Supporters rally to overturn Mayor Adams' veto of How Many Stops Act
NEW YORK - City lawmakers continue to clash over a bill designed to increase police transparency.
It passed the city council last month, but was then vetoed by Mayor Eric Adams last week.
Now, city leaders are working to override the mayor's decision.
The mayor said the How Many Stops Act will affect the city's public safety and how police can respond to calls. City leaders say it will hold officers accountable.
From passing the bill to vetoing the bill, and now possibly overriding it, it's at the center of a growing political battle.
"Despite being less than half of the city's population, Black and Latino stops make up 97% of those stops on a daily basis. The federal monitor and NYPD's own auditors have also shown the department to consistently underreport stops," Council Speaker Adrienne Adams said.
City leaders and the mayor continue to clash on the How Many Stops Act. The bill mandates officers to report almost all encounters with New Yorkers for pedestrian stops.
City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams was joined by councilmembers, activists and faith leaders inside City Hall Tuesday, saying the bill delivers much-needed police transparency and accountability.
"There have been bills in the City Council I have disagreed with but you never seen this level, because I know the threat of public safety if we get this wrong," Mayor Adams said.
The controversial bill was passed in December, but last week, the mayor vetoed it. Now Council Speaker Adams is moving to override the veto. Thirty four votes are needed.
The mayor also said Tuesday he supports transparency within the police department, but it will be at the expense of public safety.
"I don't care if you're using an app. I don't care if you write on a piece of paper. It takes some time," Mayor Adams said. "A credible reason does not have to be law enforcement or criminal related."
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams is a co-sponsor of the bill. He said the information that officers have to complete include race, gender, demographic and reason for the stop - some of the information cops log at the end of the day anyway.
Williams says without level one stops, which are non-criminal, the bill does not work.
"The mayor supported the bill with level one before he became mayor," Williams said.
"You take that out I would sign that any day and I would stand up and say good job council, let's move forward," Mayor Adams said.
Supporters say the measure is needed, especially after NYPD misconduct complaints rose 51% last year.
"I think their heart is in the right place, but you have to actually see the operationalizing of the laws they put in place and how it impacts public servants in our city," Mayor Eric Adams said.
A vote hasn't been schedule yet, but councilmembers say it will happen soon.