St Pete Mayor Calls Anti-Defund Bill a "Trumpian Gimmick"

ST. PETERSBURG -- St Petersburg's mayor doesn't think Governor DeSantis' bill to defund cities that defund police will apply to his city's attempt to shift some work from armed officers to social service agencies.

DeSantis wants to cut state funding for cities that single out police for budget cuts. A spokesman for Mayor Rick Kriseman says the bill doesn't apply because St Petersburg has actually increased funding for its police department. Kriseman is also quoted as saying he isn't concerned about what he calls "Trumpian threats and gimmicks."

The city's community liaison program will contract with a social service agency to answer certain non violent calls starting early next year. Requests for proposals will start going out in a couple of weeks.

Photo: Getty Images


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