REMARKS
Council Member Carlina Rivera Explains Her Vote to Override the Mayor's Vetoes
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146 sec
Council Member Carlina Rivera takes the floor to articulate her endorsement of the veto override, expressing her gratitude towards Speaker Adams and Public Advocate Williams for their commitment to the public safety bills.
Rivera commends her colleagues for their contributions and anecdotes that enriched the discourse. She also extends her appreciation to the multitude of advocacy groups, such as Communities United for Police Reform, Jails Action Coalition, Freedom Agenda, and Hold Solitary, highlighting their efforts and stories that have influenced the council's decision-making.
Speaker 16
1:37:39
Rivera.
Speaker 1
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Permission to explain my vote.
1:37:43
Permission, Vincent.
Speaker 39
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Very proud to be a member of this body today.
1:37:49
I'd like to commend speaker Adams for her steadfast commitment for defending the the pass of these historic and important public safety bills, I gotta thank public advocate Williams.
1:37:58
Of course, my colleagues for their clarifying points and personal stories.
1:38:04
And, of course, all the groups communities united for police reform jail's action, coalition, freedom agenda, hold solitary, and there are many, many others who came here.
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When put wore their heart on their sleeve and showed real harrowing stories of what they face.
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And I just wanna highlight that this council values our partners in the NYPD and in correction and understand the role they play in our streets and institutions.
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However, today, we're confronting the reality.
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That our over reliance on policing and incarceration to keep communities safe is counterproductive.
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And though comments today, they've been both to empathized and antagonized.
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This council as a body has approached this exercise now twice.
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With facts and with a coalition of advocates, experts, and impacted people in the room at all times.
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This council takes our holistic approach to these issues very thoughtfully.
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We've heightened investments in community based solutions to ensure true public safety.
1:39:04
Over my time here and so acutely seen as chair of criminal justice the past 2 years, it's clear We have to couple funding for evidence based programming with legislative measures to comprehensively implement reform.
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That's our duty and that is our obligation.
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So while these vetoes are not surprising amidst a misinformation campaign with shocking is how we've heard from so many very few facts to make their point.
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The New York Times reported that the NYPD's anti crime units are still stopping frisking and searching too many people on lawfully, almost all of them, people of color.
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A quarter of those stops found unconstitutional by a federal monitor.
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And again, because it bears repeating almost all people, Black and Latino.
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And with solitary, I'll just say it's archaic.
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It's a practice that should no longer exist, at least through recidivism and even death.
1:40:01
It's time to build a better safer, a more equitable city, and I proudly bowdai.