New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is moving to block a major police expansion plan while pushing for tax hikes on wealthy residents and corporations, arguing the city faces a “historic budget gap.”
Mamdani reversed a proposal from his predecessor, former Mayor Eric Adams, that would have added 5,000 New York Police Department officers over several years.
Upon taking office, Mamdani canceled orders signed by Adams following his Sept. 26, 2024, indictment, including the NYPD hiring plan.
Under Adams’ proposal, the NYPD would have added 300 officers in July 2026, grown to 2,500 by July 2027, and ultimately increased to 5,000 additional officers annually by July 2028.
That plan would have expanded the force to roughly 40,000 officers.
Mamdani’s approach instead caps the department closer to its current staffing level of approximately 35,000 officers.
NYPD Budget Cuts
The mayor’s preliminary FY 2027 budget emphasizes “significantly reducing current vacancies,” a move that could result in funding reductions tied to unfilled NYPD positions.
According to Gothamist, Mamdani’s proposal includes a $22 million reduction from the department’s $6.4 billion budget next year.
The rollback comes as public safety remains a central concern for many New Yorkers and as the city continues to grapple with crime, subway safety issues, and migrant-related strain on city resources.
‘Historic Budget Gap’
During a Tuesday news conference, Mamdani said the city is confronting a fiscal crisis but insisted it is manageable.
“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,” Mamdani said.
“Let me assure you, nothing about this is typical.
“That’s why our solutions won’t be either.”
He claimed his administration “inherited a historic budget gap,” reducing the deficit from $12 billion to $5.4 billion, but acknowledged a “significant chasm” remains.
Push to Raise Taxes on Wealthy
Mamdani outlined two potential paths to closing the remaining gap, presenting one as a tax increase on high earners and corporations.
“There are two paths to bridge this gap,” Mamdani said.
“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.”
He warned that if the state does not approve those tax increases, the city could be forced to raise property taxes and draw down reserves.
“And if we do not go down the first path, the city will be forced down a second, more harmful path,” he added.
“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.”
The debate now centers on whether cutting police expansion while pursuing higher taxes will stabilize the city’s finances or further strain a city already wrestling with public safety and economic headwinds.
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