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Dear New Yorkers,

After last week’s $112 billion budget deal, many New Yorkers celebrated that libraries and other cultural institutions were able to reverse proposed cuts from the Adams administration.

The city’s new budget, with an additional $5 billion in overall spending, increases its support for the City University of New York system by $77.6 million from Mayor Eric Adams’ initial budget proposal — a boost that helps make up for $95 million in cumulative cuts in previous years of the Adams administration and the expiration of federal pandemic aid.

But other departments, like Parks, were not as successful.

As a candidate, Adams promised that at least 1% of the city’s overall budget would be dedicated to the city’s parks. But the latest budget moves in the opposite direction, slashing $20 million while committing just 0.55% of its money to Parks — the lowest share in the last decade.

The cuts will mean around 768 fewer full-time parks workers, according to budget documents.

“The libraries can threaten to close their doors,” said Adam Ganser, the executive director of the research and advocacy group New Yorkers for Parks. But parks, open to everyone, “are once again getting the short end of the stick," he said.

Read more about the new budget’s impact on the Parks Department here and on CUNY here.

Weather scoop by New York Metro Weather Tuesday's Weather Rating: 9/10. Another gem — with mostly sunny skies, a light breeze and high temperatures in the mid-80s. It's a bit warmer today, but dew points remain very manageable in the low 50s. The vibes are very good out there!

Our Other Top Stories

NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban has decided that a police officer in Brooklyn who lied to the department’s Internal Affairs Bureau while under investigation for submitting two fake COVID vaccination cards can keep her job. This ruling marks Caban’s first deviation from the department’s “disciplinary matrix,” which says officers who intentionally provide false statements should be terminated. NYCHA is stepping up evictions of tenants who have not resumed paying rent since the pandemic. While the agency is only moving against those with the most serious rent arrears, more households have already been evicted in 2024 than in all of 2023. The housing agency is paying related fees and moving costs for the people it’s evicting, amassing bills in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. On the latest episode of FAQ NYC, the hosts discuss NYC’s $112 billion budget, changes in the summer swimming season, “gentrification in the ocean” and much more. Listen here.

Summer & THE CITY is our seasonal newsletter to bring you the best of summer, by and for New Yorkers. It’s a free, weekly guide to help you enjoy — and survive — the hottest months in the five boroughs.

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Things To Do

Here’s what’s going on around the city this week.

Tuesday, July 2: The Museum of Interesting Things, a kid-friendly, traveling interactive exhibit of antiques. Free from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Washington Square Park in Manhattan. Friday, July 5: Picnic Performances: Carnegie Hall Citywide, an outdoor concert featuring Tania León and The Harlem Chamber Players. Free from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Bryant Park in Manhattan. Saturday, July 6: An outdoor screening of Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing,” to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the classic Brooklyn film. Free from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the Lena Horne Bandshell in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. (RSVP ahead for a chance at VIP tickets.)

THE KICKER: A herd of goats from upstate are back at Riverside Park this month to eat up all the poison ivy and other invasive species. They’ll be at West 143nd Street on July 12, reports West Side Rag.

Thanks, as always, for reading. Make it a great Tuesday.

Love,

THE CITY

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