REMARKS
Council Member Mercedes Narcisse introduces Intro 346
0:12:29
·
3 min
Council Member Mercedes Narcisse opens the discussion on decriminalizing jaywalking in New York City, highlighting the disproportionate impact of current jaywalking laws on communities of color.
- She emphasizes the need for legislative reform through entry number 346 to decriminalize jaywalking while ensuring pedestrian safety.
- Narcisse presents statistics showing biased enforcement of jaywalking laws against Black and Hispanic New Yorkers.
- She argues for removing criminal penalties for jaywalking to promote fairness, equity, and better allocation of public safety resources.
- Narcisse urges colleagues to support the bill, stating it will make the city more equitable.
Mercedes Narcisse
0:12:29
Alright.
0:12:31
Thank you.
0:12:32
Thank you, chair, and my colleagues.
0:12:34
Urged you to support this entry number 346, a bill designed to reform our approach to pedestrian crossing and decriminalize jet walking in New York City.
0:12:48
Our current jet walking laws disproportionally impact communities of color.
0:12:55
In just the 1st 3 months of this year, 96.5%, of jail walking tickets were issued to Black and Hispanic New Yorkers.
0:13:07
This is very clear indication of systemic bias and how these laws are enforced.
0:13:15
Insured number 346-466 to correct this imbalance by allowing pedestrians to cross at any point while maintaining their safety.
0:13:27
You heard it.
0:13:28
A lot of folks that get hit by cars is on the crossing line itself.
0:13:35
And you heard my colleague's bill just spoke about.
0:13:38
This legislation I'm talking now, 346 will remove penalties associated with crossing outside of designated areas and provide clearer guidelines for pedestrian signals, aligning our laws with the reality of our city's dynamic streets.
0:13:56
The bill is about fairness.
0:13:58
Equity, and public safety.
0:14:01
It ensures that all New Yorkers can move freely and safely without fear of unjust penalties.
0:14:09
I have never heard a New Yorker exclaimed being happy, said I am so glad they cut that j walker.
0:14:17
Never.
0:14:17
By removing the criminal penalty associated with the j walker, we can redirect resources to more pressing public safety concerns.
0:14:28
And 1 of the thing I wanna quote for you from New York Times, February 8 1998.
0:14:37
There was a police officer and 1 of the quote that I took out of this, this is just taking hard earned money from people who cannot afford it.
0:14:47
So when he was talking about you walking to go out there and give tickets to those folks, and he knew exactly where he was gonna give those tickets.
0:14:57
It's not me setting.
0:14:58
You can look at New York Times, February 8 1998.
0:15:02
So to bring it back, I am supportive of all my police officers and NYPD that doing the right thing, but we have to understand these folks that take it out of the rim.
0:15:12
And those are the things that we have to create structure, and that's the reason of this bill.
0:15:16
Our urge all to support this entry or my colleagues number 346 and join us in making our city a more trust an equitable place for everyone, not some.
0:15:29
So thank you chair for that opportunity.