Desperate times call for desperate measures. This is understood by New York City, Democrat Eric Adams, who announced this Saturday, in a YouTube video, that all state agencies must prepare for budget cuts that will start at 5% and could reach 15% in the coming months if the migration crisis is not resolved.
Adams explained that the adjustments, which he called "detrimental", will be made because the influx of undocumented migrants has exceeded authorities' capacity. The overflow has caused an increase in the city's budget expenses to try to alleviate the crisis and help asylum seekers.
The first cut of 5% to all agencies would come before November, representing a multibillion-dollar realignment of the city's $107 billion spending plan approved by Adams.
However, Adams warned all the agencies: if the federal government or the state Congress do not help New York City with more money, two more cuts of 5% each will occur in January and April. A situation that would be truly catastrophic for New York City and the quality of life of New Yorkers, according to a report by the New York Post.
In fact, Adams himself acknowledged that the decision is not ideal, but it is the situation in which he is stuck due to the little support from the Biden Administration and New York governor, Kathy Hochul.
"I want to be clear: these tough decisions are a direct result of inaction in Washington and in Albany," Adams said, confirming the Democratic Party's internal war over the immigration crisis.
The New York City mayor also warned citizens that their quality of life will be affected by this decision.
"The simple truth is that longtime New Yorkers and asylum seekers will feel these potential cuts and they will hurt," Adams said. "New Yorkers are angry and frustrated, and they are right to be. I am too."
Finally, he again asked the federal government and state authorities not to leave New York City "alone" in dealing with the migratory influx coming from the collapsed border states, such as Arizona and Texas.
"But the die is not yet cast, and we can still avoid these cuts if Washington and Albany do their part by paying their fair share, and coming up with a decompression strategy that reduces the pressure on New York City, so we are not forced to manage this crisis almost entirely on our own," said the mayor, who also promised that the city will try to avoid layoffs and maintain programs, a situation that seems unlikely if the cuts are as high as proposed.
