In the Face of an Economic Crisis, Mayor de Blasio Announces Budget that Prioritizes Safety, Police Reform, Youth Services, and Communities of Color

June 30, 2020

Agreement includes a $1 billion cut to the NYPD while maintaining patrol strength and focus on safety

NEW YORK––In the face of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced an agreement for an on-time and balanced budget for Fiscal Year 2021. The $88.19 billion budget was crafted as the city begins to recover from a global pandemic that placed New York City at the epicenter.

Most notably, the budget includes $1 billion in cuts and cost shifts to the NYPD while maintaining patrol strength to protect the safety of all communities. Of those NYPD savings, $115 million has been reprioritized for summer youth programming, $116 million for education and $134 million for family and social services. The budget also shifts $450 million in NYPD capital funding to the Parks Department and NYCHA for youth and recreation centers.

"From reinvesting funds from the NYPD in youth programming and social services, to building new community centers, this budget prioritizes our communities most in need while keeping New Yorker safe," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. "As we emerge from the epicenter of COVID-19, it's now more important than ever to create a fairer city for all."

The FY2021 Adopted Budget includes over $2 billion in agency savings and efficiencies and a commitment for $1 billion in labor savings.

The budget is balanced despite the lack of borrowing authority from Albany or a federal stimulus. To ensure the budget can continue to fund critical services for vulnerable New Yorkers, the Administration will continue to advocate for support for borrowing authority from Albany and a stimulus from Washington.

Beating Back COVID-19

The City has spent approximately $2.7 billion so far on the response to the pandemic. Spending includes $800 million on Personal Protective equipment and $800 million on H+H staffing and support. The City is also spending over $450 million on food efforts to ensure no New Yorker goes hungry, moved thousands of homeless New Yorkers into hotels and built a Test & Trace program from the ground up to ensure New Yorkers can stop the spread of the virus and recover. The Administration is also expanding NYC Care to Manhattan and Queens this year (37.5 million) to ensure New Yorkers in every borough have access to guaranteed health care and creating three new specialized Community Clinics in Bushwick, Jackson Heights, and Tremont to treat the lasting effects of COVID-19 ($113 million).

Cutting the NYPD Budget

The NYPD's budget has been reduced by $1 billion while maintaining patrol strength and safety through a combination of savings and shifting responsibilities to other agencies, including:

• Uniform and civilian overtime reduction- $352.2 million
• Move School Safety Agents from NYPD to DOE - $307.5 million
• Cancel July Police Academy class - $55 million
• Move School Crossing Guards from NYPD - $42.4 million
• Increased revenue from moving 165 TEAs to enforcement - $42 million
• Reduce contract and other non-personnel expenses - $12 million
• TEA vacancy reduction - $5.4 million
• Delay delivery of fleet vehicles - $5 million
• Hiring freeze on non-safety positions - $5 million
• Move Homeless Engagement Unit from NYPD - $4.5 million
• Cancel NYPD FY21 cadet class - $4.2 million

Reinvesting Expense Funds from the NYPD into Youth Programs and Social Services

The FY2021 Adopted Budget includes approximately $430 million in reinvestment from the NYPD's expense budget into youth and social services programming, including:

• $115 million in youth and community programs, representing approximately 100,000 slots for youth this summer
• Approximately 80,000 slots across COMPASS, Beacon and Cornerstone programs to provide elementary and middle school youth with safe and engaging activities this summer
• 35,000 slots for Summer Bridge, a career exploration and project-based learning program for teens and young adults
• 2,000 slots for Work, Learn and Grow, a school year employment program for high need high school youth
• Includes $10 million for Community Based Organizations to promote, educate, and deliver information to New Yorkers regarding test and trace and social distancing
• $116 million in investments in education (restoration of Fair Student Funding $100 million, Single Shepherd $11.6 million and social workers $4.8 million)
• $85 million in family shelter services
• $10 million in children services
• $39 million in health services for school children

Reinvesting Capital Funds from the NYPD into Youth Recreation Centers and Public Housing

The FY2021 Adopted Budget includes shifting approximately $537 million from the NYPD capital budget to youth community centers and NYCHA developments.

• Reinvesting $87 million in NYCHA Broadband Expansion (project total $157 million)
• Reinvesting $450 million to renovate and open Parks and NYCHA community Recreation Centers

Targeted Investments

Pools

• Open 15 pools by August 1
  • Bronx: Crotona, Mullaly, Haffen
  • Brooklyn: Sunset, Betsy Head, K-Pool
  • Manhattan: Hamilton Fish, Jackie Robinson, Wagner, Marcus Garvey
  • Queens: Astoria, Liberty, Fisher
  • Staten Island: Lyons, Tottenville

Cure Violence

The City is investing just over $10 million more for "Cure Violence" to expand into four new precincts and increase staff at all providers. The program will soon be operational in all 20 precincts with the most gun violence.

Facing an Economic Crisis

The city lost $9 billion in revenue from March to June due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, City agencies have had to make difficult funding decisions in order to balance the budget. Savings and efficiencies of over 2 billion include:

Education

• Eliminate administrative temporary contracts in Central offices (DOE) - $16 million
• Savings tied to efficiencies for remote learning due to COVID (CUNY)- $15 million
• Central office savings and efficiencies (DOE) - $38.8 million

Transportation

• CARES Act reimbursement for Staten Island Ferry operations (DOT)- $16.6 million

Sanitation

• Eliminate Sunday Litter Basket Service (DSNY) - $3.9 million