A Message From Council Member Jumaane D. Williams

On Friday, Governor Patterson signed into law modifications to the stop and frisk database prohibiting the NYPD from keeping personal information of those stopped and questioned by the police but not arrested or given a summons. I am pleased that we are starting dialogues about these injustices. This law is the first step towards addressing the myriad of problems with the stop and frisk policy, but at the same time more must be done. Stop and frisk should not be an excuse for innocent residents of our city to be unconstitutionally targeted, looked at and lumped in with criminals simply because of where they live or their skin color.