Statement: #NYCBudgetJustice Campaign Slams City Council Vote That Prioritizes NYPD Over Community Investment

Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) and the #NYCBudgetJustice campaign of more than 200 national and local organizations, called on the City Council to vote against a FY22 budget that increases money to the NYPD instead of redirecting money to non-police safety solutions.

Below is a statement from Anthonine Pierre (she/her), spokesperson for Communities United for Police Reform, responding to the City Council vote in favor of the FY22 NYC Budget today:

“It’s shameful that after last year’s budget tricks, and lies that the NYPD’s budget would be cut by $1 billion, that Mayor de Blasio, Speaker Johnson and the City Council doubled down on a budget that increases funding to the NYPD and fails to redirect much needed funds to non-police safety strategies,” said Anthonine Pierre (she/her), spokesperson for Communities United for Police Reform The last-minute nature around the scheduling of today’s budget vote, and the Council's flouting of its own rules about having budget documents publicly available for at least 24-48 hours before a budget vote, were anti-democratic, deeply secretive, and non-transparent.

"Just yesterday, almost 20 family members of New Yorkers killed by the NYPD sent a letter to the City Council demanding that they vote no, because this budget increases the NYPD FY22 expense & central costs and will not make New Yorkers safer. City Council should be following the families' lead, but many City Council members ignored their demands. We applaud the Council members who voted against the budget in alignment with the families and the NYC Budget Justice coalition run by Communities United for Police Reform.

"Black, Latinx, and other communities of color have been hardest hit by the pandemic and deserve a just transition— not just restoration of some cuts, especially with the historic influx of federal COVID relief funding. An increase in the NYPD's budget is the exact opposite of what communities are demanding, but it's what the City Council is giving us. This budget continues to expand and protect the NYPD and shortchanges non-police safety solutions that work. The City Council’s celebration of this budget at this morning’s press conference was disrespectful to New Yorkers demanding change.”

About Communities United for Police Reform

Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) is an unprecedented campaign to end discriminatory policing practices in New York, and to build a lasting movement that promotes public safety and reduces reliance on policing. CPR runs coalitions of over 200 local, statewide and national organizations, bringing together a movement of community members, lawyers, researchers and activists to work for change. The partners in this campaign come from all 5 boroughs, from all walks of life and represent many of those most unfairly targeted by the NYPD.