How ‘defund police’ perceptions drove a political wedge in upcoming Dallas City Council elections
How ‘defund police’ perceptions drove a political wedge in upcoming Dallas City Council elections
Claims of the Dallas Police Department being defunded are playing prominently in mailers to voters ahead of Saturday’s election.
File photo.(Irwin Thompson / Staff Photographer)
The Dallas City Council last fall voted to take $7 million from the police department’s overtime budget to spend on streetlights and hire civilians to replace cops working desk jobs.
Now, the issue is driving a political wedge in Saturday’s municipal elections as candidates who oppose the decision are accusing those who supported the move of “defunding the police.”
Dallas City Council Approves Violence Interrupter Contract
YAP, key part of mayor’s public safety agenda
DALLAS The City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved a contract with Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. (YAP) to hire and train violence interrupters in the city’s underserved neighborhoods.
The violence interrupters program is a key part of Mayor Eric Johnson’s public safety agenda. The Mayor’s Task Force on Safe Communities recommended the program in its January 2020 report. In September 2020, the City Council voted to allocate $800,000 in funding to hire violence interrupters during the 2020-2021 fiscal year.
“We cannot and should not rely on police alone to stop the violent crime increases in our city,” said Mayor Johnson. “Violence interrupters, which were highly recommended by my Task Force on Safe Communities, will stop conflicts before they become violent and can help our people and our neighborhoods to grow and thrive. That is why we are thrilled to p
In response to complaints about police brutality and calls for a different kind of law enforcement, Dallas City Council members Monday heard about plans for new.
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