De Blasio bolstering police 'gang takedowns,' as gun violence surges citywide

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio teased a new policing strategy Monday aimed at bolstering “gang takedowns” in neighborhoods permeated by gun violence, as the Big Apple so far plans to reopen public schools and many companies plan to have their workforces return in some capacity this fall.

"We are going to need more gang takedowns, more gun arrests, more cooperation with community," de Blasio said Monday. "Gangs are the problem and this is where the focus is going to be. Also using community based leaders, community-based activists to change the reality on the ground."  De Blasio, with only months remaining in office as the November mayoral election approaches, cited one neighborhood plagued by gun violence, the 115th precinct in Queens, where 10 people were shot Saturday in what investigators believe to be gang-related incidents. He said similar "gang takedowns" executed recently in the Bronx have proven as a "crucial tool," which have taken "many violent individuals off the street simultaneously."