Unsustainable spending on the migrant crisis is a serious challenge for New York as the city struggles to deal with the migrants officials invited in under their sanctuary policies, according to an assessment released by the state comptroller.
“The city needs federal funding and policy changes to help manage asylum seeker costs,” Tom DiNapoli said in a report that looked at the estimated 140,000 illegal immigrants that have descended on the city.
“Going forward, reducing spending will be harder because programs and services that help working families afford the city will likely need to be paid for when federal pandemic aid runs out,” DiNapoli said in his report “While better than projected revenues and city savings initiatives have helped balance the budget through the fiscal year 2025, sizable budget gaps exist in the out years. Finding new ways to reduce spending that avoid hurting city services and limit impacts on the city’s economic recovery will be necessary.”
Mayor Eric Adams rattled the taxpayers when he stated that the migrant crisis, which he laid at the feet of President Joe Biden, “will destroy New York City.” He reported that migrant costs will soar past $12 billion and announced service reductions across city agencies, including police, sanitation, and schools. Gov. Kathy Hochul, after spending more than $1 billion on the migrants last year, called for more than double that in this year’s budget.
Suburban officials are on edge looking to block the relocation of migrants to their communities and the costs to provide services. Many see Hochul’s affordable housing initiatives, including her proposal to usurp local zoning powers to build multi-family housing, as a strategy to house the new arrivals.
“It is also necessary for the federal government to take concrete steps to alleviate spending pressure from the influx of asylum seekers, including a matching share of funding and a comprehensive policy strategy to manage the population,” DiNapoli concluded.
Mayor Adams has been persona non grata with the Biden administration as he appeals to the White House for migrant monies. While en route to Washington during his last trip to make his case for federal support, the FBI raided the home of his chief fundraiser, causing him to turn around empty-handed.
The migrant crisis has the U.S. Capitol in turmoil as House Republicans have filed articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for his failures at the border while he is negotiating with Senate leaders on a bill that would give amnesty to the illegal immigrants.