City services faced ongoing challenges due to staffing issues, as seen in areas such as tuberculosis control, bus lane construction, and bathroom cleaning.
The latest Mayor's Management Report, released on Wednesday afternoon, paints a picture of a city facing staffing shortages and resource constraints that have slowed or underperformed various services.
One of the most affected areas is the delivery of city services, with staffing shortages at city agencies persisting as a major concern, according to the report. This is particularly true for the mental health co-response teams, a joint venture of the health and police departments, which are grappling with staffing shortages and recruitment problems from both departments.
The report highlights the mental health co-response teams as a key initiative, but notes that they are operating on a reduced schedule. The number of new individuals served by these teams is roughly on par with the previous fiscal year but is still under a target of 500. City Hall stresses that the mental health co-response teams are not the administration's only means of reaching people experiencing mental illness and homelessness, and points to increases in funding for mental health services.
The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is another area facing challenges. The report indicates a continued reduced capacity for conducting core tuberculosis control activities due to staffing gaps and funding restrictions. However, the health department is currently hiring for 51 new staff positions to support TB prevention and control, and has added other non-personnel funding.
The report also sheds light on the construction of new miles of bus lanes, which has seen a significant decrease from 15.7 miles in fiscal year 2024 to 5.5 miles in fiscal year 2025, due to resource constraints, including delays in contract approvals and staff shortages.
Despite these challenges, the report reflects some areas where progress with hiring allows the city to work better and faster. The Mayor's Management Report for July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 shows that hiring is restricted to a two-out, one-in policy at most city agencies, a measure aimed at improving efficiency.
It's worth noting that the report does not discuss any changes in the city's overall staffing levels or vacancy rates, beyond the impact on specific programs like TB control and mental health co-response teams. The report also does not mention any changes in the hiring policy for city agencies beyond the two-out, one-in policy at most agencies.
However, City Hall reports that staffing across city agencies is up under Mayor Eric Adams from a peak vacancy rate during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to City & State.
The 544-page annual report offers a comprehensive overview of the city's performance across a wide range of areas, including education, public safety, and transportation. Despite the challenges outlined, it serves as a valuable resource for understanding the city's current state and the areas that require focused attention and investment.
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