PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by David Tobias, Criminal Defense Attorney at Legal Aid Society
4:51:30
·
134 sec
David Tobias, a criminal defense attorney at the Legal Aid Society, urged the council to vote against Intro 606. He argued that the bill would disproportionately affect people of color and expand police power to stop and question cyclists unnecessarily.
- Tobias emphasized that infrastructure changes, not Intro 606, would be more effective in preventing harm from e-bikes and scooters.
- He highlighted concerns about racial disparities in policing and the potential for increased harassment of cyclists, particularly immigrant workers.
- Tobias warned of devastating collateral consequences if Intro 606 were to pass, effectively legalizing and encouraging stop-and-frisk practices for cyclists.
David Tobias
4:51:30
Good evening.
4:51:31
My name is David Tobias.
4:51:33
I'm a criminal defense attorney at the Legal Aid Society, and I'm a resident of Woodside.
4:51:39
I'm here today on behalf of myself and the Legal Aid Society to urge you to vote no on intro 606.
4:51:47
Our howards go out to all the community members who have suffered from e bikes, scooters, and mopeds.
4:51:52
However, intro 606 would not stop those harms.
4:51:57
Infrastructure changes will.
4:52:00
This bill is an overreach that would have a disparately negative impact on New Yorkers of color as it expands the power of the New York Police Department to stop, frisk, and question New York City cyclists, the majority of whom, according to the reporting by DOT, are people of color.
4:52:18
In my work at the Legal Aid Society, my colleagues and I see the continued disgraceful racial disparity in who the police stop on our streets and who prosecutors send into our courtrooms charged with crimes.
4:52:32
We also know from the September NYPD monitor report, the Yates report, that the officers who stopped New Yorkers without legal cause are rarely disciplined, demonstrating the culture of impunity that continues to exist unchecked within NYPD and would contribute to this legislation's invitation for police to harass New Yorkers with no consequences.
4:52:59
The same council that ended the policing of jaywalking must now not now embrace this legislation that, if enacted, will give NYPD yet one more reason to stop people on bikes, Many of whom are working people from immigrant backgrounds who may be more vulnerable to the collateral consequences of criminal charges.
4:53:21
Intro 606 would bring devastating collateral consequences to everyday life in New York by essentially legalizing and encouraging NYPD to stop, frisk, and question people on bikes, massively expanding police
Ydanis Rodriguez
4:53:36
power.
4:53:37
Thank you.
David Tobias
4:53:37
What yes.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
4:53:38
Thank you.
4:53:38
If you could submit the rest in, in written form.
4:53:42
Thank you.
David Tobias
4:53:42
Absolutely.
4:53:42
Thank you, everyone.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
4:53:43
I just ask everyone, please adhere to the 2 minutes.
