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After Bloody Weekend, De Blasio Says NYPD To 'Aggressively' Tackle Gun Violence

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Twenty-three people were shot over the weekend, two fatally, according to the NYPD.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said he's addressing the issue "aggressively," WCBS 880's Monica Miller reported.

"I give Commissioner Bratton tremendous credit. He is the guy, of course, who brought us the CompStat system," the mayor said, referring to the statistical system largely credited for cutting crime in the city in the 1990s. "The whole notion is to quickly and agilely make moves and adjustments, and that's being done as we speak."

After Bloody Weekend, De Blasio Says NYPD To 'Aggressively' Tackle Gun Violence

De Blasio said overall crime is down more than 3 percent compared to last year.

"As of last night at midnight, we were down 26 murders compared to last year," he said Monday.

De Blasio Vows To Tackle Gun Violence After Bloody Weekend

The mayor said the NYPD is adding officers to precincts with the greatest needs and to some New York City Housing Authority developments with the greatest challenges.

"By and large, that effort has been bearing fruit," de Blasio said.

As WCBS 880's Jim Smith reported, Fernando Mateo, spokesman for the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers, argues that criminals feel liberated by the end of stop-and-frisk.

Taxi Officials Blames Relaxed Stop-And-Frisk Rules For Violence

He made his remarks in response to the killings of two livery cab drivers earlier this month in the Bronx. Four men have been charged in both slayings.

"Now you can walk around with your guns, and you're going to be OK," Mateo said. "That's not OK because there's a lot of us that don't want to get killed."

Mateo said he understands the racial problems with the police tactic but that there has to be a suitable replacement to achieve the same results.

The NYPD has said it will examine if reduced stops lead to increased violence.

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