Wednesday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams doubled back on his demand that the City Council contribute to the $1 billion cost of the migrant problem by giving up half of the discretionary monies they provide annually as “pork.”
When challenged at a news conference about his earlier proposal for the legislature to hand over almost half of the $563 million fund they use to fund civic groups in their districts, the mayor remained steadfast.
“I often hear from my council members that we need to give away more free items. This costs money!” exclaimed Adams.
Adams further asserted that “certain” councilmembers desire to provide “free” cell phones and MetroCards to migrants, which will further strain the city’s crucial services and depleting funds.
“I am not going to steal from taxpayers to do more than what we have been doing, which is a lot,” he continued.
Adams supported his requests that the City Council assist pay the $1 billion bill for the migrant problem.
Andrew Schwartz and the SplashNews.com team
Adams’ ongoing strong language comes after he sent a letter to Speaker Adrienne Adams (D-Queens) on Tuesday, requesting that she inform members that they must “voluntarily” sacrifice a portion of their discretionary monies to close the budget gap caused by the migrant situation.
“The city has spent more than $250 million to house, feed, and provide wraparound services to more than 31,000 asylum seekers,” Adams explained in a letter delivered late Tuesday night, which The Post reported exclusively on the same day.
“We cannot accept the mayor’s proposition that we sever a lifeline to neighborhoods,” the Speaker told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday.
Other members, such as Councilman Justin Brannan (D-Brooklyn), chair of the chamber’s Finance Committee, concurred that the measure is doomed to fail.
“Nonprofit organizations are the backbone of our city.” They are familiar with their areas and provide essential services to New Yorkers in need, he told The Post
“Cutting their funding while concurrently slashing the budgets of city services will leave New Yorkers in need with nowhere to turn. And that is not a possibility for this Council.”
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