The How Many Stops Act Veto Override is a Victory for the Movement and New Yorkers
VICTORY: THE HOW MANY STOPS ACT IS LAW!
We did it! The New York City Council overrode the mayor’s veto of the How Many Stops Act on January 30th, 2024. The override was overwhelming: 42 votes for the people vrs 9 for the mayor and his campaign of lies.
In spite of a massive and well-resourced misinformation campaign waged by the Mayor Eric Adams, the NYPD, cop unions, and right-wing forces, thanks to citywide organizing, the Council stood firm in their commitment to New Yorkers' safety and police transparency and accountability, and defeated the mayor’s veto challenge.
This movement victory would not have been possible without the many New Yorkers who raised their voices and took action to fight for the #HowManyStopsAct to become law, including 28 family members whose loved ones were killed by NYPD, the 100+ organizations of the How Many Stops Act Coalition and people across the City. Our thanks goes out HMSA lead sponsors Public Advocate Jumaane Williams & Council Member Alexa Aviles (Intro 586) and Council Member Crystal Hudson, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams; and the many other allies and electeds who stood with New Yorkers who fought for this essential step towards police accountability and true community safety.
This win demonstrates that people power and community can create change. The How Many Stops Act will now officially become law!
History of the How Many Stops Act Campaign
How Many Stops Act (HMSA) consists of two common sense, good government bills (Intros 586 and 538) that will bring critical and urgent oversight and transparency to the NYPD’s most common police actions in our communities. HMSA will empower New Yorkers to understand how, where, when, why and key demographic information about who the NYPD is stopping on a daily basis. The data on level 1 and 2 stops and consent searches via this legislation is crucial for completing the picture of what policing really looks like in New York City and is an essential step towards police accountability and true community safety.
Thanks to over a year of citywide organizing led by those most impacted by the NYPD’s abusive practices, the City Council passed the How Many Stops Act at the end of 2023 with broad support. The mayor betrayed NYC’s Black and Latine communities, families who've lost loved ones to the NYPD and all New Yorkers by vetoing Intro 586 of the How Many Stops Act. Thanks to the tireless work of 100+ organizations, 28 family members of New Yorkers killed by the NYPD, the HMSA lead sponsors, the Black Latino Asian and Progressive Caucuses of the City Council and the Council Speaker, on Jan. 30, 2024, the City Council voted to override the mayor's veto, including an additional 7 votes from council members who previously abstained or voted nay on the original vote.