and slash funding to schools, cultural institutions and   
   libraries — supposedly due to the increasing cost of housing migrants.   
      
   Former Brooklyn Councilman Sal Albanese blasted proposed cuts and implored   
   the Council to “get a spine.”   
      
   “They are going to roll over. They are going to opt to do nothing and   
   blame the mayor for the cuts,” Albanese said. “I’m urging them to get a   
   spine. That’s a lot to ask for from the City Council.”   
      
   The former mayoral candidate suggested that council members may be   
   protecting legislative grants — “member items” — that they steer to pet   
   programs in their districts.   
      
   “Unbelievably the @NYCCouncil in June touted & spent a ton of $ on ‘member   
   items’ without considering that the fiscal house of NYC was on very shaky   
   grounds,” Albanese said on X. “Of course irresponsible politics is more   
   important than fiscal prudence.”   
      
   While decrying the cuts, Council leaders have not indicated how they will   
   proceed with the political hot potato.   
      
   The Council and Adams approved the $107 billion city budget with much   
   fanfare on June 30.   
      
   But in September, Adams ordered city agencies to prepare to slash spending   
   with cuts of 5% — and possibly a total of 15% by spring, blaming   
   escalating migrant costs.   
      
   In addition to the migrant costs, the city needs to compensate for the   
   loss of federal pandemic funds and the costs of generous labor contracts   
   and pay hikes for the workforce.   
      
   “All of us are concerned about the impact that the reductions will have on   
   the ability to provide essential services — from public safety to clean   
   streets to public schools,” said Council Majority Leader Keith Powers (D-   
   Manhattan).   
      
   “Elected officials of all political persuasions need to be asking our   
   federal and state partners to act urgently to help our city avoid drastic   
   cuts.”   
      
   Powers said the Council has not yet deliberated on how to proceed.   
      
   The legislative body will hold an oversight hearing on the budget trims   
   and ballooning migrant costs after the Thanksgiving holiday, according to   
   the finance committee chairman, Councilman Justin Brannan. He did not say   
   what action the Council would take on the mayor’s budget-shrinking plan.   
      
   “The budget gaps we are facing were not a surprise and largely due to the   
   end of federal COVID stimulus funds. As we have warned, temporary money   
   was used to start or expand permanent programs, and now that money is   
   finally running out. Costs related to the unprecedented migrant influx are   
   a big piece of this puzzle but certainly not the only piece,” Brannan said   
   last week.   
      
   “For months, the Council has been asking the Administration for a full   
   accounting of migrant costs and yet more than a year later, the only plans   
   we’ve seen are more cuts to services that New Yorkers rely on. Managing   
   and financing an international migrant crisis should not be the   
   responsibility of a municipality and yet here we are. The bottom line is   
   we desperately need help from our partners in Washington and Albany. New   
   York City cannot be expected to handle this on our own.”   
      
   The dilemma for the Council is that the city faces substantial multi-   
   billion gaps in subsequent years, even after the cuts the mayor has   
   proposed to balance the current spending plan, a budget expert said.   
      
   So, the Council would have to take action to address the problem, not   
   worsen it, said Andrew Rein, president of the Citizens Budget Commission.   
      
   “The mayor is right. We need to start now to reduce costs,” Rein said.   
      
   Others, including budget analyst and Post columnist Nicole Gelinas, said   
   the mayor could solve the crisis by cutting migrant costs, instead of   
   essential services.   
      
   Adams’ spending reduction plan will be sent to the City Council this   
   coming week, a City Hall spokesman said.   
      
   https://nypost.com/2023/11/19/metro/nyc-council-to-roll-over-accept-mayor-   
   eric-adams-budget-cuts-to-nypd-schools-and-more-sources/   
      
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