task0778
Diamond Member
Quite the turnaround:
The mayor of Portland, Ore., called for nearly $2 million in additional funding for the city’s police force and other agencies Friday, citing a rise in homicides and other violent crime.
But members of the city council were either mum or not fully committed so far on whether they’ll back the plan, according to reports.
The request by second-term Mayor Ted Wheeler came Friday during his State of the City address – and three days after Wheeler condemned one of the latest killings in the city, the broad-daylight slaying of a 42-year-old man in a city park on Tuesday.
"This shooting was brazen and horrific," Wheeler wrote on Twitter. "The City and its partners are working hard to prevent and reduce gun violence. It’s a public health crisis that’s harming our entire community."
Wheeler’s funding request marked a turnaround for Portland, which has been viewed as an epicenter of the "Defund the police" movement – in which liberal groups have sought to divert public cash away from traditional police departments and into efforts such as mental health treatment and community development.
OREGON'S DEM SENATORS SILENT ON LEFT-WING COURTHOUSE RIOT IN PORTLAND
It also came as the mayor has faced criticism for months of violent protests in the city, including a clash Thursday night outside a federal courthouse. Wheeler has been a frequent target of criticism from former President Donald Trump and others, though the mayor managed to win reelection in November.
Last June, the city leaders voted to slash $16 million from the police budget, a move that included the elimination of a gun-violence reduction unit, according to The Associated Press.
But Portland in recent months has seen a surge in gun violence. Since 2021 began, the city has seen 20 homicides, mostly by gunfire. At the same time in March last year, the city had seen only one homicide, the AP reported.
There's just no way around it, a police force is a deterrent to criminals. Obviously not a total deterrent, but it's proportional. Fewer cops = more crime.
The mayor of Portland, Ore., called for nearly $2 million in additional funding for the city’s police force and other agencies Friday, citing a rise in homicides and other violent crime.
But members of the city council were either mum or not fully committed so far on whether they’ll back the plan, according to reports.
The request by second-term Mayor Ted Wheeler came Friday during his State of the City address – and three days after Wheeler condemned one of the latest killings in the city, the broad-daylight slaying of a 42-year-old man in a city park on Tuesday.
"This shooting was brazen and horrific," Wheeler wrote on Twitter. "The City and its partners are working hard to prevent and reduce gun violence. It’s a public health crisis that’s harming our entire community."
Wheeler’s funding request marked a turnaround for Portland, which has been viewed as an epicenter of the "Defund the police" movement – in which liberal groups have sought to divert public cash away from traditional police departments and into efforts such as mental health treatment and community development.
OREGON'S DEM SENATORS SILENT ON LEFT-WING COURTHOUSE RIOT IN PORTLAND
It also came as the mayor has faced criticism for months of violent protests in the city, including a clash Thursday night outside a federal courthouse. Wheeler has been a frequent target of criticism from former President Donald Trump and others, though the mayor managed to win reelection in November.
Last June, the city leaders voted to slash $16 million from the police budget, a move that included the elimination of a gun-violence reduction unit, according to The Associated Press.
But Portland in recent months has seen a surge in gun violence. Since 2021 began, the city has seen 20 homicides, mostly by gunfire. At the same time in March last year, the city had seen only one homicide, the AP reported.
Portland mayor looks to re-fund police with $2M request as homicides spike – but council support unclear
The mayor of Portland, Ore., called for nearly $2 million in additional funding for the city’s police force and other agencies Friday, citing a rise in homicides and other violent crime.
www.foxnews.com
There's just no way around it, a police force is a deterrent to criminals. Obviously not a total deterrent, but it's proportional. Fewer cops = more crime.