Good morning everyone and welcome to today's New York City Council hearing for the Committee on Public Safety.

If you would like to testify, you must fill out a witness slip with one of the sergeant-at-arms, even if you signed up already online.

At this time, please silence all electronic devices and no one may approach a day as at any time.

Chairs, we are ready to begin.

Thank you.

Good morning, everyone.

I'm Councilmember Osl Felice, Chair of the Committee on Public Safety.

Uh before I provide my opening statement, I'll pass it on to our speaker, Julie Bennon, for her opening statement.

Thank you so much, Chair, and I want to welcome everyone to the Public Safety Committee hearing today.

I'm Julie Menon, Speaker of the New York City Council.

It's wonderful to see everyone here today.

I want to first of all begin by thanking our chair of the Public Safety Committee, Councilmember Feliz for uh convening this important hearing.

Today we're hearing seven bills, which Chair Feliz will shortly outline.

I wanted to speak specifically about one of the bills, pre-considered introduction number 2026-2052, sponsored by Councilmember Ankanesyan in relation to a plan regarding security perimeters adjacent to educational facilities.

As many of you know, the council heard a different bill, introduction 175 related to this issue back in February.

The council received overwhelming feedback in support of that bill from the public, both at the hearing and in hundreds of meetings and correspondences after the hearing.

The council then passed the bill with a strong majority of council members in support.

With that said, in the time since February, the council has taken dozens of meetings and received feedback from hundreds of New Yorkers.

We've introduced a new bill that we are hearing today, which reflects extremely helpful feedback we received and which we believe strengthens the legislation.

The process we have undertaken demonstrates the council's commitment to a democratic and deliberative process that is rooted in openness, honesty, and the importance of meeting the needs and wants of everyday New Yorkers.

This bill recognizes two very simple truths, neither of which should be remotely controversial.

Our children deserve to be safe in school, and freedom of speech is sacrosanct in a democratic society.

This bill holds both of these truths at the same time by requiring transparency from NYPD.

This bill protects students by allowing them to breathe easily and focus on learning, knowing that they will be safe entering and exiting their school buildings.

And this bill protects freedom of speech by providing information to those wishing to express their views peacefully about how, when, why, and where the NYPD utilizes security perimeters.

Transparency leads to more safety for everyone, and it also leads to stronger oversight when plans are not followed, when situations end up differently than expected, or when violence occurs.

This is not controversial.

Transparency is good for everyone, period.

I'd also like to provide some examples to remind us, just as I did in February, of why we are here today and what we are responding to, because unfortunately the need for this legislation has not decreased since February.

In May 2026, there was an out-of-control situation outside Parkie synagogue.

Many know about this.

What many do not know is that this situation outside the synagogue was also adjacent to a preschool that was forced to close as a result of the gathering.

In May 2026, swastikas were found at a Queen's playground right next to a daycare and synagogue.

In January 2026, swastikas were also found at a Brooklyn playground and specifically 73 swastikas.

In March 2024, swastikas were drawn drawn on desks and bulletin boards at Origins High School.

In May 2024, anti-Semitic graffiti was found at PS 197 in Brooklyn.

In November 2023, shortly after the horrific October 7th attacks, an unruly gathering at Hillcrest High School over a teacher's support for Israel led to this teacher hiding in a classroom until the group disbanded.

And we also heard at our hearing in February about a number of unprovoked incidents that occur on a near daily basis that go unreported, where students must endure hurtful, intimidating encounters with individuals on their way into and out of schools.

Schools are supposed to be safe places.

That is why this legislation is important.

I also want to repeat what I closed with back in February because it bears repeating.

New York is the most diverse city in the country, and that is a source of incredible pride.

We must maintain that.

This pride comes from our confidence to showcase our identity and our diverse opinions.

Hate tries to harm that confidence, and we will not be a city that tolerates any type of hate.

Hate of all kinds is unsuited to our city and incompatible with our values.

And we are doing everything we can to move towards the New York without hate.

With the voices of hate are loud, we must be louder as New Yorkers, as friends, as human beings, and as public officials, our solutions must be robust and our actions must be effective.

I now want to turn it back over to Chair Feliz.

Thank you.

Thank you, Speaker.

Good morning, everyone again.

I'm Councilmember Osult Felice.

I want to welcome members of the police department, including Michael Gerber, the Deputy Commissioner of Legal Matters, and also Alufon Melola Obey, Chief of Transportation.

Today the committee will hear several bills addressing many topics related to public safety, transparency, accountability, ghost cars, school safety, police recruitment, and confirmed shots fired incidents.

The committee will hear intro 459, sponsored by Councilmember Vernikov, which would require the creation of a centralized public database and notification system for towed vehicles.

This legislation seeks to create a single publicly accessible source of information for vehicles towed by the NYPD, licensed private toll operators, sheriffs, marshals, and other entities.

The goal ensuring New Yorkers know when their car has been towed and ensuring they have information on where they can find it.

The committee will also hear intro 552, sponsored by myself, which will require the NYPD to maintain sufficient toll pound capacity to meet its enforcement needs, and provide annual reporting on toll pound uh capacity and usage.

Over the past several years, concerns have been raised regarding the city's ability to tell vehicles, including and especially ghost cars.