Sunday morning former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg attended the church service at the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, NY. While speaking to the audience he apologized for the stop-and-frisk policy he introduced during his time in office.
According to the New York Daily News, he said, “I now see that we could and should have acted sooner, and acted faster, to cut the stops. I wish we had and I’m sorry that we didn’t but I can’t change history. However, today I want you to know that I realize back then that I was wrong and I’m sorry.”
His apology comes after he has already been taking the steps to enter the Democratic presidential primary. Nonetheless, Bill de Blasio, the current mayor of New York City was not here for his apology and said, “This is LONG overdue and the timing is transparent and cynical. With all due respect to my predecessor, we’ve spent six years undoing the damage he created with this bankrupt policy. We ended stop and frisk AND drove down crime. Actions speak louder than words.”
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This is LONG overdue and the timing is transparent and cynical.
With all due respect to my predecessor, we’ve spent six years undoing the damage he created with this bankrupt policy. We ended stop and frisk AND drove down crime.
Actions speak louder than words. https://t.co/DiyhLP4Irg
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) November 17, 2019
For those who are not familiar with the “Stop-and-Frisk” policy, the policy was practiced by the New York City police department where they would stop civilians and search them for contraband, often leading to them being temporarily detained for questioning. Minorities were usually the ones that were affected by this policy.
According to the New York Post, Patrick Lynch, the president of the Police Benevolent Association said, “Mayor Bloomberg could have saved himself this apology if he had just listened to the police officers on the street. We said in the early 2000s that the quota-driven emphasis on street stops was polluting the relationship between cops and our communities.”
He continued, “His administration’s misguided policy inspired an anti-police movement that has made cops the target of hatred and violence, and stripped away many of the tools we had used to keep New Yorkers safe.”
Roommates, what are your thoughts?
TSR STAFF: Jade Ashley @Jade_Ashley94
