DC mayor caught between activists, police in funding battle

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Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser is caught between Black Lives Matter activists and police as the city budget becomes a battleground for the country’s debate on overhauling law enforcement. It's a dilemma faced by other big city mayors in the U.S.

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. Now Washington’s mayor must pull off a public juggling act as the city budget becomes a battleground for the country’s debate on overhauling law enforcement.

But there is insurmountable opposition in the GOP-controlled Senate, where Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., singled out Bowser out on Thursday as a reason that Washington cannot be trusted with statehood. He called her “a left wing politician … who frequently takes the side of rioters against law enforcement.”

In the early days of the protests, Bowser publicly sided with the demonstrators as Trump usurped local authority and called in a massive federal security response. Bowser responded by renaming the protest epicenter, within sight of the White House, as Black Lives Matter Plaza. She also commissioned a mural with Black Lives Matter painted on 16th Street across from the White House in yellow letters large enough to be seen from space.

April Goggans, a core organizer with Black Lives Matter DC, rejected Bowser’s moves as “taking advantage of national attention,” and added, “She would never even say the words ‘Black Lives Matter’ until recently.”“Black Lives Matter is very critical of police. They’re critical of me,” Bowser said, not long after hanging the new street sign. “That doesn’t mean that I don’t see them and support the things that will make our community safe.

Clearly not wanting to antagonize the street activists, Bowser’s government has allowed the “Defund the Police” addition to remain. But city crews did repaint the stars on the D.C. flag image. Both Bowser and the police chief, Peter Newsham, were critical of the move, saying lawmakers reacted rashly to public pressure and did not consider enough input before passing the measure. A local TV station obtained a recording of Newsham telling fellow officers that the department felt “completely abandoned” by the D.C. Council.

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DC would be a violent state.

Did Trump ever pay the garbage bill from laying off Park workers, etc.?

I don't feel bad for her. Time and again these mayor's and governors stood by and watched their cities get burned, looted, leashed the police and fired/charged any that tried to do their job, people on both sides injured or killed all the while giving Trump the middle finger.

_Politics Bowser is a 'bower'.

She needs to fulfill her duty to the citizens who elected her and stand up to the BLM bullies and tell she is running the city and not them!

_Politics All problem have solution. This is no different.

Yes, let’s defund the police and let the vigilantes and militias run the place. It’s a frightening thought for criminals and honest citizens alike

I don't feel sorry for her

She’s a racist

It's hard to establish whether, or not this is an editorial perspective..It's ridiculous in both structure and analysis not only to link DC Police budget to other states' budgetary constructs, but place differences in political opinions over national interest

This woman wants to be a governor or member of Congress so bad! Just fund the police and stop the drama!

She needs to back her tax paying voting citizen, BLM don’t even live there and all the angry white kids would go home if their parents stop paying for their HATE tour

LEAN RIGHT, REACH LEFT. HELP US ALL!

MURIEL, YOU ARE THE FIRST MAYOR TO AVOW CONCERNS FOR BOTH SIDES! BUT CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR IS ABHORRENT! AND WITHOUT THE BLUE OVERRUNS ALL SENSIBILITIES OF SAFETY REGARDLESS OF THE BENT! I KNOW IT IS TOUGH TO STAND TALL! PLEASE SUPPORT THE BLUE! AT THE SAME TIME, ACCOUNTABILITY!

Foundational failed deep blue government

Democrats are weak and pathetic

The hypocrisy of the white man, the cat is sad for the mouse!

No way DC can become a state. Elected leadership has always been pathetic (Raymondberry anyone?) and they can’t even protect our national treasures

Crystal ball time. A few cities will defund, if not entirely disband police, and the nobles will hire private security paid by the rabble

Big city mayors, mostly Democrats, are calling for police reforms. Don’t they realize they are the chief law-enforcement officials in their cities and they could have made whatever changes they wanted years ago? Hypoctites DoubleStandards VoteThemOut

DEAR MURIEL, I KNOW AS A BLACK WOMAN THIS IS HARDER FOR YOU. AS HAMLET SAID 'THE RUB'. BUT IMPLORE YOU TO NOT TURN YOUR BACK ON GOD, AND ACT ON WHAT YOU FEEL IN YOUR HEART! WHAT IS BEST FOR THE FUTURE OF ALL OUR CHILDREN WHO DID NOT ASK FOR THIS! GOD BLESS. BE WELL.

LEFTY MEDIA trying to give cover to LEFTY CITIES, poor things, have no choice but hate the police...

This is primarily Democratic mayors who lack the fortitude to lead MobRule

Democrats.

Seems like a slam dunk to me DefundThePolice

“Caught” As if she didn’t personally place herself right in the middle.

Did the Trump campaign ever reimburse the city?

THERE IS NO BLACK OR WHITE HERE! AND DAMMIT NO PUN INTENDED! THE BLUE MAY AT TIMES BE FALLIBLE, BUT THE ALTERNATIVE IS RUINATION!!!!!!!

The politic far right is trying make this ALL OR NOTHING proposition. IT'S NOT! Every city in America can cut some police budget to use on Parks&Recreation, YMCA & BoysClubs, etc. & still have viable, effective policing. When right wing controls narrative, everything all/nothing.

First order of business is taking back the Old Post Office when I become the Governor Of Washington D.C.

She already chose BLM, she will pay the consequences for it

Police don’t need the budget’s they get. You can have social service funding and appropriately funded police departments.

She is failed under performing Mayor. There is no credibility left for her. Unable to protect others and being utterly incompetent is not good. She failed to protect life and allowed looters, anarchists and thugs to mob rule. No Law and Order just confusion. She is weak.

Budgeting is the primary duty of running a local government. If she can’t do that, why is she here?

Enjoy federal troops in your city.

the debate state authorized criminals or non state authorized criminals one has a union the other doesn't hmmm non union is easier to prosecute

Caught between the DC city police who serve and protect the community OR the violent destructive Marxist’s who mostly look non black? If this is a hard choice for the mayor she should excuse herself from being mayor.

Even Though We Seem Different To Each Other, We Bleed, We Bleed, The Same Color: song tribute to George Floyd:

She endorsed Mike Bloomberg. This may inform what side she will pick.

There is a whole lot of negotiating room between making needed changes and No Police. There are no better examples of today’s dictatorship DEMOCRAT Party than what we’re seeing play out everywhere that Democrats rule. Folks, this party left YOU a long time ago.

I truly do not see how this is an issue. The right decision is maintaining law and order. Make necessary changes. Support your police. Train and love them. The mob rule is the worst rule.

For real? Politicians always are 'caught' between interest groups. The only difference is, normally money dictates the outcome in backwardsusa and blm have power but no money.

Remember, you pledge to keep your citizens safe

The Democratic Party to White women...we know you’ve been a big part of us for a long time....we know you’re nothing but racist scum who’s every achievement has been because of white privledge..but come Nov we know we can count on you..we got your back!

It's not a hard decision. Back your police or step down so someone competent can take the role.

she’s not “caught”. she’s not the victim. she put herself squarely there and chose her side

yeah, kinda like we've saying for the last 7 years? you idiots are digging your hole deeper.

Only Democrat mayors.

I don’t see what the problem is.....the neighborhoods that don’t want any police give them EXACTLY what they want....the ones that want it keep them.....will make for some great TV

DEFUNDDC

Minneapolis Council votes to reduce Police activities and then hires body guards at taxpayer expense to protect them. 'Animal Farm' rings out.

Time for white lives to quit work, stay home, live on welfare, and let black lives work and pay taxes.

So the problem is the democrat mayors are being held hostage by communist BLM? EnemyOfThePeople meanwhile the poor will suffer so corrupt Mayer can stay in power

Excellent!! A mess created by her own volition!

Don't worry about the budget. You have the world stage. Will DC become a state? Push that agenda and just let your cesspool take care of itself.

Really, they run the police forces and should be held accountable if they fail their constituents. Actions will determine who they believe is essential to keep their jobs - hehe

She put herself in the middle. Frankly there should be no middle in this situation. Just open your eyes and minds.

One side will never accept where she is willing to go as good enough. Another side will accept. For most people, that would make picking a side easy.

Hipocracy of Running with Hares and Hunting with Hounds.

What’s the debate. Cops over criminals. Done.

It's a dilemma? Who elected BLM?

ReThink Police funding! Get them out of Judge Dredd swat military gear.

It's a dilemma faced when you capitulate to terrorists.

Oh man, that's a hard one...protect her city, or let domestic terrorist do as they please. She'll have to think long and hard on that one since she's not that smart. 🙄

Move out of cities controlled by Democrats.

Don’t let BLM run your budget. Support the police as you were voted into office to do. Americans need safety and security. Not disorder and chaos.

The major is a weak politician, not a leader

DefundThePolice DefundThePentagon

BLM only matters when the perp is white (rare). Blacks killing blacks? Yawn. No one cares.

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