Skip to content

Persistent Issues Persist in City Services: Tuberculosis Management, Bus Lane Construction, and Public Bathroom Maintenance All Affected by Staff Shortages

City agency performance review for fiscal year 2025 reveals staffing deficits as the culprit behind service delays or reductions - ...

Struggles in staffing persistently hinder the delivery of city services, impacting tuberculosis...
Struggles in staffing persistently hinder the delivery of city services, impacting tuberculosis control, bus lane construction, and bathroom maintenance.

Persistent Issues Persist in City Services: Tuberculosis Management, Bus Lane Construction, and Public Bathroom Maintenance All Affected by Staff Shortages

New York City, in the midst of a gradual recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, is grappling with staffing shortages across various city agencies, according to the latest Mayor's Management Report. The report, covering the period from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the city administration.

One of the areas experiencing these challenges is the mental health and public safety program. Despite operating on a reduced schedule during the past fiscal year, the program, a joint venture of the health and police departments, reported staffing shortages and recruitment problems in both departments. The program, aimed at addressing mental health issues among individuals experiencing homelessness, served roughly the same number of new individuals as the previous year, but fell short of the target of 500.

The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, responsible for Tuberculosis (TB) control, is another area facing continued challenges. The department is currently hiring for 51 new staff positions to support TB prevention and control, and additional non-personnel funding has been allocated. However, the capacity to perform TB control measures was further diminished in the city during the past fiscal year. Furthermore, federal funding for TB control in New York City is under threat, and any future cuts could significantly compromise the city's efforts.

The construction of new miles of bus lanes in the city also saw a decrease, with the number falling from 15.7 miles in fiscal year 2024 to 5.5 miles in fiscal year 2025. This decline is attributable to resource constraints, including delays in contract approvals and staff shortages.

Unfilled vacancies put a strain not only on service delivery but also on employees' morale. City Hall acknowledged these strains, stating that the mental health co-response teams are not the only program the administration has to reach people experiencing mental illness and homelessness, and pointed to increases in funding for mental health services.

Despite these challenges, progress with hiring allows the city to work better and faster in some areas, as shown in the Mayor's Management Report for fiscal year 2025. Staffing across city agencies is up from the peak vacancy rate during the COVID-19 pandemic, although hiring is still restricted to a two-out, one-in policy at most city agencies.

The Mayor's Management Report, released Wednesday afternoon, reflects some strains in service delivery due to staffing shortages. As the city continues to recover and grow, addressing these staffing issues will be crucial for maintaining and improving the quality of life for New York City residents.

Read also:

Latest