New York City’s new mayor is reshaping the city’s finances, and the police department is at the center of the fight.
According to Fox News, Mayor Zohran Mamdani is moving to hold the NYPD near its current size as he works to close what he described as a massive budget gap. The shift reverses a major staffing expansion proposed by his predecessor, Eric Adams.
Adams had planned to add thousands of officers over several years. His proposal called for 300 new officers in July 2026, growing to 2,500 the following year and ultimately reaching 5,000 additional officers annually by July 2028. That approach would have put roughly 40,000 officers on city streets.
After taking office, Mamdani canceled all orders Adams signed following his Sept. 26, 2024, indictment, including the hiring plan. His current framework keeps the force closer to its existing level of about 35,000 officers.
The mayor’s preliminary fiscal year 2027 budget also highlights the need to reduce vacancies, a move that could lower funding tied to unfilled positions. Gothamist reported the proposal would trim $22 million from the NYPD’s $6.4 billion budget next year.
Speaking Tuesday, Mamdani said the city is facing a financial emergency but insisted progress has been made.
He said his administration “inherited a historic budget gap” and has already reduced the deficit from $12 billion to $5.4 billion, though he acknowledged there remains a “significant chasm.”
“I know that for those who have watched budget after budget, it is tempting to assume that we are engaging in the same dance as our predecessors. Let me assure you, nothing about this is typical. That’s why our solutions won’t be either,” Mamdani said.
The mayor outlined two possible paths to balance the books. One would rely on higher taxes for wealthy residents and large corporations, a proposal he said is the most sustainable option.
“There are two paths to bridge this gap. The first is the most sustainable and the fairest path. This is the path of ending the drain on our city and raising taxes on the richest New Yorkers and the most profitable corporations,” he said.
If that approach fails, Mamdani warned the city could face more painful measures.
“And if we do not go down the first path, the city will be forced down a second, more harmful path. Faced with no other choice, the city would have to exercise the only revenue lever fully within our own control. We would have to raise property taxes. We would also be forced to raid our reserves to balance the budget as required by law,” he added.
The mayor framed the changes as part of a broader effort to stabilize the city’s finances while avoiding deeper cuts elsewhere.
