Last month was safest August in city's modern-day history, Mayor's Office says

Last month was the safest August in the city's modern-day history, according to the Mayor's Office.

The number of murders dropped to 14 from 35 last August, and there were more than 60 fewer shootings reported than last year.

However, Mayor Bill de Blasio says the city can keep pushing. 

"When you meet people who say, 'There's no way to drive crime down lower,' the men and women of the NYPD say, 'Watch us. Watch us do it,'" de Blasio said. "And that's what they've been doing year after year. They've been setting a new record every single time."

"We continue to make the city safer because of our collaboration and our efforts with our law enforcement partners, of course, our federal partners, the prosecutors, the local prosecutors," said Police Commissioner James O'Neill.

In 1993, there were 184 murders in the city in August. The mayor says that's more than the total number so far for this year.