“We are running out of options here,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said, referring to the economic impact of the outbreak. “That is the blunt truth.”
With the coronavirus siphoning as much as $9 billion in tax revenue from New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Wednesday morning that the city might have to lay off or furlough 22,000 municipal workers this fall.
“We are running out of options here,” the mayor said. “That is the blunt truth.”
Mr. de Blasio described the layoffs and furloughs as a potentially necessary move in light of substantial budgetary shortfalls brought about by the pandemic’s steep reduction in business activity.
As the pandemic has continued to paralyze New York’s economy, the administration’s estimates of its own budget shortfalls have continued to rise, forcing the city to plan for spending cuts in numerous areas. The mayor said the administration was now looking for another $1 billion in savings.
Mr. de Blasio said he was talking with municipal labor unions in the hope of finding savings that would forestall layoffs from a city work force that numbered 326,000 by the end of 2019, according to the Citizens Budget Commission.
He has also sought authority from Albany to take on debt for operating costs, though state legislators have seemed reluctant to grant him that authority.
On Monday, the mayor suggested that it would be foolish to hold out for further relief from Washington lawmakers.
“For weeks and weeks, we all had the hope that there would be a federal stimulus plan by now,” Mr. de Blasio said. “It’s quite clear that’s not happening.”
