MANHATTAN. N.Y. (PIX11) — The New York City Council voted on Tuesday to override the mayor’s veto of a police transparency bill.
The City Council passed the How Many Stops Act in December, however, Mayor Eric Adams vetoed the bill in early January. The act requires the NYPD to collect information, including race and gender, during nearly every interaction it has with the public.
Some council members say that it will increase police transparency but the mayor argued documenting low-level stops will slow down police. To try to demonstrate his point, he invited council members on a ride-along with the NYPD this weekend. However, many council members refused the invite, to protest Adams’ vetoing the bill.
One council member who supported the bill and voted to override the mayor’s veto was Yusef Salaam. He was stopped by police Friday night for driving a car with tinted windows, but he was not given an explanation for the stop at the time. Police said they were professional and followed guidelines.
But some argue that the stop — while it is not what the bill is about because this kind of stop already generates paperwork — shows the overall need for increased police transparency.
“He was never told why he was pulled over to begin with,” City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams said. “As a matter of fact, by all estimations, he found out once the NYPD released the video and the report afterward. To me, that really did prove the point.”
Speaking on the PIX11 Morning News Tuesday ahead of the City Council vote, Mayor Adams defended the NYPD.
“These are not stops. They are inquiries. People involved in Level 1 (stops) are free to leave at any time and not the same as if you think someone committed a crime. City Hall has its heart in the right spot but let’s take time so we don’t do anything to influence public safety,” the mayor said.
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. Meanwhile, hosted a rally to support the legislation Tuesday morning at City Hall.