Mayor Bloomberg has just had it up to here with you bullies who are constantly attacking the NYPD over stop-and-frisk. Yesterday, the mayor gave a big, blustery speech at police headquarters to let the media, mayoral candidates, and plaintiffs in lawsuits against the department past and present that this aggression would not stand.
He also invoked the spirits of two tragic attacks against our country, just to make sure New Yorkers understand just how dire the situation is. “Stop playing politics with public safety. Look at what’s happened in Boston. Remember what happened here on 9/11. Remember all of those who have been killed by gun violence and the families they left behind,” he said. “We owe it to all of them to give our officers all the tools they need to protect innocent lives, or people will needlessly die, and we’ll all be responsible.”
Bloomberg also trotted out the old idea that stop-and-frisk effectively curtails violence in New York, despite compelling evidence that it doesn’t, calling the practice a “vitally important” reason why NYC’s crime rate is lower than those of other American cities.
Critics of Bloomberg’s speech included City Councilman Brad Lander, an opponent of stop-and-frisk. “He may be fighting a culture war,” Lander said. “We’re trying to pass legislation to address real problems.”
(Photo: World Bank Photo Collection/Flickr)
