As demonstrators nationwide demand "defunding the police" and investing more in other public services as part of the outcry condemning police brutality against blacks, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio vowed in a press conference on Sunday to decrease his city's police department budget and shift the funds to youth and social services, according to The Hill.
However, de Blasio did not give details of his plan, saying those "will be worked out in the budget process in the weeks ahead. But I want people to understand that we are committed to shifting resources to ensure that the focus is on our young people."
He added, "while doing that, we will only do it in a way that we are certain continues to ensure that this city will be safe."
The NYPD has an annual budget of roughly $6 billion, which is more than 6% of the mayor's proposed 2021 proposed fiscal budget, according to The New York Times.
De Blasio's statement came soon after he announced that a curfew in New York City would be lifted after protests during the weekend were largely peaceful.
Other city leaders in places such as San Francisco and Los Angeles have also pledged to reduce funding for the police following the killing of George Floyd while in police custody.
Brian Freeman ✉
Brian Freeman, a Newsmax writer based in Israel, has more than three decades writing and editing about culture and politics for newspapers, online and television.
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