"This administration constantly declares public safety to be its priority. In my State of the People Address, I made the case that a budget which cuts, rather than expands, city services, one that prioritizes spending on policing above all other efforts, would be a threat to public safety. That budget was just adopted.
"Constant talk of cuts throughout this budget process obscured the fact that the NYPD has been more insulated than other agencies. In the same cycle, while Crisis Management System funding increased, a long-stalled youth mentorship program to prevent gun violence remains unimplemented, a gun violence plan promised for over a year remains unseen, and restorative services on Rikers remain underfunded. Even beyond that conception of what public safety is, lack of adequate investment in other areas will contribute to a long-term lack of sustainable safety in our streets.
"The budget may be finalized, but the work is far from done – and I hope the administration will commit to supporting systems of true public safety moving forward."