Adams' $111.6B Budget Doesn't Restore Library Funds, Yet Adds Cops

NEW YORK CITY — NYPD cops, not library books, got priority in Mayor Eric Adams' mammoth proposed $111.6 billion budget.

The executive budget for 2025 unveiled by Adams Wednesday reverses many controversial recent cuts and puts $514 million in education programs that were funded by stimulus dollars.

But the budget doesn't restore more than $58 million in funding for the city's three library systems — a loss that previously prompted library officials to cut most branches to five-day-a-week service.

Instead, Adams' budget proposes to put $62.4 million toward two new NYPD classes that will add 1,200 more police recruits. When asked during a news conference about prioritizing cops over libraries, he repeated his mantra that public safety leads to prosperity.

"People that go to libraries, I want to get them safely," he said.

The heads of New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library and Queens Public Library, in a joint statement, said most branches will only be open five days a week if the cuts go through.

"We are deeply disappointed that the FY25 executive budget failed to reverse devastating cuts proposed for public libraries in January," the statement reads.

"New Yorkers rely on the vital services we provide, and data shows library usage is continuing to climb in key metrics – including visits and program participation. The $58.3M in cuts that Libraries are facing, if enacted, threaten to upend much of the progress we’ve made over the past few years, and will severely impact vulnerable communities who need our services the most."

The library systems — in addition to many other city agencies — faced midyear budget cuts in recent months as Adams' administration officials grappled with what they characterized as tighter-than-expected finances.

The cuts first prompted seven-day service for libraries to disappear citywide, then led to weekend-long closures.

Adams eventually rolled back many midyear cuts to other city agencies, but not to libraries, much to the chagrin of many elected officials and advocates.

"Whose cuts are getting reversed? The NYPD, of course," tweeted Council Member Tiffany Cabán in January, after the mayor restored funding to the already well-funded police department.

Adams appeared to contend Wednesday that the plight of libraries didn't fall on him.

"One, we're not cutting libraries in this budget," he said. "And, two, which we have stated over and over again, we did not tell libraries to close libraries on Sundays."

But Hizzoner's cuts left library systems with little option other than to close Sundays, officials said.

"We know Sundays are a popular day for Library visits, but staff costs are 50% higher on Sundays," said Jennifer Fermino, vice president of communications and marketing for New York Public Library.

"There is no good time to close a library and we will continue to advocate for full restoration."

The wider executive budget also doesn't restore full funding to early childhood education programs — an issue that previously led popular YouTube star "Ms. Rachel" to criticize the mayor.

Adams argued not enough New Yorkers were taking advantage of 3-K and pre-K programs to justify their full funding.

"When we dug into it, we were celebrating seats and not children in seats," he said. "It's unimaginable: 23,000 vacant seats taxpayers were paying for and children are not in these seats."

The city will spend $3.5 million in outreach to help parents connect with open seats, Adams said

"Every child who wants a seat will have access to one," he repeated three times.