Biden urges local leaders to boost public safety spending

By JOSH BOAK, DARLENE SUPERVILLE and CHRIS MEGERIAN
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Mayors, police chiefs and other local officials have visited the White House to share with President Joe Biden how they are spending money from the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package on policing and public safety programs. Biden highlighted some of these efforts during an event in the Rose Garden on Friday. And he urged cities to spend even more of their coronavirus relief money on public safety before the summer months, which typically bring a spike in violent crime. The 2021 relief package included $350 billion for state, local and tribal governments. Biden said, “Taking action today is going to save lives tomorrow,.”