Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark is gaining attention for saying that lawmakers should allocate funds elsewhere in the Bronx instead of for her own office in the upcoming city budget.

Clark says that she believes investments in community-based centers, programs and resources is the key to curbing the spiking rates of drug abuse, guns and shootings involving kids across the borough.

“Instead of asking for additional funding for my office, today, I am calling you to ACTION, to take a bold step toward correcting decades-long neglect of the Bronx,” said Clark in the City Council chambers.

The district attorney says that mental health assistance is at the top of her list of priorities, and that she hopes fellow Councilmembers will act accordingly.

“Recidivism is real and it’s real because of the fact that people are not getting the help that they need, so that they don’t come back and do it again. I’ll hold them accountable but we have to make sure that we build them up so that when they’re back in the community, they don’t do the same thing again,” said Clark.

Conversations on the city’s budget will continue over the coming months before a decision is made on July 1.