The Biden White House refused to call on Democratic mayors to stop pushing for defunding police departments as crime surges in inner cities, leading some mayors to reverse course on their prior support for the far-left defund the police movement.
“The mayor in San Francisco is now trying to add police funding because when she pulled it to reinvest in communities, crime went way up,” a reporter said during Thursday’s White House press briefing. “So would President Biden, as the leader of the Democratic Party, advise Democratic mayors not to pull money from police budgets?”
“So, I can say this: It is absolutely unacceptable when gun crimes are taking lives, when families don’t feel safe going to the park or their local schools, when thieves feel impunity in stealing from retailers. So, we applaud the mayor making sure that there is more police presence in the city to protect Americans,” White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre responded. “And so, if you’re a mayor — this is what we say to local leaders: If you’re a mayor or a local leader, there is a crime problem in your community, we think you should step up and do something about it, just as many mayors are already doing. And we’re — and we’ve made clear that we’re going to offer federal support to help you do that and to keep communities safe.”
“As just one example: The Department of Justice announced, last month, grants to help put 50 more cops on the beat in San Francisco and funding for over 1,000 more community-oriented policies — policies, roles nationwide,” she added. “The President has proposed doubling that program. So, we want to make sure that — that mayors and local leaders do indeed step up and make sure that they’re protecting their community.”
WATCH:
WATCH: Biden spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre refuses to call on Democrats to stop pushing to defund police departments pic.twitter.com/LoUmQK7T5y
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TRANSCRIPT:
REPORTER: Okay. A question about crime recently. The mayor in San Francisco is now trying to add police funding because when she pulled it to reinvest in communities, crime went way up. So would President Biden, as the leader of the Democratic Party, advise Democratic mayors not to pull money from police budgets?
KARINE JEAN-PIERRE, DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY: So, I can say this: It is absolutely unacceptable when gun crimes are taking lives, when families don’t feel safe going to the park or their local schools, when thieves feel impunity in stealing from retailers. So, we applaud the mayor making sure that there is more police presence in the city to protect Americans.
And so, if you’re a mayor — this is what we say to local leaders: If you’re a mayor or a local leader, there is a crime problem in your community, we think you should step up and do something about it, just as many mayors are already doing. And we’re — and we’ve made clear that we’re going to offer federal support to help you do that and to keep communities safe.
As just one example: The Department of Justice announced, last month, grants to help put 50 more cops on the beat in San Francisco and funding for over 1,000 more community-oriented policies — policies, roles nationwide.
The President has proposed doubling that program. So, we want to make sure that — that mayors and local leaders do indeed step up and make sure that they’re protecting their community.