Law enforcementBloomberg vetoes bills aiming to curb NYPD’s stop-and-frisk
New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg vetoed two bills aiming to limit the NYPD’s stop and frisk policy. The policy has been criticized by civil rights advocates, and has also been highlighted by those opposing Police Commissioner Ray Kelly’s candidacy to replace Janet Napolitano as DHS secretary.
New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg vetoed two bills aiming to limit the NYPD’s stop and frisk policy. The policy has been criticized by civil rights advocates, and has also been highlighted by those opposing Police Commissioner Ray Kelly’s candidacy to replace Janet Napolitano as DHS secretary.
The New York Daily Newsreports that Bloomberg described the bills as irresponsible and dangerous, saying they would make the city less safe.
The two bills together are known as the Community Safety Act. One would create an independent inspector general to monitor the New York Police Department, and the other would expand the definition of racial profiling and allow people who believe they have been profiled to sue the police in state court.
Bloomberg said that the first measure would not improve the situation but instead create an office which would fight Commissioner Kerry on law enforcement policy and strategy.
“The consequences would be chaotic, dangerous, and even deadly for our police officers and for our city,” Bloomberg wrote. Bloomberg believes the second provision would unleash an avalanche of lawsuits against the police department.
Opponents of stop-and-frisk argue that the policy disproportionally, and in most cases wrongfully, targets African-American and Hispanic men.
Supporters of the vetoed bill vowed to fight on.
“The Community Safety Act will help us make New York a place where everyone can walk the streets without fear of violence or discriminatory policing,” Democratic council members Jumaane Williams and Brad Lander said. “We look forward to overturning Mayor Bloomberg’s veto and making this legislation law.”
Bill de Blasio, a Democratic mayoral candidate, said Bloomberg is turning a blind eye to racial profiling.
“I believe we need a real change, and encourage City Council members to stand by their votes and override the Mayor’s veto,” de Blasio said in a statement. “Our young men cannot afford for us to waver in the face of intimidation from City Hall.”
