Two things can be said about the fiscal 2021 budget. One is that it made almost no one happy.
The other is that it did not meaningfully reduce the operational size of the nation’s largest police force.
Resisting budget cuts is just part of the plan, they say. Changing how the housing market works is the deeper goal.
As much as the reopening is testing whether or not New Yorkers can avoid a second wave of illnesses, it will also reveal whether the steps taken so far are all the help that’s needed.
‘The resolve of all city government officials should reflect the central understanding that New York City will continue to be at risk of COVID-19 case surges until our most vulnerable neighborhoods have the tools needed to reduce transmission.’
As formal budget negotiations get under way homeless advocates have outlined a series of long-term priorities and acute coronavirus-related needs they say the city must fund.
‘The legislation is about actual displacement of longtime residents that’s been compounded by rezonings that government has allowed.’
This year, the City Council’s focus will be on a range of bills aimed at eradicating lead poisoning and addressing the needs of the city’s homeless population, among other housing and land-use concerns.
Overblown neighborhood fears create a political environment in which local leaders face risks for supporting a sensible shelter policy. In the middle, but rarely heard amid the uproar, are everyday New Yorkers caught in a crisis.
‘Those who have put their support behind an exclusive zone system for commercial waste are turning a blind eye to the recommendations of rigorous research, industry experts, engineers and city officials who know the system best.’
‘On matters of land use, the City Council traditionally follows the wishes of the Councilmember in whose district the change is proposed. That’s a problematic approach on ordinary matters. And the borough jails plan is extraordinary.’