(Headline USA) Voters in Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s, D-N.Y., district have soured on the defund the police movement as crime in their neighborhoods soars.
Ocasio-Cortez represents New York’s 14th congressional district, which is made up of more than 650,000 residents in the boroughs of the Bronx and Queens, reported Fox News. This area has experienced a steady rise in crime over the last two years. Thus far in 2022, crime is up by 44% compared to 2021, and up 57% compared to 2020, according to police statistics.
As a result, even liberal New Yorkers who support Ocasio-Cortez are questioning her support for defunding law enforcement.
“The more and more time goes on, and you see these crimes go up in the city, especially around this area, it’s gotten a lot worse,” one New Yorker told Fox News.
Another resident, Daniel, said, “I don’t think it’s a good idea to defund the police. I think we need more police in the area.”
In fact, a majority of New Yorkers (52%) said they believe the budget for the New York Police Department should be increased. Just 27% said it should remain the same, and 17% said they want the budget decreased.
“I wouldn’t say defund the police, but I would say force accountability,” local resident Zion said. “They do a good job. There are some who are great. But then there are others who are like they came from the pits of hell.”
Ocasio-Cortez has been a vocal advocate for defunding the police. In 2020, when former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio proposed a $1 million budget cut to the NYPD, Ocasio-Cortez argued it wasn’t enough.
“These proposed ‘cuts’ to the NYPD budget are a disingenuous illusion,” she said in June 2020. “This is not a victory. The fight to defund policing continues.”
