The Clash over the How Many Stops Act
New York City Mayor Adams vetoed the How Many Stops Act on Friday, causing friction between his executive office and the City Council. This action is leading towards a significant political showdown, with Council leaders pledging to invalidate any executive attempt to block the bill. The bill, aimed at enhancing NYPD’s transparency, has been a source of contention for some time.
Key Takeaways:
– Mayor Adams vetoed the How Many Stops Act on Friday, sparking conflict with the City Council.
– The Act was geared toward increasing NYPD transparency, requiring officers to log all interactions with civilians.
– City Council leaders have pledged to override the Mayor’s veto.
– This event follows a similar political clash in 2021 when the Council overrode the Mayor’s veto on a housing-related bill.
Adams’ Stand Against the Bill
The Mayor announced his decision to use his executive authority to torpedo the bill at a morning press conference at City Hall on Friday. He was flanked by high-ranking officers of the NYPD and its unions, including Commissioner Edward Caban and Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey. According to Adams, the legislation would be “extremely detrimental to public safety in this city.” He justified his veto as a move in favor of public safety.
City Council’s Resolution to Override
Although Council Speaker Adrienne Adams did not immediately respond to the Mayor’s announcement, she declared on Thursday that the Council would seek to override any vetoes. The override of a veto requires support from at least two-thirds, or 34, of the Council’s 51 members, adding an extra layer of intrigue to this unfolding political drama.
How Many Stops Act: What Does It Mean?
The controversial How Many Stops Act, initiated by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, requires NYPD officers to log basic information into a department database about all investigative interactions they have with civilians. This can be swiftly done via a smartphone app, according to supporters of the bill. Under the current law, officers are required only to document so-called “Level 3” stops, which are based on reasonable suspicion of a crime in progress.
The new bill would necessitate documentation of all Level 1 and Level 2 stops, the first category of which does not require any suspicion of a crime. Proponents of the act believe it would induce officers to reconsider certain stops – a measure they consider crucial considering the reported continued unconstitutional police stopping of Black and Brown New Yorkers.
Opposition to the Act
However, the Mayor and NYPD leaders argue the contrary. They believe the bill would impede effective policing by burdening cops with additional paperwork. According to them, documenting each Level 1 or Level 2 stop would consume valuable time that could otherwise be dedicated to active duty.
Another Council Bill Brewing Controversy
Meanwhile, Mayor Adams did not reveal plans regarding another contentious Council bill that would ban solitary confinement in Rikers Island and other city lockups. This bill, also proposed by Williams, would limit the confinement of violent-prone inmates to “de-escalation” units for four hours at a time. Moreover, inmates involved in violent incidents could face extended stints in “restrictive housing.” Notably, these inmates must be allowed out of their cells for a minimum 14 hours daily and need to have access to general population programs.
Impacts for Mayor Adams
If the City Council successfully overrides Mayor Adams’ veto of the How Many Stops Act, this would not be the first such instance. Last year, the Council overrode the Mayor’s veto on a package of housing voucher reforms. The override marked the first in a decade, pointing to an evolving dynamic in the council-mayor relationship.