Adams Proposes Fixes to Racism in NYPD
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams delivered testimony yesterday to the City Council Committee on Oversight and Investigations for a joint oversight hearing with the Committee on Public Safety on Racism, Bias, and Hate Speech in the New York City Police Department (NYPD).
The oversight hearing comes after a report in The New York Times in November found several hateful posts on a popular law enforcement message board called Rant from a user who went by the name “Clouseau.” It was further revealed the pseudonym was for Deputy Inspector James F. Kobel, the head of the Equal Employment and Opportunity Division (EEOD) in the NYPD. Kobel was placed on modified assignment following the publication of the report.
In his testimony, Adams notes that the NYPD continues to struggle with a diversity problem within its ranks, and urged the council to institute greater oversight measures to promote diversity and ensuring officers who speak out about systemic issues within the department are protected from retaliation.
“Since I co-founded 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care when I served in the NYPD, I have been intimately aware of the systemic racism within the department. The unmasking of ‘Clouseau’ only underscores how far we have yet to go in tearing down the barriers standing in the way of Black and Brown officers. The steps laid out in my testimony can help foster a culture of accountability and trust, which is necessary to repairing the internal and external rifts that have been exposed over the course of this painful year. I thank Chairs Ritchie Torres and Adrienne Adams for holding this important hearing, and for their leadership,” said Adams.
Adams put forward proposals in his testimony during the hearing today some of which include: EEOD leadership must have a demonstrated commitment to a cohesive, equitable, and inclusive department and that there must be additional protections and protocols for officers who speak out against the systemic harms that plague communities of color both in and out of the department.
Colton, Community Board Oppose Public Park Proposal
Assemblyman William Colton (D – Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Dyker Heights) is pleased to say that at the Community Planning Board 11 monthly meeting concern was raised about the city’s plan to turn I.S. 228 (A.K.A David A. Boody on Avenue S between West 4 and 5 Street schoolyard) into a public park and was opposed by the CB11.
“The meeting was attended by a number of the community leaders, neighborhood residents, I.S. 228 PTA President and School Principal Dominick D’Angelo. The community is outraged by such a careless proposal due to a number of reasons. The streets are narrow at the location, there is a public park already within 5 blocks and the major fear of the community is that this project will create serious safety, health, and quality of life issues not only for the neighborhood but also for I.S. 228 which has been a shining star of quality education,” Colton stated.
“Since there was no proposal present to the Community Planning Board 11 from the Mayor’s office, there was no transparency with the local community and the community was not surveyed and after carefully listening to the presentation of the people and other leaders the Community Planning Board 11 made the decision and has passed a resolution calling for the Parks Department to put a hold on and stop the project in that there was little public input. Hopefully, this will put the brakes on this ill-thought-out proposal which the neighborhood was not consulted on and did not want. I will be ready to fight this bad plan if the city will ignore the strong will of our neighborhood,” Colton added.
Eugene Wants Everyone to Keep Safe in Blizzards
City Council Member Mathieu Eugene (D-Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Flatbush, Kensington, Midwood, Prospect Park, Prospect Lefferts Gardens) reminded constituents yesterday to take precautions due to the weather conditions. He reminds:
-Stay inside and only venture out if you need to or in case of an emergency.
-Stay off the roads and allow city snowplows to keep streets and roadways clear for emergency vehicles.
-If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.
-Refrain from strenuous outdoor activity such as prolonged snow shoveling.
-Please be aware those who suffer from cardiovascular disease are at an increased risk of heart attack when shoveling snow due to sudden spikes in blood pressure and a decrease in oxygen to the heart.
-Please do not use an oven or stove to heat your home.
-For elderly or disabled residents who are in need of snow plowing at their residence, please call 311 or go to www.nyc.gov/311 and provide a specific address for service.
Please call 311 to alert the Code Blue outreach team of individuals who are believed to be homeless and in need of shelter.
Alternate Side Parking Regulations are suspended for 12/16 – 12/17 to facilitate snow removal. Payment at parking meters will remain in effect throughout NYC.
Lander Updates
Councilmember Brad Lander (D-Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Columbia Waterfront, Gowanus, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Borough Park, Kensington) updates his constituents on the following resources.
- Latest Virus Data: In NYC, there were 2,785 new cases reported yesterday with 195 people admitted to hospitals. The city has lost 24,561 people from the virus, including sadly 35 in the last few days, and 367,198 total cases have been identified in the city since the start of the pandemic. The citywide 7-day rolling average of positive test rates is 5.71%.
- DOE Brooklyn North Family Town Hall Tonight: The Brooklyn North Family Town Hall event is tonight from 6 – 8 p.m. Spanish, Mandarin, and Bengali interpretation will be available. Zoom information: Dial In 646-558-8656, Meeting ID 840 0884 7551, Passcode: 848154
- Snow Resources and Updates: NYC Sanitation workers will be out clearing snow tonight and tomorrow. Alternate Side Parking is suspended. Open Restaurants have been asked to close this afternoon and city COVID-19 testing sites are closed until noon tomorrow. Follow updates at: nyc.gov/severeweather. If our office can be helpful, please be in touch at lander@council.nyc.gov.
- Kindergarten Applications Open: The kindergarten application is now open! Families with children born in 2016 will start kindergarten in fall 2021. The application deadline is January 19. Online with http://MySchools.nyc or by phone at 718-935-2009. Learn more: http://schools.nyc.gov/kindergarten
- Get Tested: You can now look up wait times online at Health and Hospitals sites. Find a site here. Help us spread the word about sites in Brooklyn.
