NYPD ordered that all parades in the City shorten the distances they cover by 25 percent and not to exceed five hours. The new regulations will also affect the Pulaski Parade.

The mandate, which will come into force on April 1st and got Mayor Michael Bloomberg's support, may mean significant changes in the organization of many ethnic parades in New York City, including: the West Indian Day, Puerto Rican Day Parade, and the Polish Pulaski Day Parade. The world famous Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will not be saved from cuts either. Only the Irish won't have to worry about shortening the distance of the St. Patrick's Parade, which is led by NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly, who is the Grand Marshall this year, to be held in March before the new regulation kicks in.

"I have read about the new regulation in the press, but we have not received any official notification yet," said Richard Zawisny, chairman of the Pulaski Parade. "We don't know the details as of now and how the new police order will affect our Parade, but we will comply with the regulation 100 percent," he added.

The Pulaski Parade, which takes place on the first Sunday in October and starts at 1:00 p.m., starts at 29th Street and ends at 5:00 p.m. at 53rd St. It takes less than 5 hours so the time cuts won't affect it; however, cutting the distance it covers by 25 percent will mean that the parade's route will be shortened by six streets.

"If it turns out we have to introduce the cuts maybe we will ask the contingents for a more compact version, but better visual effects," Zawisny thinks out loud.

The cuts will save the city $3.1 million and prevent the city from making cuts to indispensable anti-terrorist programs or investigating crime, according to NYPD Deputy Commissioner for Public Information Paul Browne, who points to the limited City and NYPD budgets, which have resulted in a cut-back on hiring officers. Compared to 2001, the NYPD force is now smaller by 6,000 people.

"New Yorkers can't afford a tax increase, and we can't take our eyes off the ball when it comes to keeping crime low," said Deputy Mayor Ed Skyler.

"The City provides the police force and sanitation department workers. Altogether there are 14 different city departments involved in each parade, so it is a costly expenditure for the city – we are talking about a couple of hundred thousand dollars," Zawisny says. However, Zawisny confirms that parades draw crowds to the city. "You always get extra people and that creates business. When people come to the city they buy things. In my opinion cutting back parades is not a good idea, especially in case of the parades that have been around here for many years," he said. The Polish parade is the second oldest in the City.

Although the practical effects of the new regulation are not known yet, many parade organizers have expressed their discontent. The Puerto Rican Day Parade organizers, who already shortened their parade by two hours, worry they will be unable to accommodate the number of people who attend their event in less than five hours.

"The parades are an expression of culture, and you don't want that cut out. I bet 90 percent of organizations will protest," Zawisny predicts.