NEW YORK — City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, along with several other members of city government, proposed a package of cuts to the NYPD’s budget totaling over $1 billion.
The statement was made by Johnson alongside City Council Majority Leader Laurie Cumbo, Democratic Conference Chair Robert Cornegy, Co-Chairs of the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus I. Daneek Miller and Adrienne Adams, Finance Committee Chair Daniel Dromm, Capital Budget Subcommittee Chair Vanessa L. Gibson, and Public Safety Committee Chair Donovan Richards.
“We believe that we can and should work to get to $1 billion in cuts to New York City’s police spending in the Fiscal 2021 budget, an unprecedented reduction that would not only limit the scope of the NYPD, but also show our commitment towards moving away from the failed policing policies of the past,” the statement read.
The cuts would be spent elsewhere, helping to fund social services and programs in disadvantaged communities.
“We have identified savings that would cut over $1 billion dollars, including reducing uniform headcount through attrition, cutting overtime, shifting responsibilities away from the NYPD, finding efficiencies and savings in OTPS spending, and lowering associated fringe expenses,” the statement said. “As we do this, we must prioritize the most impacted communities and hear their demands and needs across all areas during this budget process. This should be a deliberative and good faith discussion of the best path forward for New York City.”
The cuts come as a protest movement asking for racial justice, including cuts to the NYPD budget, has been marching across the city for the past 16 days in the wake of the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.
“Our budget must reflect the reality that policing needs fundamental reform,” the council members said. “Over the last few weeks, we have seen an outpouring of New Yorkers demanding change from their leaders. It is our job to listen and to act. We will not let this moment pass, and we will fight for the budget they deserve.”
