By: ABC Eyewitness News

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NEW YORK CITY (WABC) — New York City crossing guards held a rally with officials Monday morning to protest the cutting of hundreds of positions.

There are currently about 2,200 crossing guards throughout NYC, but the plan is to cut about 200 vacancies, and another 200 jobs that were to be made available.

The elimination of those positions will save $7.5 million from the $43 million budget for crossing guards, which falls under the NYPD.

Local 372 NYC Board of Education, which represents the crossing guards, DC 37, Transportation Alternatives, and other officials rallied outside the Tweed Courthouse in Lower Manhattan.

They noted that “a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that school crossing guards reduce the risk of traffic accidents involving children by up to 80%, especially young children.”

“We need more crossing guards, not less,” said NYC Councilmember Shaun Abreu. “But something that is often ignored is that crossing guards are community fixtures.”

The city employs 2,219 crossing guards. The crossing guards make $18 to $20 an hour for a part-time 4-hour-a-day job.