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Council Member Stevens expresses concerns about gang database and community relations

2:39:21

·

113 sec

Council Member Althea Stevens addresses concerns about the gang database and its negative impact on community relations with the NYPD. She emphasizes that she is not an enemy of the police but is trying to improve the relationship between law enforcement and her community.

Stevens mentions receiving death threats and negative articles written about her due to her stance on the database
She highlights her efforts to increase police presence in her district while also addressing the database's problems
Stevens stresses the importance of collaboration and understanding between the community and law enforcement

Althea Stevens

2:39:21

a long day.

2:39:22

I'll I'll make it as quickly as I can, but I actually wasn't going to bring up the database.

2:39:28

I was actually because I had real questions, but I just wanna go on record for saying that it's interesting that I that it's so much pushback against it, and I think that when we talk about collaboration, collaboration meaning listening from both sides.

2:39:42

Since we've had this hearing, I've had deaf threats.

2:39:44

I've had articles written about me and trying to make it seem like I'm trying to do something other than say that this tool is not working and it is hurting the black community, and it's also hurting the relationship with NYPD and communities like mine that I live in and I've been in.

2:40:00

And so this conversation as if I'm trying to do anything other than the right thing is very problematic for me because I'm not here to be your enemy.

2:40:08

I'm the person who actually have been fighting for the last three years to get more cops in the 44 because they're struggling with actually getting to the quality of life things because we have high shooting rates.

2:40:18

That's what my district looks like.

2:40:21

I've sat there and I've seen since I was 16 year old have lost friends to gun violence.

2:40:26

So I take offense that people are not trying to make it seem like I am your enemy.

2:40:31

I'm not, and it's unacceptable.

2:40:33

So I was not bringing it up, and and it's saying that it saves lives, but it's also what is the cost that you're willing to have this database.

2:40:40

It is breaking a relationship with my community.

2:40:43

They're not gonna listen, and so maybe stop trying to make it seem like we're your enemy and understand that we're in this together, and that's what community policing is about.

2:40:53

So you might have an idea of what it's working, I'm telling you it's not, because what is the cost?

2:40:59

And that's what we need to be evaluated and that's where the conversation should be and that's why I'm offended.

2:41:05

I wanna do right by my community and my people that's why I was elected and no one is ever gonna shut me up around that.

2:41:12

But I'm gonna go here.

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Inquiry and discussion about the 'Precision Block' program