NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – Grammy-winning rapper and Bronx native Cardi B went on a 10-minute livestream rant on Sunday slamming President Biden’s support for funding two wars as Mayor Eric Adams announced significant budget cuts across New York City agencies.
"How is there a 100 million dollar budget cut in New York City for f***g schools, library, police safety, and sanitation, yet Joe Biden is talking about 'yeah, we can fund two wars,'” Cardi B said in her live video on Instagram, which was posted later on by other social media accounts.
The budget cuts, part of Adams' first budget adjustment in response to the migrant crisis and other fiscal challenges, are expected to impact various public services including the NYPD, schools, libraries and sanitation.
"No city should be left to handle this largely on its own... today’s budget will only be the beginning," Adams said during a press conference last week. "It is more than painful for New Yorkers — it’s painful for us.”
The budget reduction involves a $1 billion cut from city schools over two years, affecting summer programs and pre-kindergartens, as well as a delay in the rollout of composting in the Bronx and Staten Island. This will lead to reduced trash pickups.
"What’s going to happen to my nieces, what’s going to happen to my nephews, what’s going to happen to my cousins, my aunts, my friends that’s living in the hood?” she questioned. “I’m from the Bronx, I don’t want to see my s–t affected … Everybody be like ‘New York is dirty,’ and it is dirty,” she continued. “And we’re going to get even dirtier with the f—ing budget cut.”
Additionally, the New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library, and Queens Public Library are forced to eliminate Sunday service.
The NYPD is facing immediate consequences with a hiring freeze and cancellation of 250 school safety agent positions. "Crimes are gonna go through the roof because there is a police safety budget cut and on top of that there's a sanitation budget cut so that means we're gonna be drowning in rats," Cardi B said.
In the middle of managing a $5 billion budget gap for the next fiscal year, Adams has also allocated significant funds for migrant services. "The mayor says $120 million budget cut, and trust me, if they're making a big a** budget cut in New York City, watch it's going to start going to your state," Cardi B predicted, adding, "We can't fund these wars, we can barely f*****g fund this country."