New York City is planning to add 1,300 new officers to the New York Police Department as a part of a $78.5 billion budget deal, city leaders said Monday. Around 300 officers will form a new counterterrorism team to patrol areas of the city considered to be a target, such as tourist attraction Times Square. The city council’s decision is a shift from Mayor Bill de Blasio’s initial objections over new hires. More recently, the city has come under fire after a surge in homicides and shootings compared to the same period last year.
