By: Chaim Relsky
It just might be possible that defunding the NYPD is not the wisest choice that New York City could make.
At least, it looks that way in the wake of eight shootings in a period of just three hours.
Gunfire went off like firecrackers in Brooklyn during the nighttime hours. The body count: at least eight people wounded, the not-yet-defunded police said.
Unperturbed by the bloodshed, Democratic Mayor Bill DeBlasio continues to bow before Black Lives Matter leaders and promise to downsize the police force.
Among the victims of de Blasio’s enlightened leadership were a 23-year-old woman, a 17-year-old man, a 35-year-old man and 50-year-old man on Bristol Street in Brownsville. Next came a pair of men who were reportedly shot in the leg on Bainbridge Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant. A 35-year-old man was shot in the back at the corner of Ditmas and Flatbush avenues in Flatbush. Yet another fellow was shot in his leg and stomach around 2 a.m. near Avenue K and East 36th Street in Flatlands.
New Yorkers may be getting shot down like dogs in the streets, but de Blasio has more important things to think of. Just two days ago he announced a series of new reforms to the New York City Police Department to “strengthen trust between New Yorkers and officers.” The City will shift funding from the NYPD to youth and social services for communities of color, move vendor enforcement out of the NYPD, and establish a community ambassadors program within the NYPD. The Mayor also announced his support of the new 50-A reform bill introduced in Albany. The Mayor also lifted the citywide curfew effective immediately.
“While we have taken many steps to reform policing in this city, there is clearly more work to do to strengthen trust between officers and the New Yorkers they serve,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “These will be the first of many steps my Administration will take over the next 18 months to rebuild a fairer City that profoundly addresses injustice and disparity.”
Other steps include;
Shifting funding from NYPD to Youth and Social Services. The City will find significant savings in the NYPD budget. This funding will go towards youth development and social services for communities of color. The amount will be finalized with the City Council during the budget process.
50-A Reform: The Mayor announced that he supports the State Legislature’s efforts to take away the provisions in 50-A that prevent transparency while still protecting the personal information of police officers. The Mayor also commended the Legislature for taking this step to ensure more accountability in the Department’s disciplinary system and give the public confidence.
Move Vendor Enforcement Out of NYPD: The City will shift enforcement for street vending out of NYPD so our officers can focus on the real drivers of crime instead of administrative infractions. This will further the Administration’s de-escalation agenda by reducing interactions between uniform officers and New Yorkers, particularly immigrant communities and communities of color.
