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Discussion on Community Affairs team resources and budget access
2:42:46
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Council Member Stevens raises concerns about the resources available to the NYPD's Community Affairs team and their ability to access funds for community engagement activities. NYPD officials provide information on the team's budget and staffing.
- The Community Affairs Bureau has seen an increase in staffing despite overall department headcount reductions
- The non-personnel budget for community affairs is reported to be over a million dollars
- Stevens highlights issues with officers' ability to access funds for community events due to bureaucratic red tape
- Commissioner Tisch commits to addressing the concern with Deputy Commissioner Mark Stewart and looking into ways to clear up the red tape
Althea Stevens
2:42:46
So my next question is even around the community affairs team.
2:42:49
I know often they are brought out when it is time to have tough conversations, but there for me and one of the things that even my colleague councilor Williams, we've been talking about a lot is just like the lack of resources that they have and also that is a lot of the policing that we want to see in these communities where you're building relationship and you're being out there and actually knowing the community.
2:43:10
I'm trying to get a better understanding of like what monies do they have access to actually be able to do some of the work and the outreach because they often are coming to us, asking us for resources and getting donations, and just trying to get a better understanding of what that process looks like for them to be able to have access to be able to do some of the community engagement ideas and projects that they have that they're trying to be doing they're trying to do and get done.
Jessica Tisch
2:43:32
Sure.
2:43:33
I would just say, Christine will talk about the dollars and cents, but the staffing of the Community Affairs Bureau under Eric Adams is the one bureau that in the department that despite the overall headcount reductions is actually significantly up in staff.
2:43:52
Christine, do you have the dollars?
Althea Stevens
2:43:54
So it's not just staff.
2:43:55
I'm talking about access to actually being able to do community events.
2:43:59
I'm talking about Yes.
Jessica Tisch
2:44:00
That's what Christine is going to answer for you.
Kristine Ryan
2:44:03
So within the NYPD's budget, the portion of community affairs budget that would go to non personnel costs is a little over a million dollars, and on top of that, the foundation does provide significant resources to support No.
Althea Stevens
2:44:16
I and and I think maybe you guys are not understanding the question.
2:44:19
So my question is more around, like, we know that this money, but apparently, they're still coming to us trying to get donations because it's easier for them to get donations from council members and donations from like nonprofits than being able to access the money that is allowed in their budget because there's a lot of red tape.
2:44:35
I'm trying to get a better understanding on how community affairs officers are able to access if they're doing an event to be able to access different things whether it's to get money for pizzas or get waters or whatever.
2:44:46
How are they able to get access because I am hearing that that has been a very difficult process which is why they have sought to get it other places.
Jessica Tisch
2:44:53
So that's the responsibility of the bureau leadership.
2:44:57
So I'll address your concern with deputy commissioner Mark Stewart who if they have budget in place should certainly be making sure that it is available at the local level to be used.
2:45:11
So I will look into the red tape.
2:45:12
One thing that I know that we can agree on is the importance of clearing up red tape.
Althea Stevens
2:45:18
Yeah.
2:45:18
And so that's why I'm bringing to your attention because I think this is definitely a place of partnership.
2:45:23
Would like to work with the department on figuring out how do we make sure that they have access to the things that they need access to, especially because they are the frontline in the community and they typically are the ones who have the best relationships in the communities.
2:45:34
And so in order for us to do that I think that it would really be helpful for us to make sure that if there is a budget they have access to it.
2:45:40
And I just wanted to make another comment because I know we've been talking a lot about recruitment.