CRITICAL READ: @NYTimes Ed board *demolishes* plan to add 500 new cops as illogical, wasteful, racist, unnecessary, & only increasing violence & distrust not enhancing public safety. Some important, broader justice truths in here too: nyti.ms/38XNkCs
Proponents of plan: Violence! Crime!
Facts: “Subway crime remains at record-low levels. Serious crime is down more than 4% from last year. Felony assault complaints are down, as are grand larcenies. Evidence that a system used by millions every day is impressively safe.”
Facts: “Subway crime remains at record-low levels. Serious crime is down more than 4% from last year. Felony assault complaints are down, as are grand larcenies. Evidence that a system used by millions every day is impressively safe.”
Proponents of plan: Not enough cops!
Facts: “More than 2,500 New York City police officers now patrol the subways. 500 additional police officers will divert an estimated $250 million over four years in precious funds that should go toward improving service.”
Facts: “More than 2,500 New York City police officers now patrol the subways. 500 additional police officers will divert an estimated $250 million over four years in precious funds that should go toward improving service.”
Proponents of plan: Misdemeanors on the rise!
Facts: “Preliminary findings of an analysis by the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University’s law school found that their number has been roughly the same over the past seven years.”
Facts: “Preliminary findings of an analysis by the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University’s law school found that their number has been roughly the same over the past seven years.”
Proponents of plan: More cops will make us feel safer.
Facts: “Already, between October 2017 and June 2019, black and Hispanic people made up more than 90 percent of those arrested on charges of fare evasion.”
Who is “us”?
Facts: “Already, between October 2017 and June 2019, black and Hispanic people made up more than 90 percent of those arrested on charges of fare evasion.”
Who is “us”?
Proponents of plan: More cops will keep the peace.
Facts: “The crackdown on fare evasion has led to troubling interactions between the police & the citizens they serve. 4 officers arrested a woman selling churros. Aggressive policing tactics inside subway cars & stations.”
Facts: “The crackdown on fare evasion has led to troubling interactions between the police & the citizens they serve. 4 officers arrested a woman selling churros. Aggressive policing tactics inside subway cars & stations.”
Proponents: Well, cops’ll be held accountable if anything happens.
Facts: Because they will work for MTA, they “will work for a state-controlled authority that is less accountable to average New Yorkers. M.T.A. officers are not required to wear body cameras.”
Facts: Because they will work for MTA, they “will work for a state-controlled authority that is less accountable to average New Yorkers. M.T.A. officers are not required to wear body cameras.”
NY police officers are some of the least accountable officers in the country. Because of a law called Civil Rights Law 50-a, all disciplinary records are blocked & hidden from the public, defenders, accused, prosecutors and press.
So, in conclusion, what the @nytimes says:
“The hiring of these 500 new officers is not just a misuse of funds. It’s a blow to the fragile public trust that officials had finally earned in their promising efforts to turn around New York’s subway system.”
nytimes.com/2019/12/20/opi…
“The hiring of these 500 new officers is not just a misuse of funds. It’s a blow to the fragile public trust that officials had finally earned in their promising efforts to turn around New York’s subway system.”
nytimes.com/2019/12/20/opi…
