Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday unveiled a modified budget that includes funding for 1,600 new police officers and money for rental vouchers — and then introduced a new police commissioner, Jessica Tisch, in a surprise announcement.
Budget Update
The November changes — an annual occurrence — are the latest update to the city’s fiscal year 2025 budget passed in late June, now adding $3 billion to the original $112 billion.
The increased spending comes from adding 1,600 new police officers, bringing the total number of NYPD officers to almost 34,000, Adams revealed on Thursday. It also adds $467 million into a cash-assistance program that helps low-income New Yorkers pay for groceries and other bills and $115 million into the city’s rental-assistance program.
Adams said the new funds were made possible by increased tax revenue and savings from “lower-than-expected” numbers of migrants entering the city since July.
“We have been clear we are shifting from an emergency to put procedures in place that could be cost-saving to taxpayers,” the mayor said.
Budget Director’s Insights
Jacques Jiha, the city’s budget director, said after the briefing that the city’s previous conservative tax assessment — and necessary cuts — helped with the budget.
“We’re making long-term spending decisions,” he said. The amended budget doesn’t include major restorations to other cuts, despite calls from advocates to make crucial restorations to the city’s parks, including funding to hire more people at rec centers and in other positions. The Parks Department’s only boost comes from 9,000 new lockable steel bins.
New Police Commissioner
Midway through the mayor’s budget briefing, he made a surprise announcement that Tisch, who currently heads the Department of Sanitation, would now take over at the NYPD.
Before DSNY, Tisch was the commissioner of the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (now known as the Office of Technology & Innovation). Previously, she was originally at the NYPD as its deputy commissioner for information technology.
Interim Police Commissioner Tom Donlon — who was put in the role following the resignation of Edward Caban, weeks after the former commissioner’s home was raided as part of a law enforcement investigation — will now work under the deputy mayor for public safety, the mayor also announced.
Tisch will be sworn in on Monday, the mayor said. DSNY First Deputy Commissioner Javier Lojan, a 25-year Sanitation veteran, will be acting interim commissioner, an agency spokesperson told THE CITY.
Conclusion
The mayor’s surprise announcement of a new police commissioner comes at a time when the NYPD is facing scrutiny over its handling of certain issues. With Tisch at the helm, it will be interesting to see how she addresses these concerns and moves the department forward.
FAQs
Q: Why was the budget modified?
A: The budget was modified due to increased tax revenue and savings from “lower-than-expected” numbers of migrants entering the city since July.
Q: What are the new funds being used for?
A: The new funds will be used to add 1,600 new police officers, bring the total number of NYPD officers to almost 34,000, as well as provide $467 million into a cash-assistance program and $115 million into the city’s rental-assistance program.
Q: Who is the new police commissioner?
A: The new police commissioner is Jessica Tisch, who currently heads the Department of Sanitation. She will be sworn in on Monday.
Q: What happens to Interim Police Commissioner Tom Donlon?
A: Interim Police Commissioner Tom Donlon will now work under the deputy mayor for public safety, the mayor announced.
