Amid a major violent crime spike, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio boasted about the low number of people in city jails.

The video: De Blasio made the remarks Wednesday at a public signing ceremony for six police reform bills in the Bronx.

DE BLASIO: “We now have fewer people in our jails than any time since WW2 and we are safer for it and better for it” pic.twitter.com/isOM3P8yZ4

— Poso (@JackPosobiec) July 16, 2020

What de Blasio said: The mayor touted several reforms, including a chokehold ban and a centralized database of complaints about police officers, along with changes that have already been made to the city's law enforcement policies.

• "People said that if we reduced incarceration and ended the era of mass incarceration, we would be endangered. It was the other way around, my friends," he said
• "We now have fewer people in our jails than any time since World War II and we are safer for it and better for it."
• De Blasio followed these remarks by attacking a New York police union on Thursday, saying the Sergeants Benevolent Association "foment[s] hatred" and that he has "no respect for the leadership of the SBA."

Should de Blasio really be celebrating? While de Blasio has touted the lack of incarcerated New Yorkers as a victory, the city has seen a major spike in violent crime, which critics link to a failure on the mayor's part to institute law and order.

• Through the first six months of the year, homicides are up 21 percent and shootings are up 46 percent.
• Shootings in New York increased by 130 percent in June as compared to the same month last year.
• Over Fourth of July weekend, the city experienced nearly 40 shootings.

In the face of this increase, the mayor has formed a task force—to stop the use of illegal fireworks.