Massive Job Cuts Projected For NYC
Mar 24, 2010 - Mayor Says If Albany Slices City Aid, As Many As 19,000 Will Be Laid Off; 3,100 Less Cops, 1,000 Less Firefighters - Layoffs May Be Worst In Decades; Ball In State Government's Court
NEW YORK (CBS) ― It's a game of high-stakes chicken -- with thousands of New York City jobs on the line.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg released a doomsday scenario Tuesday, saying if Albany goes through with cuts to city aid he will be forced to make massive layoffs -- possibly the worst in decades.

It's a grim equation for a grim time. Bloomberg said that Albany's threatened cut of $1.3 billion in state aid equals the elimination of 19,000 jobs.

"We believe that we have hit the point where further cuts mean cuts to personnel," Deputy Mayor Edward Skyler said.

And they are serious cuts. Without more money from Albany this is what the budget axe will do to the workforce:

* 3,150 fewer cops

* 1,000 fewer firefighters, which means the closure of 42 engine companies

* 8,500 fewer teachers in the classrooms

* The elimination of 900 sanitation workers assigned to various street cleaning duties

* 500 fewer parks workers

* 500 fewer people in the transportation department

* 400 fewer librarians