Crime is significantly on the rise in New York City but Democrat Mayor Bill de Blasio reached an agreement with the New York City Council to cut $1 billion from the city’s police department budget.
The vote is expected today.
de Blasio is following the defund the police movement that is sweeping the country following the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old Minnesota black man who died while being arrested by police.
While there are demands by radical activists to defund the New York City police department, de Blasio is ignoring the rising crime right before his eyes.
For example, shootings in New York City have doubled from around the same time as last year.
The New York Post reports:
Gunfire echoed through the city last week at twice the rate it did over the same period last year, according to new NYPD stats.
The department tallied 63 shootings June 22 through Sunday — up from 26 over the same one-week period a year ago, according to NYPD crime statistics.
The New York City Police Benevolent Association provided crime statistics on social media.
This is a microcosm of what has happened since @NYCCouncil has stripped our police officers of the tools that has made NYC safe. In the 46 Pct, crime is HIGHER today than it was in 2010 by 39%. Shootings are up 100% compared to 2018
Fewer cops will make this city unsafe for all pic.twitter.com/0LTB3IxPXw
— NYC PBA (@NYCPBA) June 30, 2020
The New York City Police Benevolent Association blasted de Blasio and the New York City Council.
#BREAKING PBA STATEMENT ON MAYOR’S NYPD BUDGET ANNOUNCEMENT pic.twitter.com/wfxvat5gXF
— NYC PBA (@NYCPBA) June 29, 2020
Others commented about the crime statistics on social media.
https://twitter.com/kbax64/status/1277981413669777409?s=20
https://twitter.com/PeterGotis/status/1278011797354819586?s=20
https://twitter.com/StevenWallman/status/1277983520531648516?s=20
Former New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly discussed the rising crime rate and criticized de Blasio during a Fox News interview saying, “I put this all out at the feet of Mayor de Blasio,” and said, “the city is surrendering” to acts of violent crime.
Fox News reports:
“About two weeks ago the mayor took away one of the most valuable tools in fighting street crime and that is [the] elimination of police officers and [sent] a signal to the criminal community that the NYPD or the city is surrendering as far as violent crime is concerned.”
Along with low morale, New York City police officers are retiring in record numbers.
The New York Post reports:
The flurry of Finest farewells began after the police-involved killing of George Floyd on May 25, with 272 uniformed cops putting in retirement papers from then through June 24, the NYPD says.
Criminals are emboldened by the fact there are and will be fewer police officers to respond to calls and to patrol the streets.
With de Blasio on course to defund the police, New York City citizens and tourists will be subjected to violence due to less of a police presence to respond to those in need.
