Trump wants to strip New York of federal funding: Cuomo is furious

The President of the United States has ordered to deprive the city of funding, whose authorities are not taking measures to stop violent protests and violence. New York is also on the list, receiving about $ 7 billion a year in federal aid. Trump said he would not allow federal taxpayers to fund illegal cities. This is reported by the edition The Post.

Which cities were included in the list

On September 2, US President Donald Trump signed a five-page memorandum. The document instructs all federal agencies to send reports to the White House Office of Management and Budget detailing the funds that can be redirected.

The list includes New York, Washington DC, Seattle and Portland.

These are the original targets, while Trump is making "law and order" central to his re-election campaign after months of turmoil and violence following the assassination of George Floyd. "My administration will not allow federal taxpayers to fund cities that allow themselves to become lawless zones," Trump said in a memo, referring to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio twice. "To ensure that federal funds are not wasted or spent in a way that directly violates our government's promise to protect life, liberty, and property, it is imperative that the federal government redefines the use of federal funds by jurisdictions that tolerate anarchy, violence and destruction in America's cities." ...

Federal agencies must indicate "all federal funds provided to Seattle, Portland, New York, Washington and the District of Columbia." In addition, within 14 days, Attorney General Bill Barr is required to draw up a list of "anarchist jurisdictions" that "tolerate violence and property destruction, refuse to take reasonable measures" to restore order.

The memo instructed White House Budget Director Russ Vought for 30 days (commencing September 2) “agency executives to restrict or otherwise discourage, to the maximum extent permitted by law, anarchist jurisdictions in receiving federal grants ".

The amounts of money that will be impacted by Trump's order can be enormous. New York, for example, receives about $ 7 billion a year in federal aid.

Why New York made the list

This metropolis was mentioned because of the rise in crime that followed the police budget cut. In July, the city saw a 177 percent increase in the number of shootings over the previous year. That same month, the City Council approved a budget that cuts the NYPD's annual budget by $ 1 billion from $ 6 billion and excludes $ 537 million in capital expenditures.

The note says that "the City of New York allowed an upsurge in violence."

“In light of this escalating violence, I offered to help federal law enforcement, but both Mayor de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo rejected my offer,” Trump said in the memo. “Despite the increase in violence, the number of arrests has dropped dramatically. Over a 28-day period in June and July, the number of arrests in New York decreased by 62% compared to the same period in 2019. Amid rising violence, Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York City Council agreed to cut $ 1 billion from the NYPD budget, including by canceling the hiring of 1163 officers. ”

The note also mentions the June disbandment of plainclothes units by New York Police Commissioner Dermot Shea. “Police officers called this decision a factor contributing to the increase in violence,” the president's document says.

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This document casts doubt on the activities of the mayors-Democrats in each city, as well as the governors. “As a result of this policy of the state and local governments, constant and outrageous acts of violence and destruction continue in many cities in America, such as Portland, Seattle and New York,” read on.

The note noted that in Washington, DC, “Mayor Muriel Bowser allowed rioters and anarchists to participate in violence and destruction in late May and early June, while demanding that I call the National Guard to maintain law and order in the capital country".

Portland made the list because of the nightly clashes near Mayor Ted Wheeler's home, where activists set off fireworks and bonfires both inside and outside the home.

Wheeler, who in a recent letter turned down Trump's offer of federal assistance, said Tuesday he would find a new home to keep his neighbors safe from further protests.

Seattle is on the list mainly for enduring a long "autonomous zone" that was eventually eliminated due to violent crimes, including shooting nearby.

“On July 1, Seattle announced the dismantling of the protest area. But this failed leadership continues to harm the people of Seattle, as rioters have resorted to violence and property destruction throughout Seattle in recent weeks, injuring at least 59 police officers and vandalizing several businesses and vehicles. note.

White House Budget Director Vout expressed support for the president's decision. “American taxpayers funding the massive programs our cities rely on deserve to be protected by local city governments,” he said. - We are taking measures, exploring all the possibilities so that federal resources directed to cities where laws do not work are not wasted. The lack of law and order and the reaction of the local leadership is a misdemeanor. "

A senior administration official told The Post that "taxpayers should not pay for dereliction of duty by local politicians," and "President Trump is making sure taxpayer money is not wasted."

According to the official, the list of cities and, possibly, states will be periodically updated with the participation of the Department of Justice. Federal agencies will be instructed to renegotiate grant conditions to maintain the rule of law.

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The official said Portland, the smallest city on the list, received more than $ 252 million in federal funds in fiscal 2019, including for police operations.

The reaction of the authorities in New York

As writes edition Daily Beast, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on September 2 called the president's decision illegal. "It's cheap, it's politics, and it's illegal," Cuomo objected to an intention to renegotiate funding for Democratic-led cities. "He did everything in his power to harm New York."

In addition, Cuomo said that the president "is better to have an army if he plans to walk the streets of New York." He went on to explain what he meant: New Yorkers themselves would not be happy to see the president after such a decision. “He is persona non grata in New York. I think he knows that. New Yorkers will never forget how he tried to kill the city he started in. His departure is the best thing he has done for New York, ”Cuomo said.

Recall that not so long ago, Cuomo once again announced that New York Needs Federal Aid in the amount of $ 59 billion. This is the amount needed to get out of the economic crisis caused by the pandemic. True, such calls have been made since April, but have been ignored.