After weeks of protests calling for an end to police brutality, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Jun. 7 a series of new reforms to the New York City Police Department to strengthen trust between New Yorkers and officers.

 

The City will shift funding from the NYPD to youth and social services for communities of color, move vendor enforcement out of the NYPD, and establish a community ambassadors program within the department. The Mayor also announced his support for a new 50-A reform bill introduced in Albany.

 

The 50-A reform bill refers to the reform of a section of the New York Civil Rights Law that designates the personnel records of police officers, firefighters and corrections officers as confidential and not subject to inspection or review without the officer’s permission.

 

The Mayor has also lifted the citywide curfew effective immediately.

 

“While we have taken many steps to reform policing in this city, there is clearly more work to do to strengthen trust between officers and the New Yorkers they serve,” said de Blasio. “These will be the first of many steps my Administration will take over the next 18 months to rebuild a fairer City that profoundly addresses injustice and disparity.”

 

In a press release, the de Blasio administration wrote that it had made unprecedented change to how the city is policed, and that this work would be deepened with the following reforms:

 

• Shift Funding from NYPD to Youth and Social Services:  The City will find significant savings in the NYPD budget. This funding will go towards youth development and social services for communities of color. The amount will be finalized with the City Council during the budget process.

 

• 50-A Reform: The Mayor announced that he supports the State Legislature’s efforts to take away the provisions in 50-A that prevent transparency while still protecting the personal information of police officers. The Mayor also commended the Legislature for taking this step to ensure more accountability in the Department’s disciplinary system and give the public confidence.

 

• Move Vendor Enforcement Out of NYPD: The City will shift enforcement for street vending out of NYPD so our officers can focus on the real drivers of crime instead of administrative infractions. This will further the Administration’s de-escalation agenda by reducing interactions between uniform officers and New Yorkers, particularly immigrant communities and communities of color.

 

• Real Community Ambassadors within NYPD: The City will bring community voices into senior levels of the NYPD by hiring community ambassadors. These ambassadors will reflect the diversity of the five boroughs and serve as liaisons between officers and New Yorkers. This new initiative will provide a venue to address complaints and concerns, and ensure NYPD leadership hears New Yorkers.

 

The Mayor announced last week that Corporation Counsel Jim Johnson and DOI Commissioner Margaret Garnett would be conducting an independent review into the protests and the NYPD’s response. The goal is to ensure accountability for both officers and protestors who acted inappropriately during these protests, and help deepen trust between community and police.