Defund as I say, not as I do.
Incoming city Comptroller Brad Lander is taking an NYPD security detail — even though he wants to slash funding for the police department.
When the city passed its annual spending bill in June, the outgoing Brooklyn Democratic councilman said he was “disturbed that this agreement increases the NYPD budget by nearly $200 million and increases headcount at both NYPD and the DOC.”
He added, “All neighborhoods need and deserve to be safe, and we must confront rising levels of gun violence. But NYC already has more police officers per capita than nearly every large American city.”
He argued the money should instead go to social services like housing and mental health care.
In June 2020, after the protests surrounding George Floyd’s murder rocked the city and nation, Lander penned an open letter to his constituents titled, “My commitment to working to defund the NYPD.” It called for cutting the department’s budget by $1 billion.
Lander held up Minneapolis as an example, where the City Council vowed to abolish its police department after Floyd’s death.
An NYPD source with more than two decades on the job blasted Lander as a hypocrite.
“He’s the guy who hates the cops,” the source said. “If you don’t like cops, don’t use them.”
Public advocate Jumaane Williams, a Lander ally and fellow Brooklyn Democrat, has also led the local movement to defund the police yet enjoys an NYPD security detail — and lives on a U.S. military base.
“Crime is at an all time high and now you’re going to give him 12 to 14 cops? You’ve gotta give them vacation, sick time. All that for this guy, who nobody really knows. Would anyone know him if he was walking down the street?” the source asked.
A spokeswoman for Lander argued that his NYPD detail did not amount to an increase in the police budget or headcount because officers already on the force are routinely assigned to protect elected officials.
“As he steps into citywide office, Brad is grateful to the city workers who keep the Comptroller’s office and City government running, including the officers assigned to his security by the NYPD,” Lander’s rep, Naomi Dann, told The Post.
“There’s no contradiction between believing that some of our public safety dollars would be better spent on supportive housing, mental health services, and restorative justice programs — and following longstanding NYPD protocol regarding safety for elected officials,” Dann said.
Lander’s detail includes a cop who will chauffeur him around the city — which could mean safer streets for New Yorkers.
The Post exclusively reported in April that Lander has been caught speeding in school zones around the Big Apple eight times in the past five years, despite crusading against reckless drivers.