MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES NEW BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE POLICY

More audio and visual footage to be released with new criteria

  Mayor de Blasio today announced new body camera footage release policy to promote transparency and accountability. All video and audio footage must be released within 30 days when: an officer discharges a firearm that hits or could hit someone; an officer discharges a taser in a way that results in death or substantial bodily harm; or an officer’s use of force results in death or great bodily harm. This new policy is effective immediately, and all footage will be publicly available online.

“I came into office with a promise to fundamentally change the way this city is policed - and that’s exactly what we’ve tried to do,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Historic wounds run deep and we know much work lies ahead, but we won’t give up.  This is another step in the right direction and we’re not stopping here.”

“This new policy is in line with the vigorous reform agenda the NYPD has been propelling for more than six years,” said Police Commissioner Dermot Shea. “All officers are now equipped with body-worn-cameras, which provide a record of encounters between our officers and the New Yorkers we serve.”

This new policy expands upon the NYPD’s previous policy, which allowed the Commissioner 30 days to decide to release footage in incidents where: an officer’s use of force resulted in death or serious physical injury, and releasing footage is in public interest. 

The new policy requires release in the following instances:

• Officer discharges firearm that hits or could hit someone

• Officer discharges taser in a way that results in death or substantial bodily harm

• Officer’s use of force results in death or great bodily harm

Civilians involved or family will have a chance to view the footage before release. Footage will be publicly available online. The de Blasio Administration made a historic effort to provide all patrol officers and detectives with body cameras. 24,000 cameras are currently deployed to officers, which is the largest deployment in the nation.

Why is Samelys Lopez Stapling Her Posters to Trees? Does Samelys Lopez Not Care About Our Environment?

  As you can see in the photo above, this Samelys Lopez poster and the others below are stapled to trees. Does Samelys Lopez not care about the trees that line our streets?  Does Samelys Lopez not care about our environment? We only hope that this careless act of stapling posters to trees is stopped by candidate Samelys Lopez, and we hope that no tree has been harmed by her doing this.

Bronx Man Charged With 2015 Murder Of Nestor Suazo

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Dermot Shea, the Police Commissioner of the City of New York (“NYPD”), and Peter C. Fitzhugh, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced the return today of an Indictment charging DERRICK RICHARDSON, a/k/a “J Rocc,” with the September 19, 2015, murder of Nestor Suazo, 25, in the vicinity of East Tremont Avenue and Clinton Avenue in the Bronx, New York. 

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “Nearly five years ago, Nestor Suazo’s life was senselessly taken.  As alleged in the Indictment, Derrick Richardson was one of those responsible for that terrible crime.  Now, thanks to the determination of our law enforcement partners at the NYPD and HSI, Richardson faces federal murder charges.”

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said:  “The ability of investigators to bring about justice for this young man and provide a sense of closure to his family is paramount.  The identification and arrest of the suspect in this case was a joint effort that would not have been possible without the collaboration between the NYPD and our law enforcement partners.  I thank the U.S. Attorney and the NYPD Detectives and HSI agents involved in this case.”

HSI Special Agent in Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh said:  “Derrick Richardson is charged with the horrible crime of murdering Nestor Suazo in the Bronx in 2015.  As alleged in the indictment, Richardson is a member of the Rollin' 30s Crip, a gang that committed and threatened to commit acts of violence in order to promote its interests.  HSI stands united with its law enforcement partners to bring closure to the families of those lost to gang violence by finding and arresting the alleged offenders and seeking justice for their criminal acts.”

As alleged in the Indictment returned today[1]: 

RICHARDSON was a member of a racketeering enterprise known as the Rollin’ 30s Crips.  In order to fund the enterprise, protect and expand its interests, and promote its standing, members and associates of the Rollin’ 30s committed, conspired, attempted, and threatened to commit acts of violence, including murder and robbery; they conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute narcotics; and they obtained, possessed, and used firearms, including by brandishing and discharging them.

In connection with his membership in the gang, on or about September 19, 2015, RICHARDSON shot and killed Nestor Suazo in the vicinity of East Tremont Avenue and Clinton Avenue in the Bronx, New York.

RICHARDSON, 27, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison, and murder through the use of a firearm, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison.  

The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for information purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD and HSI. 

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

No. 202.42: Continuing Temporary Suspension and Modification of Laws Relating to the Disaster Emergency

No. 202.42

E X E C U T I V E  O R D E R

Continuing Temporary Suspension and Modification of Laws

Relating to the Disaster Emergency

WHEREAS, on March 7, 2020, I issued Executive Order Number 202, declaring a State disaster emergency for the entire State of New York; and

WHEREAS, both travel-related cases and community contact transmission of COVID-19 have been documented in New York State and are expected to continue;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Section 29-a of Article 2-B of the Executive Law to issue any directive during a disaster emergency necessary to cope with the disaster, I hereby issue the following directives for the period from the date of this Executive Order through July 15, 2020:

• The directive contained in Executive Order 202.35, as extended and as amended by Executive Order 202.38, which amended the directive in Executive Order 202.10 that limited all non-essential gatherings to ten or fewer individuals, is hereby further modified to allow twenty-five (25) or fewer individuals, for any lawful purpose or reason, provided that the location of the gathering is in a region that has reached Phase 3 of the State’s reopening, and social distancing protocols and cleaning and disinfection protocols required by the Department of Health are adhered to.

G I V E N   under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State in the City of Albany this fifteenth day of June in the year two thousand twenty.

BY THE GOVERNOR         

Secretary to the Governor

Governor Cuomo Announces Gatherings of Up to 25 People Will Be Allowed in Phase Three of Reopening

Global Public Health Experts Have Cleared Western New York to Enter Phase Three Tomorrow

Capital Region Still on Track to Enter Phase Three Wednesday, June 17th

Announces Lowest Number of Hospitalizations and Deaths On Three-Day Average Since Pandemic Began

Only 1.10 Percent of Yesterday's COVID Tests were Positive

Confirms 620 Additional Coronavirus Cases in New York State - Bringing Statewide Total to 383,944; New Cases in 33 Counties

Governor Cuomo: "On the civil unrest, I said from day one, I stand with the protesters. The outrage was right, the outrage was justified. What we do in New York is we take the outrage and we seize the moment, right? Carpe momentum. It's about people wanting change. Well, New York will be the place that actually makes the change, and we've passed laws that have done just that."

Cuomo: "We are now entering Phase Three for some regions across the state. We're going to modify Phase Three given this new data, and we're going to allow gatherings up to 25 people in Phase Three, which is up from ten people. Again, because the numbers are good in most parts of the state. Western New York will enter phase three tomorrow and that's exciting. The Capital Region will be entering phase three on Wednesday. That's exciting. The rules and regulations of phase three are very clear. They're all set out. People should follow the guidelines because the guidelines have been working. They have been working. We have months of data now that says the guidelines make sense, keep following them because they are working. And everyone has a role to play in all of this as we're reopening."

Cuomo: "Our accomplishment over these past 106 days will go down in the history books. Just remember what we did here: when we started on the base-side of the mountain—we had the worst infection rate in the United States of America. Today we have the best infection rate in the United States of America. You want to talk about a turnaround? You want to talk about an accomplishment? You want to talk about people doing something they never did before? Yes. They built that bridge, the largest infrastructure project in the country. And New York scaled the highest mountain and went from the worst situation with this COVID virus to the best situation with this COVID virus. New Yorkers did it because we did it together."

  Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced gatherings of up to 25 people will be allowed in Phase Three of reopening, up from the limit of 10. Five regions have already entered Phase Three - Central New York, the Finger Lakes, the Mohawk Valley, the North Country, the Southern Tier. The Governor also announced global public health experts have cleared Western New York to enter Phase Three tomorrow, and the Capital Region is still on track to enter Phase Three on Wednesday, June 17th. Business guidance for Phase Three of the state's reopening plan is available here.

The Governor also announced the state has reached the lowest number of hospitalizations and deaths on the three-day average since the pandemic began. The number of total hospitalizations was down yesterday to 1,608 to lowest level since the pandemic began. Twenty-five people in New York passed away yesterday due to COVID-19, which is the lowest level on a three-day average since the pandemic began.

Statement from City Council on NYPD Proposed Budget Cuts

  “We believe that we can and should work to get to $1 billion in cuts to New York City’s police spending in the Fiscal 2021 budget, an unprecedented reduction that would not only limit the scope of the NYPD, but also show our commitment towards moving away from the failed policing policies of the past. 

“There is no doubt that this is an ambitious goal, but it is one that the time we are in calls for–both here in New York City and nationwide. 

“This is possible: We have identified savings that would cut over $1 billion dollars, including reducing uniform headcount through attrition, cutting overtime, shifting responsibilities away from the NYPD, finding efficiencies and savings in OTPS spending, and lowering associated fringe expenses. 

“As we do this, we must prioritize the most impacted communities and hear their demands and needs across all areas during this budget process. This should be a deliberative and good faith discussion of the best path forward for New York City. 

“Our budget must reflect the reality that policing needs fundamental reform. Over the last few weeks, we have seen an outpouring of New Yorkers demanding change from their leaders. It is our job to listen – and to act.  We will not let this moment pass, and we will fight for the budget they deserve.”

NYC UNITY PROJECT AND NYC COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS STATEMENT ON HISTORIC SUPREME COURT RULING BOSTOCK v. CLAYTON COUNTY, GEORGIA

  Today, the New York City Commission on Human Rights and the NYC Unity Project join lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) communities nationwide in celebrating an historic and long overdue victory. By declaring that discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation are forms of illegal sex discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Supreme Court of the United States affirmed a core truth that we in New York City have recognized for decades. 

With this landmark ruling, our country takes an extraordinary step forward in closing the gap in protections for millions of LGBTQ workers living in places where local anti-discrimination protections did not exist. The opinion also fundamentally calls into question new rules adopted days ago by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services erasing transgender people from the Affordable Care Act’s nondiscrimination provisions. 

This victory is not without heartbreak as two of the courageous plaintiffs – Donald Zarda and Aimee Stephens – are not here with us to be honored and celebrated. We owe them, the third plaintiff, Gerald Bostock, and their families a great debt of gratitude. For them, and for all LGBTQ communities, Congress must press forward and pass the Equality Act. The Equality Act would ensure protections against anti-LGBTQ discrimination in public accommodations and in federally funded programs. 

We celebrate this opinion as we remember Layleen Polanco and mourn the violent deaths of Dominique Fells, Riah Milton, Iyanna Dior, and Tony McDade—deaths that shed light on the epidemic of violence Black and Brown transgender people, particularly Black transgender women, face. Demonstrations nationwide continue to highlight abuses by law enforcement—the very same issues that queer and transgender people fought against over 50 years ago, launching today’s LGBTQ movement. Compelled by a shared commitment for dignity and justice for all, thousands gathered across the city in the past days to demand that “Black trans lives matter” be more than just a protest rallying call. We stand with them.

We must continue to be allies and advocates for those fighting anti-Black racism and police violence, knowing full well that these fights intersect with those for LGBTQ justice. As we honor the heroes of the LGBTQ movement during this Pride month and beyond, we remember that it was Black and Brown trans women, Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera among them, who stood steadfast against police violence. We remember that Black and Brown LGBTQ New Yorkers and community members nationwide continue to lead the fight for justice today. 

The path to full equality and justice is long and ongoing; the only way to victory is together. We commit to standing with our community members in the fights ahead and we celebrate with them today.

Council Member Ruben Diaz - FREE GROCERIES AND FACE MASK DISTRIBUTION