On the eve of a City Council hearing, Speaker Julie Menin announced significant revisions to two closely watched protest bills, removing a mandatory 100-foot security perimeter requirement and replacing it with a more flexible framework developed in consultation with the NYPD.
The original measures — Int. 1 and Int. 175, sponsored by Menin and Bronx Council Member Eric Dinowitz, would have required the police commissioner to establish fixed security perimeters at every entrance and exit of houses of worship and educational facilities in instances of intimidation or harassment. Those perimeters could extend up to 100 feet and would have required barriers such as police tape or barricades.
