Rochester City Council approved a budget that includes changes for policing. Council voted 8-1 on a spending plan that includes a $3 million cut in police funding and reduces recruitment by half. The only 'no' vote was Mary Lupien. Councilmembers also want to create a task force that would establish a blueprint for restructuring. Activists with the Black Lives Matter movement pushed for the city to cut the police budget. Mayor Lovely Warren defended the amount of money given to the police department, while promising future police reform. RPD Chief La'Ron Singletary said any additional cuts would adversely impact their ability to provide quality police services. The budget also ended the school resource officer program in RCSD. The city's budget gap increased to $64 million during the pandemic. A number of city employees were furloughed or lost their jobs.