Used by New York City Police Chief Social media fools left-handed city councilors and other critics They will be “silent” under new laws promoted by Queenspol.
Democratic Rep. Nantasha Williams invoice It would require City Hall to create so-called “decency rules” for what the NYPD and other city officials can post on their social media accounts.
The bill would ban posts that are intended to “incite violence,” “threat,” or ascribe “negative traits or characteristics” to someone.
The proposed measure comes as New York City Police Department leaders push for what they perceive to be anti-cop laws, including the controversial “How Many Stops” law that swamped officers with excessive red tape. This is a direct response to Liberal MPs' repeated accusations that
Police have also come under fire for verbally attacking reporters and demonstrators, and for misleading judges in disparaging social media posts. The wrong jurist to leave a “predator” alone on the city streets.
“The need for this bill has become increasingly clear, most recently highlighted by the actions of NYPD Sergeant John Chell,” Williams wrote in an email to fellow City Council members three weeks ago seeking support. mentioned in.
“This legislation is a positive step to ensure that our social media platforms are used to inform and engage the public, not personal attacks or politically motivated actions.”
Some of Chell's biggest shots were: Queens City Councilwoman Tiffany Caban, a democratic socialist, may post claiming she “hates our city.” After she called the NYPD raid on anti-Israel protesters at Columbia University a “tremendous disgrace.”
The post spurred an ongoing investigation by the city's Bureau of Investigation into the NYPD's social media policies. This was a request from City Council President Adrian Adams. and the Legal Aid Society.
The bill provides several exceptions.
The bill would not apply to police officers who use fake accounts for “law enforcement purposes,” or to those who use official accounts for city council members or other New York City elected officials.
Since Williams introduced the bill on Sept. 26, seven other left-wing lawmakers have already co-sponsored it, including Brooklyn City Council members Shahana Hanif and Lincoln Ressler, who “defund the police.” Participating as a person.
But the bill has come under attack from conservative and moderate lawmakers who say it is a blatant attempt to censor police officers and other city employees.
“The far left is not satisfied with tying the hands of police officers,” said City Councilman Robert Holden (D-Queens). “Now they are trying to silence them too. When will this madness stop?”
Added City Councilwoman Joanne Arriola (R-Queens): “When a city council starts legislating what public institutions can and cannot say, that's not governance, it's censorship.”
“This isn't just wrong; it's un-American. Forcing government agencies to toe the party line and follow the script or face legal retribution is authoritarianism, plain and simple. It is contrary to everything the Constitution and the First Amendment stand for.”
Under the bill, the City Engineer's Office would create new rules unless Mayor Eric Adams, who is unrelated to the council president, chooses to have another city department do it.
The mayor's office said it was reviewing the bill and declined further comment.
The NYPD did not return messages, but Interim Police Chief Thomas Donlon has been an opinionated and social media-friendly subordinate since replacing his embattled predecessor Edward Caban last month. Measures are being taken to silence them.
Mr. Donlon instituted a “one voice” policy for NYPD messaging (his own voice) after Mr. Cavan resigned after being embroiled in an unrelated investigation into spreading federal influence.
