If your community doesn’t want its current police force, it shouldn’t have it.

So asserted New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Monday, as reported by The Washington Free Beacon.

Andrew was speaking to NPR, and here’s how he put it:

“What the community is now saying, all across this nation, ‘We don’t want this type of police force.’ And if they don’t want it, they shouldn’t have it.”

New York governor @andrewcuomo told NPR that if a community doesn’t want its current police force, "they shouldn’t have it."https://t.co/yQr9zcV7S9

— Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) June 17, 2020

As noted by the Beacon, Cuomo lent his John Hancock to a legislative package last week on police reform in light of the riots in The Big Apple.

In the interview, he asserted that “change comes when the people demand change, and the government acts in that moment. Seize the moment. Carpe momentum.”

Is that really how government works? Bing Bang Boom?

Regardless, on Friday, the governor signed the New York State Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative, which requires police agencies to develop a plan centered around community input.

It should be observed, though, that Cuomo’s big plans must be approved by legislatures or local councils (Unbing, Unbang, Unboom).

Andrew said departments who fail to reform by April 1st of next year will be defunded.

As expressed to NPR, he believes the country is undergoing a “fundamental redefinition” of what Americans want from their local law enforcement.

I’d say they want what they’ve always wanted: to be kept safe while being allowed the liberties conferred by the Constitution.

To the degree that departments have or haven’t provided that, changes should be considered.

But what of defunding? Americans don’t want that.

NPR asked, “Do you support the New York City Council’s proposal to cut a billion dollars from the NYPD budget?”

This was his response:

“I don’t think it’s just about cutting a budget, just about passing a law here or there. I think it’s time to sit down and redesign the entire police department. Before you cut the budget ‘X’ amount, do it the other way. How many police do you want? What do you want them to do? What is your use-of-force policy? How do you end the bias in the police department? What kind of disciplinary procedure do you want? What kind of civilian review board do you want? Answer all of the above questions, not just one or two. This is a moment for change. But you then have to answer the question. We understand that people are not happy. Now, the follow-up is, what do you want to do about it?”

Do you predict all the above will get done (Bing Bang Boom)? There’s currently a wealth of media pressure, but the news cycle won’t last nearly as long as that process will require.

Given that our government’s supposed to be “for the people, by the people,” the governor’s comment on Americans having what they want is correct. But to whom will he be actually listening — people who obey the law, or those who want to want to live outside of it?

-ALEX

See 3 more pieces from me:

Due to COVID-19, New York City Issues a Guide to ‘Safer’ Sex – and All I Can Say Is Wow

Tail of the Sea: Man Complains of Stomach Pain, Doctors Find a Large Fish in His Rectum

In an Effort to Fight Racism, a Rhode Island Donut Shop Cancels Discounts for Military and Police

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