Gov. Andrew Cuomo denounced New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and the NYPD as ineffective in the face of multiple nights of looting across the city.
Cuomo says he was disappointed and outraged after looting took place in multiple locations in Manhattan, the Bronx and Brooklyn Monday night, despite a curfew put in place earlier in the day.
"The police in New York City were not effective at doing their job last night. Period," says Cuomo.
Cuomo also told reporters he has the legal option to "displace" de Blasio from office and bring in the National Guard.
"You'd have to displace the mayor, right? A. I don't think we're at that point. B. That would be such a chaotic situation," says Cuomo.
Those comments set off a flurry of responses on social media, some slamming Cuomo for "blaming the NYPD." De Blasio also responded with a Twitter video saying it's not "wise," nor does he think the city needs the National Guard.
"It's important we have this out right now. Someone needs a history lesson. When outside armed forces go into communities, no good comes of it, we have seen this for decades, go back to the '60s, '70s, the civil rights movement," says de Blasio.
Retired NYPD Detective Dennis Jones, who lives in Hempstead Village, says the more than 36,000 members of the department are already doing everything they can.
"You don't need people to get hurt in this scenario, someone was already hurt and that's enough," says Jones. "We've heard the distress, it's now time for people that have power to start to make changes."
Cuomo also said he believes "in the inherent capacity of the NYPD if managed and deployed."
The city's Police Benevolent Association released a statement saying officers are doing their job and that the "political tug of war between Albany and City Hall needs to stop, because it is putting police officers in danger."
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