Photos: The People’s Plan
JUNE 30, 2023 – The following members of the People’s Budget coalition – Alliance for Quality Education, Democratic Socialists of America – New York City, Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM), Jews For Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ), Make the Road New York, New York Communities for Change, New Yorkers for Racially Just Public Schools, NYC Coalition for Educational Justice, Sunrise Movement NYC, the New York Working Families Party and VOCAL-NY – release this joint statement regarding the FY24 budget deal:
“For two years in a row Mayor Eric Adams has forced dangerous cuts to education, housing and social services. These cuts, combined with Adams’ staffing crises and administrative incompetence, threaten the livelihoods and futures of millions of New Yorkers already struggling to get by. The impact of these cuts will be felt across the city: more kids starting school behind, more people going homeless and hungry, more tenants and workers at risk.
“Advocates and council members worked tirelessly during this budget process to protect New Yorkers from a mayor who repeatedly lied to the public and sowed division by scapegoating asylum seekers. We were able to claw back bare minimum funding for libraries, 3-K conversions and Promise NYC, affordable housing and NYCHA, among other vital restorations. These restorations demonstrate the power of organizing, and the critical opposition role of the council. But the fact that these fights were necessary in the first place shows just how low Mayor Adams has set the bar.
“The richest city in the world should be investing in fully universal 3-K, a world-class CUNY, and a wraparound social safety net for all. Our public schools should be the best in the country, not the deeply segregated and starved system we have today. Our communities should be thriving with proven community safety models instead of ripped apart by police and prison pipelines bloated on billions of unaccountable dollars.
“We urge council members to reject Mayor Adams’ cruel and reckless budget. New Yorkers deserve better than bare minimums – and better than this mayor.”
