Community Calls for More Police Amid Budget Cuts

NEW YORK — As Mayor Zoran Mamdani aims to reduce the NYPD’s budget and is hesitant to increase police presence, parents in the Bronx are expressing the opposite sentiment—they want more officers on the streets, citing rising dangers for their children.

This situation has sparked noticeable tension between the mayor’s police strategy and local families’ safety concerns.

A petition on Change.org has garnered over 1,000 signatures. Parents from Zeta Bronx Tremont Park Lower Elementary School are urging for NYPD crossing guards to be placed at a perilous intersection, fearing a serious accident is imminent.

Fox News Digital visited the intersection of Arthur and Tremont avenues, speaking with parents about the risks their children face due to heavy traffic leading to Interstate 95.

Amy, a concerned parent, stated, “The situation feels really dire for both kids and their families. There are constant minor accidents happening because crossing the intersection leads directly onto the main road. It’s very alarming for us. We don’t feel heard, so we have to stand up for everyone in our school community.”

Another parent, Christine, shared that the school has been trying to secure a crossing guard or police presence for quite a while, but were told there simply weren’t any available. Though several police vehicles were spotted nearby, parents mentioned that the officers weren’t supervising the critical intersection.

“I really need help because I’ve had near-misses so many times,” Christine expressed.

Attempts to get a response from Mayor Mamdani’s office about these concerns went unanswered.

Since taking office, Mamdani has been scrutinized for his approach to policing, especially given his past support for defunding. His latest budget proposal, which includes cuts to police funding, has reignited criticism.

Despite some initial support for Mamdani’s policies, several parents near the school now express doubts about reducing police presence.

One parent, Paola, argued, “Taking away resources when our schools and children clearly need more support is a step backward. We require additional prevention workers and programs to ensure safety in the Bronx.”

Sharing her concerns, another parent said, “I had a lot of faith in Mayor Mamdani at first, but I’m beginning to worry since he doesn’t seem to grasp what our community actually needs. Keeping my children and students safe is non-negotiable. We need to find funds to ensure their safety.”

“We really need more police,” Amy insisted, urging the mayor to pay attention to their concerns.

The petition requests “dedicated traffic officers” at school pick-up and drop-off times and emphasizes that children in charter schools deserve the same safety measures as those in public schools.

A parent named Lou mentioned how “dangerous” the situation is, noting that many drivers are simply “not following the law.”

Fox News Digital observed numerous instances where vehicles made illegal moves, honking and stopping abruptly as children navigated toward their schools.

“I don’t get why he would cut police or their funding,” Paola continued, highlighting the area’s ongoing issues with drugs and crime. “There has to be funding somewhere.”

An NYPD spokesperson reported that the local precinct commander is collaborating with community leaders to increase the number of school crossing guards. They’re also working with the Department of Transportation to improve signage and modify intersections. Notably, there have been no crashes at the Arthur and Tremont intersection since the beginning of the year, and 67 citations have been issued in the area.

During November’s mayoral election, Mamdani won the Bronx with 51% of the vote, leaving his opponents, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa, behind with 40% and 7%, respectively.