Public Safety

Council Members Williams and Lander’s Statement Following City Council Vote to Bring Community Safety Act to the Floor

NEW YORK, NY, June 24, 2013: Council Members Jumaane D. Williams (D-Brooklyn), co-chair of the Council’s Task Force to Combat Gun Violence, and Brad Lander (D-Brooklyn), co-chair of the Council’s Progressive Caucus, jointly released the following statement following the City Council’s passage of a “Motion to Discharge” for the Community Safety Act (Intros 1079 and 1080), a package of bills to increase accountability for the NYPD and strengthen the City’s ban on police profiling to cover all New Yorkers. With the passing of the Motion to Discharge, the City Council will vote on the legislation later this week. Read more »

Statement of NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Members Brad Lander & Stephen Levin

“We are relieved and happy to learn that SUNY Downstate Medical Center withdrew its proposal to close Long Island College Hospital. This is an incredible victory for Downtown Brooklyn and its residents. Read more »

For Immediate Release: April 8th, 2013

Citizens Crime Commission President, Richard Aborn, released the following statement: 

The New York Police Department is an extraordinary law enforcement agency. Under the outstanding leadership of Commissioner Ray Kelly our brave men and women in blue have driven down crime to historic lows. As a result, New York City is the safest large city in America. 

Recently there has been much discussion about the role of an Inspector General (I.G.) as it relates to the NYPD.

As we move into a new administration, we ask ourselves "if we were designing a major urban police force today would independent oversight be an element?" To us, the clear answer is yes.

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Sponsors of NYPD Inspector General Bill: “DOI’s oversight and recommendations are helping improve an agency in need of change.”

BROOKLYN, NY - Today, Council Members Brad Lander and Jumaane D. Williams – co-sponsors of the bill to establish NYPD oversight at the NYC Department of Investigation – praised a new report from the Department of Investigation detailing misguided policies and recommending corrective action for the NYC Board of Elections. The DOI found that the BOE overstaffed a low-turnout election day in 2011, costing the City at least $2.4M in unnecessary personnel expenses.

The BOE fully staffed all election districts under the auspices of allowing poll workers to practice on the new electronic machines. DOI Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn told the Daily News, “Fully staffing all polling sites in the face of such low voter turnout is a costly way to do training,” a position backed by her office’s report.

Council Member Brad Lander praised DOI’s report, remarking that, “It’s great to see the City’s DOI do a thorough study of a public agency, identify problems, and make concrete recommendations for changes in policy. I look forward to the NYPD benefiting from similar oversight, making for better policing and a safer New York.”

"As chair of the Council's Committee on Oversight and Investigations, I have first-hand knowledge of the great work that DOI does,” Council Member Jumaane D. Williams said. “They are uniquely capable of engaging in comprehensive oversight and advising on potential reforms that can improve City functions such as, thanks to this new report, the work of our Board of Elections. Almost every major agency enjoys this type of effective independent review; hopefully soon the NYPD will benefit from comparable oversight, strengthening its internal function and external image." Read more »