{"id":551227,"date":"2021-06-03T16:06:34","date_gmt":"2021-06-03T20:06:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=551227"},"modified":"2021-06-03T16:06:37","modified_gmt":"2021-06-03T20:06:37","slug":"one-year-after-defunding-the-police-murder-rates-in-these-5-cities-skyrocketed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/one-year-after-defunding-the-police-murder-rates-in-these-5-cities-skyrocketed\/","title":{"rendered":"One Year After \u2018Defunding The Police,\u2019 Murder Rates In These 5 Cities Skyrocketed"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fone-year-after-defunding-the-police-murder-rates-in-these-5-cities-skyrocketed%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=551227&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/GettyImages-1248073215.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=800&#038;ixlib=react-9.0.3\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\"  style=\"display:none\"><\/div>\n<p><span>Following the death of George Floyd and a wave of rioting across the United States, a handful of major American cities followed through with activists\u2019 demands to slice police budgets.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>In a summary of crime statistics for 2020, crime analyst Jack Asher showed that the homicide rate rose in 51 of 57 major American metropolitan areas. 37 of the cities reported spikes in murder above 30%, while some \u2014 such as Seattle, Milwaukee, and Louisville \u2014 saw their homicide rate nearly double.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"11.266272189349\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Final national murder update of 2020:<\/p>\n<p>Murder up 36.7% in 57 agencies with data through at least September (though most have data through November). Murder up in 51 of 57, 37 of 58 agencies reporting murder up more than 30%.<\/p>\n<p>Spreadsheet here: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/vEhKHuFNrY\">https:\/\/t.co\/vEhKHuFNrY<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/5HgVmwGmDS\">pic.twitter.com\/5HgVmwGmDS<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Jeff Asher (@Crimealytics) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Crimealytics\/status\/1343950694672379905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 29, 2020<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span>Many of the cities which observed significant <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/graphics\/2021-city-budget-police-funding\/\"><span>increases<\/span><\/a><span> in murder also passed budgets that stripped police departments of funding. In fact, there is a nearly linear correspondence between the magnitude of police budget cuts and the magnitude of murder spikes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>While \u201ccorrelation\u201d is by no means \u201ccausation,\u201d it is indeed notable that cities with a relatively lax approach to law enforcement saw their laws broken more often.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Austin<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span>Austin, Texas \u2014 which defunded its police to a larger extent than any other city \u2014 saw a massive spike in its murder rate.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>In August, the Austin City Council voted <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.texastribune.org\/2020\/08\/13\/austin-city-council-cut-police-budget-defund\/\"><span>unanimously<\/span><\/a><span> to nix $150 million from its $434 million police budget, representing a roughly 35% budget cut. Councilmember Greg Casar \u2014 who led the initiative \u2014 declared that \u201cthis moment has been born out of a lot of hurt in the community.\u201d He also signaled more action in the future: \u201cWe know we have a long way to go.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) warned that the city\u2019s decision would carry consequences.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cSome cities are more focused on political agendas than public safety,\u201d he <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/gov.texas.gov\/news\/post\/governor-abbott-statement-on-austin-city-council-decision-to-defund-austin-police-department\"><span>commented<\/span><\/a><span>. \u201cAustin\u2019s decision puts the brave men and women of the Austin Police Department and their families at greater risk, and paves the way for lawlessness. Public safety is job one, and Austin has abandoned that duty.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The governor\u2019s prediction was correct. According to Asher\u2019s data, the city observed 29 murders in 2019. In 2020, it saw 45 murders \u2014 a 55% increase.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>New York City<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span>After passing a budget that \u201creduces police spending and shrinks NYPD\u2019s footprint,\u201d the Big Apple experienced a similar increase in homicides.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>New York City Council <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/press\/2020\/06\/30\/1999\/\"><span>believes<\/span><\/a><span> that its $1 billion reduction in NYPD\u2019s budget \u2014 which includes $484 million in cuts, $354 million in shifts to public health agencies, and $162 million in shifts of other costs \u2014 was \u201ca hard-fought battle, which marks the beginning of the Council\u2019s efforts to not only limit the size and scope of the NYPD, but also reimagine how we structure criminal justice and public safety in this city.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The budget reduction marks a 17% decrease from its former size of $6 billion.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Although a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www1.nyc.gov\/office-of-the-mayor\/news\/487-20\/in-face-an-economic-crisis-mayor-de-blasio-budget-prioritizes-safety-police\"><span>statement<\/span><\/a><span> from Mayor Bill de Blasio\u2019s office insisted that the budget maintains \u201cpatrol strength to protect the safety of all communities,\u201d New York City saw 437 murders in 2020 \u2014 a 39% increase from 314 murders in 2019.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Las Vegas<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span>Las Vegas failed to prioritize law enforcement in its budget and quickly faced the consequences.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>In response to an expected dip in revenue following the COVID-19 pandemic, Las Vegas decreased its spending by over 15%. However, its police budget was also <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reviewjournal.com\/news\/politics-and-government\/las-vegas\/las-vegas-city-council-passes-pared-down-572m-balanced-budget-2032638\/\"><span>axed<\/span><\/a><span> by 7.1% in May 2020.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Many citizens were not satisfied. Commenting at a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ktnv.com\/13-investigates\/protesters-demand-las-vegas-police-defunded-justice-amid-racial-unrest\"><span>protest<\/span><\/a><span> outside of Las Vegas City Hall, one activist stated that \u201cwe feel like the police need to be defunded, on the simple fact, we feel like they\u2019re not here to do their pledge, which is to serve and protect.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Las Vegas Police Protective Association President Steve Grammas fired back: \u201cI understand that folks are upset with what happened in Minnesota, but calling for the defunding or the dismantling of police departments is absolutely insane.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Nevertheless, the 7.1% cut corresponded with a murder rate increase of 14%. In 2019, the city saw 84 murders; in the next year, it saw 96.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Washington<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span>Despite its status as an epicenter of rioting and violence during the Black Lives Matter riots, the nation\u2019s capital decided to scale back its police budget.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>In July, Washington, DC\u2019s budget for the Metropolitan Police Department <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wusa9.com\/article\/news\/local\/dc\/dc-council-passes-budget-reducing-mpd-budget\/65-81a11840-b887-46f3-832b-db5b31c4db16\"><span>imposed<\/span><\/a><span> a $33 million cut from its previous $611 million \u2014 a 5% decrease.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cThe council, like all Americans, is grappling with undoing centuries of layered systemic racism and its permutations throughout our society,\u201d Councilmember Charles Allen explained. \u201cThere will be no single law or single budget that could possibly provide a single remedy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Washington observed an increase in murders from 165 in 2019 to 197 in 2020 \u2014 a 19% spike.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Portland<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span>As its leadership defunded law enforcement, Portland \u2014 another epicenter of mass protest movements \u2014 saw its own increase in violence.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>In the weeks after George Floyd\u2019s death, Portland <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.opb.org\/news\/article\/portland-police-budget-15-million-defund-cannabis-council-vote\/\"><span>sliced<\/span><\/a><span> $15 million from the Portland Police Bureau\u2019s budget. Another proposal that would have removed another $18 million <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.portlandmercury.com\/blogtown\/2020\/11\/05\/30313677\/proposal-to-cut-18-million-from-police-budget-fails-council-vote\"><span>failed<\/span><\/a><span> in November.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Notably, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler (D-OR) threw his weight behind calls to defund the police.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>A June 2020 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.documentcloud.org\/documents\/6940324-Mayor-Wheeler-Police-Reform-Action-Plan-June-9.html\"><span>memo<\/span><\/a><span> from his office called for lawmakers to redirect \u201cover $7 million from Police Bureau and $5 million from other City funds to communities of color,\u201d increase \u201cpolice accountability,\u201d reinvest in \u201cblack and brown communities,\u201d and advocate for \u201cgreater access to community-based behavioral health and harm-reduction services located in communities of color.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Portland subsequently saw 50 murders in 2020 \u2014 a 52% increase from the 33 murders in 2019.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span>The views expressed in this opinion piece are the author\u2019s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>The Daily Wire is one of America\u2019s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets for news, opinion, and entertainment. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/subscribe\"><i><span>member<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Following the death of George Floyd and a wave of rioting across the United States, a handful of major American cities followed through with activists\u2019 demands to slice police budgets.In &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2279112,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/GettyImages-1248073215.jpg?w=1200&h=800&ixlib=react-9.0.3","fifu_image_alt":"One Year After \u2018Defunding The Police,\u2019 Murder Rates In These 5 Cities Skyrocketed","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-551227","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/GettyImages-1248073215.jpg?w=1200&h=800&ixlib=react-9.0.3","fifu_image_alt":"One Year After \u2018Defunding The Police,\u2019 Murder Rates In These 5 Cities Skyrocketed","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/551227","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=551227"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/551227\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2279112"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=551227"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=551227"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=551227"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}