By Dan Katzive
Members of Community Board 7’s Public Safety Task Force had an opportunity to provide initial feedback on Governor Hochul’s 10-point public safety plan on Monday.
The governor’s representative in Manhattan, Naysha Diaz, joined the regularly scheduled monthly task force meeting at which the main points of the governor’s plan were outlined by the Task Force co-chairs Polly Spain and William Ortiz.
While Task Force members stressed they need to see more details, several noted that the measures appeared to be well formulated to address some of the concerns we are currently seeing on our city streets.
Diaz emphasized that the 10-point plan was currently wrapped up in the ongoing state budget process, and that it was unclear at this time which elements of the plan would survive into final legislation. But broadly speaking, the plan includes measures to increase flexibility allowing judges to require bail for serious felonies in a number of categories, and to allow for arrest and bail eligibility for repeat offenders of more minor crimes.
There are also proposals aimed at: expediting trials; making it easier to prosecute gun trafficking; and providing more resources for mental health services and expanded use of the involuntary commitment statutes. The complete details of the Governor’s plan have not been made public.
Task Force member Courtney Clark Metakis said the summary proposals seemed “timely and on point for what we are seeing on our streets”, while Richard Asche said it seems to address needed adjustments without “obliterating bail reform”, though he saw some elements in the plan he would like to see adjusted. All members emphasized they would like to see more details and that their individual views did not necessarily represent those of CB7 as a whole.
Task Force members were also briefed on recent meetings with NYPD officials at the 20th and 24th precincts. One takeaway from those meetings was that the Neighborhood Coordination Officers (NCOs) covering the various sectors within the precincts were often an underutilized resource, with low public attendance at their meetings. A representative from the Lincoln Square Business Improvement District agreed that NCOs can be a valuable point of contact, and indicated the BID has a close working relationship with those covering their area.
The names and email addresses of the NCOs can be found on the precinct websites, https://www1.nyc.gov/site/nypd/bureaus/patrol/precincts/20th-precinct.page and https://www1.nyc.gov/site/nypd/bureaus/patrol/precincts/24th-precinct.page
Please completely repeal “bail reform.” No one wants it except criminals and would be criminals. No law abiding citizen wants it. It is basically chaos.
How can criminal justice reformers win if they won’t take care of their own supporters? I know of someone who volunteered for Eliza Orlins’ DA campaign last year because they were abused by police and had no arrest or criminal history, when that volunteer wanted their concerns heard, they got radio silence from Eliza Orlins. How can we trust criminal justice reformers if they treat their volunteers like this?
I see nothing but talk about “feedback” and “the need to see more details” and “proposals”.
This all seems like bureaucratic nonsense that will accomplish nothing insofar as making our streets safer.
They show you a pile of scrap metal and tell you that with just a little more work, it will be a car.
When are these people going to actually sit in a room together and actually accomplish something? Enough with the Zoom, it’s past time.
When people are having a discussion, rather than physically building something, how is there a difference between speaking in person, speaking over the phone, or meeting on Zoom? Before covid, a huge percentage of business deals were hashed out on conference calls. Zoom meetings give greater flexibility and can actually help more get done and be more inclusive. Why make problems where there aren’t?
Thanks for the very helpful update. I would like to see more details but this sounds like a great step in the right direction. I really like that they mentioned a focus on repeat offenders, regardless of the size of the crime; expediting trials; and more mental health resources to complement more involuntary commitments.
Hopefully this will be approved. There is not much to object to here – it does not seem that draconian.
CB7 has no real statutory authority. The community boards are a mechanism for elected officials to claim they’re talking to their constituents and hearing “feedback.”
In a meeting, a lot is lost with zoom. Nuances in communication are not picked up.It’s very important to note that there are many restrictions in zoom that undermine democracy. As a member of public, one can’t see everyone participating, one can’t comment to other members of the public, chats are often closed. This is a dramatic departure from our Democratic roots of town hall. As for bail reform, it is widely unpopular and damaging. Listen to the will of the people
This argument about Zoom meetings undermining democracy is seriously deceptive. EVERY form of communication and interaction has benefits and liabilities. Consider an in-person meeting of a Community Board. It is far more difficult to attend–and stay for hours–if you work at night. If you work long hours. If you have young children. If you care for an older relative who lives with you. If you have a disability. Etc. etc. This is why the Democratic Party is rightly moving away from allegedly “democratic” nominating caucuses in presidential years.
A public safety initiative where the details “have not been made public.”
Why haven’t the community board and the general public had access to the details? That seems like a good first step.