The Queens Borough Board voted overwhelmingly to approve the package of budget priorities Monday, Feb. 13, although several community board chairs expressed concern over issues caused by the city’s migrant crisis.
Chaired by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, the budget priorities were developed largely from input received from two days of public hearings late last month on Mayor Eric Adam’s proposed $102 billion 2024 budget.
Pursuant to the City Charter, the Borough Board must submit its budget priorities each year to the mayor, the City Council and the city’s Office of Management and Budget.
Irak Cehonski, director of budget for the Queens Borough President’s Office, presented numbers on Monday that showed significant budget shortfalls for city agencies — except for the NYPD — and how much they’ll affect city services in Queens.
Most concerning among the budget cuts included a $295.3 million shortfall for the Department of Education and a $257 million shortfall for the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
“Especially coming out of the pandemic, I don’t know how we cut anything to do with health,” Richards said. “We weren’t prepared during the first wave of the pandemic — I know all of us remember those days and we don’t want to see it again — so we need to make sure we’re fighting those cuts as well.”
Richards also bristled at the Summer Youth Employment Program being slashed by $21.7 million; the Department of Sanitation facing more than $53 billion in reductions; a $61.6 million shortfall at the Department of Housing Preservation and Development; and a $12.2 million shortfall for Queens Public Library.
Cehonski said the Department of Homeless Services slashing nearly $70 million is a “huge concern” for Queens and moments later Community Board 3 Chairman Frank Taylor explained why.
“It is devastating to my community of which I serve, Community Board 3 in North Corona, East Elmhurst, and Jackson Heights,” Taylor said. “Everyone knows we’re a shelter town with 12 or 13 of them and the city wants to cut money and resources.”
He also railed against the lack of affordable housing, MTA bus reductions on Northern Boulevard, and the chronic shortage of hospital beds after a dozen hospitals shuttered in the last 15 years.
“This is not fair. This is deplorable,” Taylor said. “We pay some of the highest taxes in the city per capita and we’re not getting anything over here except more shelters.”
Rev. Carlene Thorbs, chairwoman of Community Board 12, which has coped with high shelter populations around JFK Airport for decades, called the influx of migrants “heartbreaking” and said that the city needs to be more transparent.
“We’re taking in a lot of the asylum seekers and we don’t know where they are because nobody wants to tell us because it’s a security situation but we’re supposed to be ready for them in our schools,” she said. “You’ve got to trust us to assist and to help because we can’t even get a list as to where they are unless something tragic happens and then it pops up on the news. It has to be fixed and it has to be fixed now because if our mayor doesn’t fix it, it will never get done.”
But at least we'll get some open streets.
26 comments:
Is that right? 53 billion reduction for DSNY. I think it is probably 53 million which is still way too much. let us tighten up on the worthless politicians instead!
Greta said...
We need more bike lanes and less gas stoves !
Save the Planet....
Do Democrats destroy every city ?
Oh no ! Truinannashabadapressure #FJB
The Good News: That boot on your throat is for your own safety.
Comon man Kweens needs pork too.
What do all those cities have in common? An addiction to big government, along with close ties to progressive special interests and their cash.
The people of Queens deserve exactly what they have wrought. Feel no empathy for their 100 years of ignorance.
Look for a Communist to be elected next thanks to teacher unions !
Little Donnie is living proof that our votes do not matter.
In major Dem0rAt cities, the Sheeple do as they're told. Like sheep to the packing house.
Who cares? Nyc voted for garage politicians so now they will suffer the consequences. They would rather fund the illegals than to fund any services given to the actual taxpayers. They can find plenty of money to house illegals at 400/night in luxury hotels. That just goes to show you where the politicians' loyalty lays
Vote all of these ignorant, antiAmerican Democrats OUT!
Why should Queens be different from the playbook ?
Unfortunately , I can . Look at what has happened in every country that has been taken over by Communists. They loot , burn , extort , murder , and turn their cities into ghettos . Right out of their playbooks !
When NYHQ Cardiology started to shine, Wayne Isom shrunk them. When QC built aa stellar photonic center, they moved it to Hunter College. Queens always gets treated like we don't matter. That is why we need to revive secession.
Meanwhile we produce the stars. The new president of Cyprus graduated from Queens College.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikos_Christodoulides
Why give so much to NYPD? They don’t do anything.
@"They don’t do anything"
And what do you do ? Bitch and bitch here and spread hate and misinformation.
@"And what do you do ? Bitch and bitch here and spread hate and misinformation."
He/She/It Anon, That prettymuch sums up 99% of all the comments on this site, including your own. Strange that you would really have an issue with this.
Relax Kitarra just a Troll
Why is the Q-Anon creep complaining about misinformation?
Seems a little counterintuitive to me.
Kititara giving unwanted advice is not very flattering. She/He/It sounds full of political prejudiced and hatred to others with different views. Maybe better to stay in the Leftoid bubble and safe space. #TDS
@"Relax Kitarra just a Troll"
Well spotted, he/she/it Q-Anon creep.
Is this boro president related to the Former HRA/DHS Commissioner Gary Jenkins? He looks like him, round face and all. Must be a cousin.
Equity is the only way to ensure solidarity and economic prosperity.
"counterintuitive" Say what girl. $2.00 words....LOL
Post a Comment