Democrats in New York are condemning a decision by the U.S. Justice Department to cancel hundreds of grants to community organizations, including those that fund crime-victim advocacy and gun-violence prevention.

According to The Washington Post, the millions of dollars in grants also support nonviolent youthful offenders, mental health resources for local police, efforts to avert opioid-related deaths and hate crimes.

State Sen. Zellnor Myrie (D-Brooklyn), chair of the Codes Committee and candidate for New York City mayor, told Capital Tonight that the move by the Trump administration was deeply disappointing.

“This is a president that allegedly cares about public safety,” Myrie said. “Someone who had campaigned on the disorder he was seeing in cities. The very programs that are meant to help keep the public safe…he’s getting rid of.”

Myrie is advocating to address the financial impact of these federal cuts within the still-emerging state budget. 

“I think in this year’s budget, we have to take steps that are going to fill the gap and help us meet the needs of New Yorkers,” he said. 

The budget is 24 days late as of Thursday.

The attorney-turned-lawmaker is also advocating for a bill he’s carrying with state Assemblymember Monique Chandler-Waterman (D-Brooklyn) to fully establish the Office of Gun Violence Prevention (OGVP) by providing it with more resources and opening interagency coordination.

“We should be disgusted by [these cuts] as New Yorkers, and in fact, it provides a greater incentive for us to take more action right here in the state and the city,” he said. “Now is not the time to cower. We’ve got to step up and stand up.”

Myrie alluded to his legal background when talking about bringing the fight with the Trump administration to the halls of justice.

“I think we are in a moment that is going to require some real political courage, but also some legal acumen; we’re going to have to take the fight to them in court,” he said.