- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

New York City Mayor Says He Seeks $1Bln Cut in Police Budget Amid Protests

© REUTERS / JEENAH MOONTerrence Floyd (L) George Floyd's brother, speaks with New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio as they attend a public memorial after the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, New York, U.S., June 4, 2020.
Terrence Floyd (L) George Floyd's brother, speaks with New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio as they attend a public memorial after the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, New York, U.S., June 4, 2020. - Sputnik International
Subscribe
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced plans to cut the city’s police department (NYPD) budget by $1 billion and use the money to fund social programs that he said will address the causes of crime.

"My office presented to the city council a plan that would achieve a billion dollars in savings for the NYPD and shift resources to young people, to communities in a way that would help address a lot of the underlying issues that we know are the cause of so many problems in our society," de Blasio said in a televised webcast on Monday.

The mayor said the proposal earmarks $500 million for youth centers at city-run housing developments.

Be Blasio added that his plan would achieve "real redistribution and at the same time ensure that we keep our city safe."

The announcement came as protesters continued a sit-in at city hall calling for defunding of police in response to protests sparked by the death of African-American George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on 25 May.

The mayors of San Francisco and Los Angeles have proposed similar cuts to their cities’ police budgets while other cities have focused on measures to enhance oversight.

The NYPD has an annual budget of about $6 billion, according to media reports.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала