Michael Bloomberg’s epic quest to stave off any limits to the NYPD’s power continues. Yesterday, the mayor sued City Council over a recently-passed law that will make it easier for New Yorkers to file a lawsuit against the police department if they feel they were profiled or discriminated against. The bill is one half of the Community Safety Act, which City Council passed last week over the mayor’s veto.
Just last week, Bloomberg attempted to block another bit of impending oversight for the department, requesting to delay the effects of a federal court decision that ruled the NYPD’s use of stop-and-frisk unconstitutional.
The two leading democratic mayoral candidates both defended the Community Safety Act and took the opportunity to distance themselves from Bloomberg. “Mayor Bloomberg can sue all he wants, but at the end of the day, we will successfully beat back this ill-advised litigation and ensure the prerogative of the City Council to reform stop-and-frisk,” said Council Speaker Christine Quinn.
“I will withdraw this lawsuit and finally bring this stop-and-frisk era to an end [if elected mayor],” said Public Advocate and mayoral frontrunner Bill de Blasio.
