The question of who "wins" the fight between NYPD and a mayor ultimately comes down to "who does the comptroller side with?"

I've got bad news for Trump, then.

even in the event of open insubordination I don’t think many city governments would dare defund the police (at least they haven’t when this has happened at smaller scales)

I think there's a difference between "Blue Flu" and outright contesting duly elected government. The latter hasn't really been attempted since the 70s. And I think modern electeds have more steel than their antecedents.

I don’t see the steel but it’s probably because I’ve too recently escaped from the misrule of the New York Democrats

god they're so fucking bad