Filthy Parks likely to Only Get Worse, According to De Blasio

Many New York parks and recreation areas are left in shambles and are covered in trash after the city faces a $9 billion deficit due to the coronavirus. Things will most likely only worsen as, according to Mayor de Blasio's Monday briefing, the Parks Department is in line for more cuts.

De Blasio said that unless the municipal unions agree to $1 billion in labor savings, he will need to lay off 22,000 city employees by October.

The Mayor Has been working tirelessly to receive funding from the federal government. He is repeatedly shot down; still, he continues to try and dig the city out of its deep financial hole.

"We've all, I think, come to the realization that there is not going to be federal stimulus right now," de Blasio said. "We've got to focus on getting long term borrowing from Albany, so we can avert the kinds of layoffs that would make the situation you talk about even worse."

The Parks Department already had $84 million dropped from its 2021 financial plan, which dismantled the agency's program for hiring 1,700 additional seasonal workers to help keep city parks and recreation areas clean.

Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.