New York City Mayor Eric Adams defended substantial cuts in the city budget during a town hall on Monday, attributing the responsibility not to local leaders but to the Biden administration and the federal government.
Adams initiated his explanation by recounting a story of a New York City homeowner whose roof collapsed, drawing a parallel to the city’s relationship with the federal government. According to the Mayor, the homeowner sought assistance from their insurance company to repair the roof, but “your insurance company said ‘no, I’m not helping you, you’re on your own.'”
Adams continued by urging attendees to join him in directing blame toward the Biden administration for the ongoing migrant crisis that is overwhelming the city. He emphasized the need for residents to express their dissatisfaction to Washington, D.C., stating, “I tell people all the time when they stop me on the subway system, ‘don’t yell at me, yell at D.C. Yell at D.C.’ We deserve better as a city. DC has abandoned us, and they need to be paying their cost to this national problem.” The influx of migrants from the southern border has placed significant strain on public infrastructure and housing facilities, with the city accommodating at least 130,000 migrants as of mid-October.
In a recent budget announcement, Adams expressed frustration over the lack of engagement from the Biden administration. He emphasized, “No city should be left to handle a national humanitarian crisis largely on its own, and without the significant and timely support we need from Washington, D.C., today’s budget will be only the beginning.” Adams had previously warned that the city would have to implement drastic measures without the necessary aid from the federal government, stating, “It’s going to be extremely painful to New Yorkers, and that is why we continue to say we need help.”
