REMARKS
Council Member Yusef Salaam's opening remarks on supporting young victims of human trafficking
0:07:46
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Council Member Yusef Salaam, chair of the committee on public safety, delivers opening remarks for a hearing on the city's efforts to support young victims of human trafficking. He emphasizes the city's responsibility to protect vulnerable children and expresses interest in examining the NYPD's role in combating human trafficking while ensuring victim protection.
- Salaam highlights the need for a balance between law enforcement and victim care
- He calls for prioritizing investigations that target traffickers while ensuring diversion from the criminal justice system for victims
- The council member expresses interest in exploring NYPD operations, resource allocation, and the impact of police practices on young trafficking victims
Yusef Salaam
0:07:46
Good morning.
0:07:47
Good afternoon.
0:07:48
I'm council member Youssef Salaam, chair of the committee on public safety.
0:07:53
I wanna thank council member Stevens and Lewis for their collaboration on this important hearing examining the city's efforts to provide support for young victims of human trafficking.
0:08:04
As discussed by chair Stevens, human trafficking and the exploitation of young people is deeply concerning.
0:08:11
The city has an ultimate responsibility to protect our most vulnerable children, and those subject to human trafficking deserve the utmost care.
0:08:22
I look forward to hearing the administration's discussion and the various approaches it utilizes to identify young victims of human trafficking and delivering the services and support often needed by this population.
0:08:35
As chair of public safety of the as chair of the public safety committee with oversight on the NYPD, I also recognize the ongoing role of law enforcement that law enforcement plays in addressing human trafficking and related criminal behaviors.
0:08:50
However, a delicate balance must be struck.
0:08:54
I believe that law enforcement should prioritize investigations that seek to identify human traffickers and conduct targeted enforcement that provide significant criminal penalties for those who profit off of their off of the exploitation of young people.
0:09:12
At the same time, I believe that it is important for the city to promote the safety and care of young victims of human of human trafficking and ensure diversion from the criminal justice systems where appropriate.
0:09:25
To this end, I am specifically interested in examining relevant NYPD operations and enforcement priorities to combat human trafficking.
0:09:35
We will explore how the NYPD is allocating resources to large scale investigations and how it ensures that young victims of human trafficking do not become entangled in the criminal justice system.
0:09:49
We will also explore the human traffic impact certain police practices have on young people throughout the city, particularly critically examining criminal enforcement efforts that might target the very victims of human trafficking that we seek to protect.
0:10:07
I look forward to hearing from the NYPD, the other city agencies present, community activists, and my fellow council members as we collectively work towards a safer city for all New Yorkers.
0:10:20
Thank you.