PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Priscilla Graham, Member of the Public
5:37:28
·
126 sec
Priscilla Graham, a long-time resident of New York City, expressed strong support for defunding the NYPD and called for Mayor Adams' resignation. She cited concerns about police misconduct, racial profiling, and the misuse of public funds.
- Graham argued that cutting the NYPD's budget is necessary to end practices of police violence and opacity.
- She criticized Mayor Adams for diverting resources to the NYPD instead of using them to uplift neighborhoods.
- Graham advocated for reinvesting the reclaimed NYPD budget into education, affordable housing, mental health services, and community programs.
Priscilla Graham
5:37:28
Hello.
5:37:29
Thank you for having me.
5:37:33
Members of the New York City Council.
5:37:36
My name is Priscilla Graham, and I've been a proud resident of New York City for almost 25 years.
5:37:42
During that time, I've raised my daughter who will graduate from Cooney at John Jay in May.
5:37:47
In addition to raising a child here in the public school system, I completed my undergraduate education in New York City at the new school, have worked for many nonprofits and volunteered with various activist manifestations all of which have given me an excellent education on the needs of our communities and the shortcomings of city government and meeting said needs.
5:38:08
I am here to express my strong support for defunding the NYPD.
5:38:13
My request today is not only because of the most recent mass shooting in the subway for too long, black and brown communities have been over police, subject to racial profiling, and in too many cases, have lost loved ones to police violence.
5:38:27
These practices must end immediately.
5:38:30
The only way to end the way the city agency acts with impunity, violence, and opacity, is to drastically cut their budget.
5:38:38
Beyond the NYPD's misconduct, mayor Adam scandals cannot be ignored.
5:38:43
As the most recent architect of funneling public funds into the NYPD, mayor Adams has betrayed the trust of the people of New York City.
5:38:51
He has diverted critical resources that should have been used to uplift our neighborhoods resources that instead had been deployed to brutalize our communities.
5:39:00
This misuse of public funds is unforgivable breach of leadership, and I call for his resignation.
5:39:06
We need city leaders who prioritize public well-being, not those who perpetuate harm.
5:39:13
By reclaiming the NYPD's budget, we can invest in essential resources such as education, affordable housing, mental health services, and programs that truly address the needs of our neighborhoods.
5:39:25
It is time we end the cycle of violence and start building a safer, healthier, and more equitable city for all New Yorkers.
5:39:33
Thank you for your time and consideration.
