'Fake' Letter About Major Layoffs Called Out By Corey Johnson

WEST VILLAGE, NY — City Council Speaker Corey Johnson called out as fake a letter circulating this weekend that identified major city agency layoffs.

The letter purported to be from Johnson's office and included fake signatures from the speaker, Finance Chair Danny Dromm, and Subcommittee on Capital Budget Chair Vanessa Gibson.

The sham letter outlined an alleged breakdown of layoffs by city agency. It also said there was a $9 billion budget gap that forced officials to terminate and furlough New York City employees, according to the New York Post.

"This letter is FAKE," Johnson tweeted Saturday. "We support the workers who have kept our city running through COVID, and want to work with them to help NYC rebuild even stronger."

A letter is being circulated that purports to be from me, @Dromm25 and @Vanessalgibson identifying agency cuts through layoffs.

This letter is FAKE.

We support the workers who have kept our city running through COVID, and want to work w/them to help NYC rebuild even stronger.
— NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson (@NYCSpeakerCoJo) August 22, 2020

There is no information on who fabricated or circulated the letter.

Along with Johnson's duties as the speaker of the City Council, he is the council member for District 3, which includes the neighborhoods of West Village, Greenwich Village, Chelsea, Hell's Kitchen, Times Square, among others.