Politics
“It does nothing to improve public safety.”
Gov. Maura Healey on Monday blasted recent threats from President Donald Trump that he will send National Guard troops into other major U.S. cities.
Trump said Friday he would take a similar approach in Chicago and New York as he has in Washington, D.C., where thousands of National Guard troops have been ordered to carry firearms as part of what the administration has said is an effort to crack down on crime, homelessness, and illegal immigration.
Asked about the president’s comments at an event in Revere, Healey emphasized her position as commander-in-chief of the Massachusetts National Guard and the “incredibly important role” the National Guard serves in responding to natural disasters and emergencies.
“This is political theater, it does nothing to improve public safety,” Healey said in a video posted by WCVB. “If Donald Trump really cared about public safety, he wouldn’t be cutting funding for local law enforcement, which he’s done, he wouldn’t be cutting funding for community policing, which he’s done, he wouldn’t be cutting funding for victims services, which he’s done. Oh, and by the way, he’s cut funding for the National Guard, 40 percent.”
Asked about the president’s comments at a campaign event Monday, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said she’s closely monitoring potential legal challenges mounted against the administration by other cities, WHDH reported.
“We have been in their sights for months at this point because our city represents everything that showcases why they’re wrong,” Wu said in video posted by WHDH. “They’re wrong on safety. We are the safest major city in the country because everyone is involved in safety here.”
Healey said “we’re prepared,” when asked about the idea of troops being deployed to Massachusetts streets, according to WHDH.
“I don’t want to see that happen,” she said. “That would just be terribly disrespectful to states, terribly disrespectful to members of the guard.”
The State of California is suing the Trump administration for deploying the National Guard troops to Los Angeles in June.
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