Justice Department Labels NYC An 'Anarchist Jurisdiction'; New York Politicians React Angrily
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - New York politicians are reacting angrily after President Donald Trump made another attempt to cut federal aid to New York City.
He had the U.S. Department of Justice has label the Big Apple an "anarchist jurisdiction" as an excuse to withhold funds.
As CBS2's Marcia Kramer reports, just call it blue state politicians seeing red, vowing to stop President Trump after his latest attempt to hurt the place he was born and raised by cutting federal funds.
"It is not a secret this president is anti-New York. New York made him, and he looks to kick around New York at every opportunity. Oftentimes he talks but can't follow through. We in the Senate control the purse strings. He can't cut the money for New York just by decree," said Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
By labeling New York City an "anarchist jurisdiction," the Trump administration hopes to defund New York City, along with Portland and Seattle.
New York City could lose up to $7 billion in federal aid.
"We cannot allow federal tax dollars to be wasted when the safety of the citizenry hangs in the balance," Attorney General William Barr said in a statement.
Barr said New York City is being punished because it cut $1 billion from the NYPD's budget, cut the July police class, cut overtime spending and transferred certain police functions like school safety out of the NYPD.
It comes as gun violence continues to spiral out of control. . The latest figures from the NYPD showed the gun violence has claimed nearly twice as many lives this year as last year: 209 people were killed as of Wednesday, compared to 109 in 2019.
Both the mayor and the governor said the president's move is unconstitutional, and a political ploy in an election year.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Trump is taking it out on New York City because he lost here in the last election.
"Overwhelmingly the New York City and New York state voters rejected him. The people who know the president best like him the least," Cuomo said. "He think his political opportunity is to try to divide the nation."
"I was out in Elmhurst, Queens this morning. I saw peace, tranquility. I saw people going about their business, people excited that it's the first day of school. I saw anything but anarchy," Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday. "This is just another one of President Trump's games. It's thoroughly political. It's part of his campaign strategy. It makes no sense. It is not based in the facts in the least. It's insulting to the people of New York City, and his effort to withhold our funding is unconstitutional."
"The president does not have the authority to change the will of Congress," said Corporation Counsel Jim Johnson. "Not only is it unconstitutional, but that designation of 'anarchy' doesn't even pass the common sense test. And if need be, we can send in addition to our legal filing, a dictionary. Because what we have in New York is not anarchy."
LINK: Tracking Shootings In New York City
"If you remember, the Trump administration tried this once before, not a new play. A couple of years ago they said sanctuary cities would not get federal criminal justice moneys and we said it was illegal and unconstitutional. We sued them and we won. Federal court said they could not take the federal money that was appropriated by Congress," Cuomo said.
Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said the department was making progress in reducing gun violence, and said the recent cold weather might help.
"As it gets cooler and you get less people outside and less outdoor activity like drinking, it certainly is an ally," he said.
The White House budget director is set to make recommendations to federal agencies within two weeks on what funds can be cut.
New York's Attorney General Letitia James says she's preparing to go to court to stop the president. She called it an attempt to scare people into voting for him.
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