Councilman David G. Greenfield commended Mayor Michael Bloomberg for including $6.6 million in crucial funding for outer-borough district attorney offices in his Fiscal Year 2013 Executive Budget released today. After the funding was not included in the Mayor’s preliminary budget, Greenfield urged him to restore it in his final budget proposal so the Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and Bronx district attorney offices have the resources needed to handle their existing caseloads.

The $6.6 million in Workload Funding is intended to make sure that the four outer-borough district attorneys are adequately funded to meet their current workloads. The additional funding came after an analysis by the Mayor’s Criminal Justice Coordinator found that the amount of funding provided to the district attorneys by the city did not match the level each office required based on existing caseloads. However, despite a recommendation by his Criminal Justice Coordinator that this funding be included in three consecutive budgets, it was initially not included in the Mayor’s proposed Fiscal 2013 plan.

In response, Greenfield urged the Mayor to reconsider in an April 30 letter cosigned by 31 of Greenfield’s colleagues in the City Council. “Our city’s district attorney offices are still feeling the effects of prior rounds of budget cuts, and now is not the time to hamper their ability to meet their workloads,” wrote Greenfield. “We are certain that, like us, you believe that the district attorneys need the proper funding in order to keep crime down in New York City.”

Following the release of the Mayor’s budget today, Greenfield recognized the Mayor for finding a way to fund this important initiative. “I am pleased that our district attorneys will have the resources needed to help keep crime at historic lows. We cannot risk public safety just to save a few dollars. Everyone knows that there are two parts to the criminal justice system – cops and prosecutors. Both need to be fully funded to ensure that our streets are safe. That’s why my colleagues and I urged the Mayor to reconsider the omission of this funding from his budget, and why I am grateful that the Mayor agreed to our request,” said Greenfield.

(YWN Desk – NYC)