Mamdani proposes NYPD budget cuts as 5,000 hires canceled, Internet says 'this will not end well'

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Mayor Zohran Mamdani has decided to roll back a plan to expand the New York Police Department (NYPD), a move that has quickly drawn strong reactions.

The city will cancel the 5,000 NYPD hires previously approved by former Mayor Eric Adams. The preliminary Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 budget proposal also highlights what it describes as a “significant reduction” in current NYPD vacancies, based on unfilled positions. Critics argue that this effectively reduces the size of the police force instead of strengthening it.

Social media users voiced their opinion over the decision. Some questioned Mamdani’s leadership. Others mocked the move and expressed concerns about public safety and the city’s future direction.

Zohran Mamdani proposes cutting NYPD budget

Zohran Mamdani wants to reduce the NYPD budget, ending the plan to add 5,000 officers proposed by Mayor Eric Adams. After taking office, Mamdani canceled several orders signed by Adams following his September 26, 2024, indictment. One of those orders included the proposal to increase the size of the NYPD.

Under Adams’ plan, the department would have added 300 officers in July 2026. The number would have grown to 2,500 by July 2027 and reached 5,000 additional officers each year starting in July 2028.

Under the old plan, the NYPD would reach around 40,000 officers. Mamdani’s plan keeps it closer to 35,000. The Gothamist says the budget reduces spending by $22 million next year.

Social media reacts to Zohran Mamdani's decision  

Social media is not happy with Mamdani's decision. One user said, "JUST ANNOUNCED: NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani is SCRAPPING the plan to hire 5,000 new NYPD officers and proposing cuts to the police budget to plug the city’s massive deficit hole. NYC is f****d."

Another one shared, "Property OWNERS will pass the cost on to their RENTERS and the already unaffordable NYC will become not worth the cost of living. But hey, they might get some free stuff until that goes away too."

Someone else wrote, "New York is on the road trip to hell."

Another one shared, "Wow, that whole city is going down in flames and this is gonna be fast. He hasn’t even been in there. What eight weeks not even his first 100 days? This is not going to end well."

One commented, "Shocker."

Zohran Mamdani cites budget crisis behind decision 

Mamdani linked his decision to reduce spending to the city’s financial challenges. He said New York City is dealing with a budget problem. He said his administration stepped into office facing what he called “a historic budget gap.” 

According to him, the shortfall has been reduced from $12 billion to $5.4 billion. Still, he acknowledged there remains a “significant chasm” to close. “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.

He presented two possible approaches to fixing the issue. “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,” Mamdani said.

He cautioned that if state leaders do not approve that plan, the city may have limited alternatives. “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.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.