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'The Purge starts': Outrage erupts after Eric Adams cuts NYPD overtime to pay for migrants

Eric Adams has announced the move to cut NYPD overtime to resolve the ongoing migrant crisis

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Mayor Eric Adam's move to address New York City's ongoing migrant crisis by reducing the New York Police Department's (NYPD) and other uniformed agencies' expenditures has now led to an outrage among law enforcement officials.

The move comes despite the police department's struggle to deal with crimes that have increased in number and remain higher than before Covid, reported the New York Post.

Who is Jacques Jiha?

Jacques Jiha, budget director for Mayor Eric Adams has issued a directive for the NYPD, Fire Department (FDNY), Department of Corrections (DOC), and Department of Sanitation (DSNY) to formulate a plan that will be practical in reducing overtime costs.

"The mayor will issue a directive to implement an overtime reduction initiative for our city’s four uniformed agencies (NYPD, FDNY, DOC/DSNY)," read Jiha's memo sent to the four uniformed agencies on Saturday, September 9.

"These agencies must submit a plan to reduce year-to-year OT spending," the memo continued.

These agencies are further required to submit monthly reports to the City Hall "to track overtime spending and their progress in meeting the reduction target."

Eric Adams blasted online over the move to cut NYPD's overtime

Mayor Adams has repeatedly emphasized the financial strain caused by the migrants in the city.

He previously discussed the need for immediate austerity measures to resolve the migrant crisis as he has warned that over the next three years, the cost of addressing the issue could reach $12 billion.

However, his decision to make agency-wide cuts of 5% and NYPD's overtime was not welcomed by netizens.

"Of course...less police...more crime..what solid leadership for NYC. When crime soars and businesses leave and the tax base dwindles...the NYC mayor will be "baffled" and go to DC to get a "taxpayer bailout" from you," wrote a Twitter user while another wrote, "And so The Purge starts. Escape from New York."

"I don’t think Adam’s plan of declaring NYC a “sanctuary city” was thought through very well," a user chimed in, and someone tweeted, "Yeah that makes sense cut police budgets during a pandemic-induced crime wave …..Abbott sends more buses to the Big Apple!".

Who is Patrick Hendry?

Patrick Hendry, the head of the Police Benevolent Association, the largest police union expressed strong reservations about the overtime costs.

Highlighting NYPD's staffing crisis, Hendry said, "It is going to be impossible for the NYPD to significantly reduce overtime unless it fixes its staffing crisis."

"We are still thousands of cops short, and we’re struggling to drive crime back to pre-2020 levels without adequate personnel," he added.

"If City Hall wants to save money without jeopardizing public safety, it needs to invest in keeping experienced cops on the job," Hendry stated on Sunday, September 10.