Adams To NYers: Go To Washington To Protest Migrant Crisis

NEW YORK CITY — Mayor Eric Adams has a message for New Yorkers angry at the harsh proposed city budget cuts he pins on the migrant crisis: protest — far away.

"The source of our discontent is in Washington, D.C.," he said Tuesday. "We need to mobilize and rally and go to D.C. and say to the national government: this is not fair for New York City."

Hizzoner's call for protests is his latest gambit to try to literally pass the buck for New York City's cost for asylum seekers to the federal government.

The city faces a $7 billion budget gap, largely because of taking care of migrants, contend Adams and various administration officials.

But many City Council members, elected officials and advocates look askance at that budget math and argue it doesn't add up.

Adams, for his part, has maintained painful cuts to services will be necessary if federal officials don't pay the bill. He seemed to further argue Tuesday that everyday New Yorkers who are angry about those cuts should step up, all while denying he's pushing the problem off on them.

"If you want to advocate for something, don't depend on just one person: get engaged," he said. "Being a detached spectator in this full-contact sport called life is not what I subscribe to."