De Blasio Agrees to Cut $1 Billion from NYPD with City Budget Deadline Looming

New York mayor Bill de Blasio has agreed to $1 billion in cuts to the NYPD as part of the city’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

In the midst of massive George Floyd demonstrations and calls by activists to defund the police entirely, de Blasio has faced pressure from City Council members to enact reforms to the department. While initially skeptical, the mayor has agreed to certain cuts to the NYPD’s $6 billion budget ahead of the city’s Tuesday night budget-planning deadline.

New York faces a $9 billion deficit exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. On top of the closures and demonstrations, the city has seen an almost 50-percent increase in shootings in 2020 as compared to the previous year.

“A number of agencies have been cut quite a bit, but we’re dealing with a specific reality with the NYPD, unquestionably,” de Blasio said. “That is because it’s important to show that we’re going to make changes in this city.