Monday’s mass layoffs at the Daily News are bad news for New York: This town needs more good reporters, not fewer.

The numbers are brutal: a newsroom staff slashed in half; no staff photographers at a place that long billed itself as “New York’s Picture Newspaper.” A sports department down from 34 people to just nine — how can a New York tabloid survive with that?

Yes, the News has been The Post’s competitor for decades, and the rivalry’s often turned bitter. But rivalry has its joys as well: Even getting beaten to a story is an inspiration to do better next time.

Not to mention the family dynamic: Many of our best people have come over from the News, and many of the folks who lost their jobs Monday are Post veterans and friends.

So we shook our heads when the paper was sold for $1 last September, and crossed our fingers on hearing rumors that Monday’s bloodbath was coming.

We sincerely hope the remaining staff can find a way to turn things around. We want to beat the News, but not like this.