Well, now. Who'd a thunk it? New York City Mayor Eric Adams is being blasted by his Democrat comrades on the city council for "getting his Trump on" — after he vetoed a bill that would require NYPD officers to document every "investigative encounter" with the public. Even more surreal?
Adams has finally made a correct decision, as The Big Apple continues to rot.
During a Friday press conference, Adams said the proposed legislation — known as Intro. 586-A or the "How Many Stops Act" — could slow NYPD response times, undermine community-oriented policing, and add tens of millions of dollars in overtime to the NYPD budget.
Adams also believes the legislation would force officers to spend more time filling out reports after "Level 1" interactions with the public than patrolling the streets.
But, Adams being Adams, he twisted his comments to slam the NYPD.
As young men, my brother and I were beaten by the police in the basement of a local precinct, but I turned my pain into purpose and joined the police force to effect change from within the system.
And, in my time as a police officer and throughout my career in public service, I have fought for transparency and against abusive policing tactics that targeted communities of color.
While Intro. 586 has good intentions behind it, the bill is misguided and compromises our public safety.
Yeah, well, the mayor's Democrat NYC Council members aren't buying it.
Adams continued — now, sensibly so:
Our administration supports efforts to make law enforcement more transparent, more just, and more accountable, but this bill will handcuff our police by drowning officers in unnecessary paperwork that will saddle taxpayers with tens of millions of dollars in additional NYPD overtime each year, while simultaneously taking officers away from policing our streets and engaging with the community.
That is why I am vetoing this legislation today. I ask my colleagues in government to please work with our administration to improve public safety because New Yorkers want their police out on patrol — taking criminals off our streets and keeping them safe.
Here's more:
The bill, co-sponsored by New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams, passed the council in December. It would require the NYPD to log and report basic information on level one, two, and three investigative encounters between the police and civilians. Officers would report on the race, age, and gender of the person approached, any factors leading to the interaction, and its outcomes.
NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban argued in a statement that the NYPD is already the country’s "most intently watched, deeply scrutinized, and openly transparent law enforcement agency," calling the legislation "an overreach that would result in the unintended consequence of literally slowing down the city’s progress."
Each day and night, NYPD officers carry on the dangerous, critical work of fighting crime on the streets. Terrorist plots have also been thwarted, and there is a renewed commitment among our rank and file to further build trust and strengthen relationships in every community. These vital efforts will continue — and must continue, unimpeded by bureaucratic time-wasting tasks — because that is what New Yorkers expect and deserve.
On our watch, there is a continuation of lower overall crime, including a reduction in bellwether indicators like murder, burglary, and assault. We just ended a year in which NYPD officers reduced shooting incidents citywide by a factor not seen in nearly 30 years. And as of this week, index crimes in New York City have dropped another 5 percent compared to last year — and an incredible 74 percent from three decades ago.
At a separate press conference, Williams [one of the bill's co-sponsors] slammed Adams in, let's call it, a "unique" way as he accused the mayor of "fearmongering":
The fact that Mayor Adams is getting his Trump on right now makes this even more difficult than it has to be.
Cute — but ridiculous. As with most large Democrat-run cities across America, crime continues to skyrocket in NYC. City jails might as well have revolving cell doors, as violent criminals are repeatedly released back to the streets — often until unspeakable crimes are committed.
The Bottom Line
The vetoed legislation and the histrionic reaction of Democrats opposed to the veto serve as yet another example of liberal hypocrisy. Rather than demonstrating concern — through appropriate actions — with NYC's runaway crime rate, Democrats on the city council are more interested in playing "Let's catch a cop abusing a suspect."
Related:
Machete-Wielding Assailant With Possible Ties to Islamic Extremism Attacks Cops Near Times Square
'Point of No Return': NYC in Policing Crisis as Resignations Reach Record Numbers
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