Based on the context and the answer, generate a question. 

Context: And now the state and city are in a money crisis and my dad keeps telling me about how when he was taking all of these tests they froze the civil service lists . That means they stopped hiring cops and firefighters . He said they even laid off cops when they froze the lists in the 70 's .

Answer:

They could n't afford to pay them .



Why did the city put a hiring freeze on cops and firefighters ?