The NYPD is now required to formally report to the City Council on measures taken to prevent protesters from disturbing individuals near K-12 schools. However, this mandate does not extend to universities, where some of the most extreme anti-Israel demonstrations are occurring.
On Tuesday night, the City Council passed a bill that stipulates this requirement. This action followed Mayor Zoran Mamdani’s veto of an earlier bill aimed at establishing buffer zones around educational institutions, which included universities.
The mayor expressed concerns that such a bill would curtail freedom of speech.
Proponents of the new legislation celebrated its passage, noting that it represents a significant step toward protecting the public. Yet, some critics argued that while it’s a step in the right direction, it still falls short of addressing the broader issues at hand.
A city council official acknowledged that, “There have not been many protests near kindergarten through high school schools.” Nonetheless, he emphasized the importance of conveying a message to deter protesters from threatening students and faculty.
The City Council’s amendment, introduced by Democratic Rep. Elsie Encarnacion of East Harlem, would also pertain to childcare centers, but not to libraries or teaching hospitals.
The newly enacted law compels Police Chief Jessica Tisch to provide a “transparency report” to both the mayor and City Council President Julie Menin. This report will detail the NYPD’s policy concerning “safety perimeters” around designated educational facilities.
It outlines when safety buffer zones are to be implemented and how to maintain the balance so that students’ rights to free speech, assembly, and protest, including strikes, are not hindered, while still allowing for emergency access or evacuation.
According to Menin, “This law protects our sacred constitutional rights while ensuring children and families can safely attend school without fear or intimidation.”
“Every child in this city deserves the right to go to school without facing harassment or intimidation,” asserted City Councilman Eric Dinowitz (D-Bronx), who co-sponsored the bill. “Be it a preschool or a high school, arriving and departing from school should not involve being accosted or verbally attacked,” he remarked, adding that the bill establishes a clear public plan for student safety without infringing on the rights of New Yorkers to protest.
Mark Trager, CEO of the New York Jewish Community Relations Council, labeled the legislation a “huge victory.” He reflected, “Our tradition teaches that the measure of a society is how it protects its children, and this legislation answers that call.” He mentioned a particularly concerning incident involving a childcare program in Queens that has been a target of anti-Semitic hate crimes, underscoring the need for proactive measures to ensure safety.
However, some officials pointed out that the bill is more “symbolic” since universities, which have seen some of the most chaotic protests, are not included in these regulations.
Additionally, the City Council approved another law enabling the NYPD to create buffer zones around synagogues and other religious sites.
This move was accompanied by state legislation signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, establishing a 50-foot buffer zone around places of worship to ward off harassment of worshipers during protests. New penalties were introduced for “criminal interference” with access to these places, classifying it as a Class B misdemeanor, which could lead to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $500.
Mamdani warned that such measures could impact a wide range of protests, from university gatherings to demonstrations for social justice causes.
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