cbs | Thousands of New York City jobs on the line.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg released a doomsday scenario Tuesday, saying if Albany goes through with cuts to city aid he will be forced to make massive layoffs -- possibly the worst in decades.

It's a grim equation for a grim time. Bloomberg said that Albany's threatened cut of $1.3 billion in state aid equals the elimination of 19,000 jobs.

"We believe that we have hit the point where further cuts mean cuts to personnel," Deputy Mayor Edward Skyler said.

And they are serious cuts. Without more money from Albany this is what the budget axe will do to the workforce:

* 3,150 fewer cops

* 1,000 fewer firefighters, which means the closure of 42 engine companies

* 8,500 fewer teachers in the classrooms

* The elimination of 900 sanitation workers assigned to various street cleaning duties

* 500 fewer parks workers

* 500 fewer people in the transportation department

* 400 fewer librarians

"The Senate yesterday put out a budget that cut our revenue sharing by $400 (million) to $500 hundred million, cut education spending by $500 million. We don't know what the Assembly is going to propose, but it does not appear the city will weather the Albany budget without having a significant impact," Skyler said.

It's a terrifying situation for people living and working in the city.

"I think it's a horrible thing. I think at a time like this they should be adding employees not firing people," said Morshed Haque of Sunnyside.

"I think these cuts are in the wrong place, basically. I think they have to increase taxes in certain areas and they have to look at cuts in different places than human services," added Charles Bayor of Chelsea.

When asked if he's worried that he might lose your job, food stamp worker Joel Meisner said, "Yes, because I'm an office associate and I heard it's possible office associate people are getting laid off by the end of May or June."

Added Susan Meisner of the Department of Design and Construction: "Being a city worker I feel terrible about it. I think the cuts could come elsewhere."

So now the ball is in Albany's court, but given what's happening there there's no telling just how much pain lawmakers will inflict on the city.

Commissioners are being given until April 7 to come up with specific plans for the cuts.

But since this is the eighth time in two years they've had to cut, job losses are all but certain.