Prominent city council member Yousef Salam, one of the acquitted Central Park Five, called for changes to public safety laws in the wake of Monday's shocking Harlem shooting that injured a 7-year-old girl. .
The “senseless” possibly gang-related shooting in the Salaam neighborhood is just the latest act of gun violence to hit young people in Harlem, he said in a statement to the Post on Tuesday.
“Our office works diligently with the NYPD and various community organizations who are committed to pursuing law changes to better protect our communities and hold criminals accountable. “I am,” he said.
“We recognize that immediate action is critical and we are calling on the Mayor to implement policies that address the influx of violence and ensure perpetrators are held fully accountable for their actions. We are reaching out to other elected officials, including the chamber.”
Salaam, a Democrat who chairs the City Council Public Safety Committee, did not specify which laws would be changed, and his office did not immediately respond to a request for clarification.
But Salaam's call is notable given his background as one of five black and Latino youths convicted in the infamous 1989 Central Park jogger rape trial. It was something. In this case, they will serve time in prison until their convictions are overturned by the career criminals' confessions. attack.
After his victory in the Rebel primary last year, Salaam said he wanted to work with the NYPD to make Harlem's streets safer.
“Most people would think I'm pro-funding.” [the police]But the truth of the matter is, we need police,” Salaam, 50, told the Post after his stunning victory over Harlem's Democratic establishment.
Salaam defeated rival candidate Al Taylor, state Rep. Inez Dickens, and other heavyweights who supported her in the 9th Congressional District primary — what was described at the time as “overpolicing.” Instead, he emphasized that he wanted “smarter” police operations.
Since taking office, he has defended the New York Police Department's criticized “number of stops” law and accused him of driving around the city with out-of-state license plates and illegally tinted windows. has faced some backlash over controversial traffic stops that have come to light. .
Monday's shooting happened in broad daylight as Fatu Keita, 7, her 14-year-old sister, and her father finished eating pizza while running errands, the girl's mother told the Post.
Two teenage boys, 17-year-old and 19-year-old Daniel Idowu, are facing attempted murder charges after officials say they fired nine shots at the 18-year-old.
Keita was hit in the abdomen by a stray bullet and is recovering after successful surgery at Harlem Hospital, his family told the Post.
The suspects in the shootings are believed to be gang members, but investigators have not yet said which team they were with, and officials said their intended target was believed to be a member of the notorious Mack Baller gang. spoke.
Salaam's call for action against violence was echoed by Keita's mother, Fatoumata Keita, 51, who said Mayor Eric Adams needed to push for gun control laws.
“We can’t do anything,” she said.
—Additional reporting by Joe Marino
