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New York City's largest public-sector union, DC 37, has filed a lawsuit against Mayor Eric Adams and his administration over planned budget cuts that would result in the loss of thousands of union jobs. The lawsuit, filed in state Supreme Court in Manhattan, accuses the mayor and his administration of failing to adequately assess the decision to eliminate 2,300 "job training participants" in the parks and sanitation departments, potentially replacing them with non-union contractors.

DC 37, which was an early and vocal supporter of Adams in the 2021 mayoral primary, contends that the approach to dealing with the budget deficit has been shortsighted. Henry Garrido, the union's executive director, expressed concerns about the exclusive focus on cutting services instead of exploring revenue collection options. Garrido emphasized that such cuts would lead to delayed garbage collection, lengthier response times for city calls, and slower emergency response, which would only result in greater public frustration towards city workers.

The lawsuit highlights the strains faced by Adams' political coalition amid budgetary challenges. A recent Quinnipiac University poll revealed that 83 percent of New Yorkers are worried about the potential impact of the mayor's budget cuts on their daily lives. In the same survey, Adams received a record-low job approval rating of 28 percent.

Garrido's criticism of the budget cuts extends beyond the lawsuit. Just earlier this week, during a City Council hearing, he denounced the mandate as unfair and unjustified, expressing his discontent with the process in the city's government. Additionally, Garrido argued that the selective nature of the cuts, where some divisions face wholesale reduction while others remain untouched, further harms his members and exacerbates inequality within city government.

However, despite the union's lawsuit and grievances, Garrido stopped short of completely disavowing his support for Adams. He pledged to back the mayor in his efforts to secure more funds for asylum seekers by lobbying officials in Albany. Garrido is also set to attend a meeting at the White House on Thursday to discuss the matter.

The outcome of the lawsuit and the ongoing battle over the city's budget cuts will undoubtedly have significant implications for both Mayor Adams and DC 37, as they navigate the delicate balance of addressing the budget deficit while minimizing the impact on essential services and the livelihoods of union workers.