Discharge Vote Gets NYC a Step Closer to Real Police Accountability, Transparency

“New York City’s police reform movement is on the verge of making history. With the discharge of the Community Safety Act, we are about to see the passage of key civil rights bills that will change real New Yorkers’ lives and promote meaningful accountability and transparency over the NYPD.

“Hardly a day goes by without another story of NYPD abuse hitting the news and undermining the ability of the community to trust the police department. An NYPD Inspector General will ensure better community relations between New Yorkers and the officers that are supposed to protect and serve them. And New Yorkers deserve an NYPD that relies on a person’s actions to make law enforcement decisions, not skin color, sexual orientation or immigration status. With the passage of this legislation, we will finally see a strong ban on profiling in New York City.

“The time has come for all members of the City Council to stand up and be counted – are they on the side of civil rights and police accountability or not? In these last few days before the passage of the Community Safety Act, we hope all undecided city council representatives will sign on to sponsor this critical legislation while they still have the chance to get on the right side of reform. And we applaud Council Members Jumaane Williams, Brad Landers, Melissa Mark-Viverito and all members of the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus for displaying the leadership it takes to get us this far.”