In a move backed by Mayor Bloomberg, the NYPD announced today that all parades in the city must reduce their routes by 25 percent and shorten their festivities to under five hours. The Daily News reports this is a cost-cutting move that will save the NYPD about $3.1 million.
The city said the cuts — which will affect all parades, from the Gay Pride March to the Puerto Rican Day Parade to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Extravaganza — are in lieu of those to “essential services.”
“We’re dealing with a very tight budget. We’re not hiring as many police officers. We’re down 6,000 cops from 2001,” Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne said. “You don’t want to cut into crime suppression any more than you have to…. Reducing the length and duration of parades across the board is a sensible way to save money in tough economic times.”
Those who like to make St. Patrick’s Day an all-day affair need not fret, though; the April 1 implementation date means the St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be unaffected this year. Luck of the Irish, we suppose.
All NYC parades to be cut by 25% and restricted to 5 hours in a $3.1M money-saving move [NYDN]
