Eric Adams’ significant welfare failure will impact all of New York

Mayor Adams is facing criticism for rolling back welfare reform in New York City, which is considered one of his worst policy mistakes. 

A brief history . . .

In 1995, the welfare rolls in Gotham skyrocketed to 1.2 million; however, under Mayor Giuliani’s leadership, they significantly decreased to 425,000 by 2001. This trend continued during Mayor Bloomberg’s tenure as the numbers fell to 346,000. 

Then came Bill de Blasio, who reversed the progress made by his predecessors by relaxing eligibility requirements, leading to an increase in recipients comparable to 2006 levels. 

Under Eric Adams, this negative trend has continued, with the city’s cash-recipient numbers increasing by 23% to nearly half a million — the highest in 22 years. 

About 357,000 of these recipients are part of the Safety Net program, which does not receive federal funding and mainly supports single adults and childless couples. 

This program has seen a significant rise under Adams, with record increases in 23 of the mayor’s first 24 months in office. 

The pandemic has also hindered the path to self-sufficiency for welfare recipients, with fewer recipients finding work under Adams compared to earlier years. 

The work-participation rates for family-assistance recipients have declined significantly, leading to a substantial increase in government spending on welfare programs. 

This drop in self-sufficiency comes with a hefty cost of hundreds of millions, with nearly $500 million being added yearly to Safety Net spending under Adams. 

Additionally, the migrant bills are expected to increase to $12 billion by fiscal 2025, further straining the city’s budget. 

While Adams is addressing issues like crime and public education, his handling of welfare reform is concerning, and if he does not change course, all New Yorkers will bear the consequences.