PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The mayor of Portland, Oregon, announced he would seek $2 million in one-time funding for police, other agencies and outreach programs to try to stem rampant gun violence in the city.
The move by Mayor Ted Wheeler represents an about-face after city leaders in June voted to cut nearly $16 million from the police budget, reductions that included the elimination of a gun violence reduction unit.
The cuts came amid racial justice protests following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Portland has seen a spike in violence.
So far this year, there have been 20 homicides, most the result of shootings.
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