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Know Your Rights
Source: The New York Times
Subject: Policing and Criminal Justice

Mayor Adams Dodges a City Council Threat by Making One of His Own

Earlier this year, at a small meeting at City Hall between Mayor Eric Adams and leaders of an anti-crime group, two attendees complained about a New York City Council bill requiring the police to document more interactions with the public. They suggested that the mayor convene a charter revision commission to lessen the likelihood of similar legislation passing again.

Three weeks later, the mayor formed the commission, tapping several of the community leaders and other loyalists to serve on it.

On Tuesday, that commission did exactly what it set out to do.

The commission proposed hampering the City Council’s ability to pass legislation affecting the public safety operations of the Police Department, the Department of Correction and the Fire Department.

The proposed amendment to the City Charter, which is effectively the city’s constitution, would force the City Council to wait 45 days, instead of the current three days, to hold hearings on proposed public safety legislation once it is announced. After those hearings, the Council would have to wait at least another 50 days before voting on the matter. State law currently requires the Council to wait seven days after a bill is finalized before voting on it, according to a Council spokesman.