November 20, 2024 — Today, Mayor Eric Adams released his November 2024 budget update, once again demonstrating a failure to prioritize the needs of New Yorkers over years of his administration’s reckless austerity measures. This update does not undo the harm caused by the Mayor’s past budgets, which have systematically gutted critical services that millions of residents rely on.

From slashing funding for pre-school and childcare services to precariously funding key K-12 education programs year-to-year to cutting a $100 million hole in CUNY and its community colleges, the Mayor’s past budgets left massive billion dollar holes in our city’s safety net. Additionally, the Mayor continues to neglect much needed core investments in real public safety from mental health support to violence prevention services.

These cuts and underinvestments have real consequences. Mayor Adams’ own *Management Report* paints a troubling picture: City agencies are struggling to deliver timely services, with major delays in access to crucial benefits like SNAP and housing assistance. Instead of stepping up to address these gaps, the Mayor’s budget perpetuates a cycle of underperformance and unmet needs, failing to provide the resources necessary to correct course.  

The Mayor’s ongoing legal troubles only deepen the concerns about his leadership and judgment. With a pending indictment and mounting evidence of misconduct with public funds related to campaign finance and city contracts, it is clear that this administration’s priorities are not aligned with the best interests of New Yorkers. Public trust in leadership, especially around public funds, is paramount, and Mayor Adams has continually undermined it.  

New Yorkers deserve a budget that reflects our values—a budget that invests in care, education, and equity, not one that balances the books on the backs of working families. Mayor Adams’ failure to deliver on this vision only reinforces the urgency of building political power for our communities to fight for dignity, care, and justice.  

The People’s Plan remains committed to holding this administration accountable and demanding the investments our city needs to thrive. It is long past time for Mayor Adams to prioritize #CareNotCuts and stop putting politics and personal ambitions above the people of New York City.