CPR calls for 50% cut to NYPD’s press and communications budget, amongst other budget demands
Today, marked the New York City Council FY25 Preliminary Budget Hearing on Public Safety. As part of their campaign for budget justice, Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) members and partners offered testimony calling for specific cuts to the NYPD budget to improve the safety and health of all New Yorkers. Those testifying in-person or in writing included: Divad Durant and Merope Peponides from the Justice Committee, Obi Afriye from Legal Defense Fund, Isabelle Leyva from New York Civil Liberties Union, and CPR’s Program Director Ileana Mendez-Peñate.
In response to Governor Hochul’s subway safety plan, Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) issued the following statement from CPR spokesperson Ileana Méndez-Peñate (she/her), Program Director of Communities United for Police Reform.
Today, the New York City Council voted to override Mayor Eric Adams’ veto of Intro 586 of the How Many Stops Act (HMSA) with a supermajority of votes. The passage of the How Many Stops Act will bring urgent and necessary transparency about formerly unreported categories of stops - referred to as level 1 and 2 by the NYPD - which constitute the vast majority of the NYPD’s formal “investigative encounters” with civilians.
“This is a historic win for our movement and New Yorkers, especially against the backdrop of a massive misinformation campaign waged by the mayor and NYPD," said Loyda Colón (they/them), spokesperson for Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) and Executive Director of the Justice Committee. "We applaud the City Council for enacting the How Many Stops Act, in spite of the mayor and NYPD's non-stop lies, and thank council members for following the leadership of New Yorkers who are directly impacted by the NYPD's racist and abusive practices. The How Many Stops law will give us a more complete picture of the NYPD's racial profiling and abusive police actions and is an essential step towards true community safety. Council members who voted to enact the legislation over the mayor's veto should be commended for putting the needs of their constituents first, instead of bowing to the illegitimate power and baseless fear-mongering of the NYPD."
Today, Communities United for Police Reform (CPR), which coordinates the broader How Many Stops Act Coalition, delivered a letter to New York City Council Members urging them to consider Mayor Eric Adams’ request that they participate in “NYPD ride-alongs” a tactic in his dangerous misinformation campaign against the How Many Stops Act (HMSA). The letter also calls on the City Council to override the mayor’s veto of HMSA.
In response to Mayor Eric Adams’ veto of Intro 586 of the How Many Stops Act (HMSA), Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) issued the following statement from CPR spokesperson Sala Cyril, an organizer with the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, and Iris Baez, mother of Anthony Baez (killed by the NYPD in 1994):
Today, nearly one month since the City Council passed the How Many Stops Act (HMSA) with a veto-proof majority vote, families of New Yorkers killed by the NYPD, community groups, advocates, and bill lead sponsors Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Councilmember Alexa Aviles along with Councilmember Chi Ossé rallied together to demand Mayor Adams sign HMSA into law. HMSA is common sense good government legislation that will bring critical transparency to the NYPD’s most common police actions in our communities. It is also endorsed by both the Black Latino Asian Caucus and the Progressive Caucus, 100+ organizations across the city, and 28 family members of New Yorkers killed by the NYPD.
Today, in response to Mayor Adams’ release of his FY25 preliminary budget, Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) issued the following statement from Loyda Colon, CPR spokesperson and Executive Director of the Justice Committee (they/them).
The Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) found that police misconduct cases jumped 51% in 2023 to their highest level since 2012. In 2023, 5,604 complaints were filed with the CCRB compared to 3,700 in 2022. Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) issued the following statement from CPR spokesperson Jose Lopez, Co-Director of Make the Road NY.
In light of Mayor Adams’ announcement that funding will be restored to the NYPD to add another police academy class of 600 new recruits, despite budget cuts impacting nearly every other city agency, Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) issued the following statement from CPR spokesperson Divad Durant, of the Justice Committee.
Today, 18 family members of New Yorkers killed by the NYPD sent a letter to Mayor Adams urging him to sign the recently passed How Many Stops Act (HMSA). The City Council passed this foundational police transparency legislation on Wednesday with a veto-proof majority.