Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul announced a program that would entrench NYPD in homeless outreach on NYC subways, defying the demands of New Yorkers to reduce the NYPD’s footprint on our subways and in social service roles.
Below is a statement from Sala Cyril, (she/her) Spokesperson for Communities United for Police Reform on Mayor Adams’ plan to increase NYPD patrols in the subway:
“Sending more NYPD officers into our subway systems will not create safety but it will increase interactions between police and homeless communities, which we know leads to unnecessary and harmful criminalization of New Yorkers. NYPD officers have routinely brutalized and harassed homeless New Yorkers and other New Yorkers in our subway system, forced homeless New Yorkers off the subways and even forcibly removed a subway passenger who asked officers to wear masks to keep all riders safe from the COVID-19,” said Sala Cyril (she/her), spokesperson for Communities United for Police Reform. “While Mayor Adams claims that NYPD officers will not intervene unless any crimes are occurring, the presence of police officers alone stands to escalate situations to the point of violent crisis.
“Mayor Eric Adams’ plan to entrench the NYPD into homeless outreach on our subways and create an omnipresent police force in our neighborhoods and on our subways are not solutions to create safe, thriving communities and New Yorkers would be better served by health, social service and other community-based outreach professionals without the partnership of police. We need real, systemic solutions and resources for long-term investments in housing, infrastructure, jobs, health, social services, and education to address the urgent needs that have been exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic; not more policing.”
About Communities United for Police Reform
Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) is an unprecedented campaign to end discriminatory and abusive policing practices in New York, and to build a lasting movement that promotes public safety and reduces reliance on policing. CPR runs coalitions of over 200 local, statewide and national organizations, bringing together a movement of community members, lawyers, researchers and activists to work for change. The partners in this campaign come from all 5 boroughs, from all walks of life and represent many of those most unfairly targeted by the NYPD.