New York’s hookers and jiggle joints are the latest victims of Washington budget politics.
The big Navy ships that bring loads of man candy to New York’s Fleet Week won’t show up for next month’s festivities, thanks to sharp spending cuts forced by a feud between President Obama and Congress.
Only local Navy assets can be deployed for this year’s events, the Navy said today.
And the Navy ships that arrive in New York for Fleet Week are not local — usually, they’re based in Virginia or Florida, said Navy spokeswoman Beth Baker.
New York-based Navy and Coast Guard units may still participate, Baker said.
But whatever the Navy does will be done on the cheap.
Under Defense Department policy, “no branch of the armed forces can participate in community relations or outreach that comes at additional cost to the government,” Baker said.
Last year, six Navy ships and three Coast Guard ships participated in Fleet Week — along with 12 ships belonging to US allies from around the world.
City officials aren’t sure yet what to make of the Navy’s plans, a spokesperson for Mayor Bloomberg said.
But businesses are already worried. “I’m angry about it. We still have to pay the rent,” said Marcus Rodriguez, a host at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. in Times Square.
Whoever does show up will still have a good time, promised Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance.
“Smooching sailors on shore leave are a special part of Times Square’s history,” Tompkins said. “So no matter what happens in DC, we will be here to welcome any sailors who want to wet their whistle in Times Square.”
This year’s Fleet Week is scheduled for May 23 to May 30.
The annual event — first held in 1984 — brings thousands of free-spending US and foreign sailors to New York bars, restaurants and clubs.
It’s also a big tourist draw, with the Navy offering ship tours and military displays and demonstrations.