Politics | At private NYPD gala, Mayor Adams vows to…

News Politics

At private NYPD gala, Mayor Adams vows to ‘fight’ against ‘socialist

organizations’ in jab at City Council

Mayor Eric Adams speaks during an in-person media availability at City Hall on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024, in Manhattan, New York. (Barry Williams for New York Daily
News)

By Chris Sommerfeldt | csommerfeldt@nydailynews.com | New York Daily News

PUBLISHED: January 12, 2024 at 1:55 p.m. | UPDATED: January 12, 2024 at 6:01 p.m.

Mayor Adams vowed at a private NYPD event Thursday night to fight “socialist organizations” he
claimed want New York City cops to do “paperwork” instead of policing.

The comment marked a thinly-veiled jab at legislation recently passed by the City Council that would
beef up transparency requirements around how NYPD officers document stops of civilians.

Adams opposes the bill — and hasn’t ruled out vetoing it — because he argues it would distract cops
from patrol work. However, Adams, a moderate Democrat, has not previously pointed fingers at
“socialists” in the context of the legislation.

He delivered the politically-tinged broadside during the Russian American Officers Association’s
annual gala in Elmhurst, Queens. The event was initially supposed to be open to journalists, but press
access got curtailed by City Hall with less than three hours’ notice.

Ina video from the gala posted on Instagram, Adams could be seen at a podium making the remarks,
which echoed some of his previous criticisms of the bill.

“Police officers should be doing police work and not paperwork, that’s what we should be doing,”
Adams, a retired NYPD captain, said in the clip, which only captured part of his speech. “I will be
damned, if I was willing to stand up against bullies as a cop, I’m a stand up against socialist
organizations as the mayor, and I’m going to fight back. So stand tall. This is the greatest profession
and the greatest police department on the globe.”

NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban was also at the gala, the video shows.

Asked Friday which socialist groups the mayor was referencing, Adams spokesman Charles Lutvak
said, “I’m sure you are able to look up who support that bill.”

The Instagram video was posted by Joseph Gannascoli, an actor best known for playing New Jersey
mobster Vito Spatafore on HBO series “ The Sopranos .”

Gannascoli told the Daily News on Friday he couldn’t recall whether Adams specified which socialist
groups he believes are to blame for the bill. He said that’s in part because he attended the event to
give Adams and Caban a bottle each of a vodka he works as a brand ambassador for.

“Ican hardly remember, tell you the truth. It was a rough night. My vodka, Russian NYPD, lots of na
zdorovie. Get my drift?” he said, using the Russian phrase for “cheers.”

Gannascoli said he didn’t see Adams drink vodka at the event. “Maybe he drank it in the car on the way
home. I hope he did,” he added.

Joe Gannascoli attends a Rocavaka Vodka meet and greet during the 2023 Bar & Restaurant Expo and World Tea Expo Welcome
Kickoff Party at AYU Dayclub at Resorts World Las Vegas on March 27, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty
Images for Nightclub & Bar Media Group)

The Council bill referenced by Adams at the gala, known as the “How Many Stops Act,” passed the
Council with overwhelming support last month.

Authored by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, the bill would require that NYPD officers use a
cellphone app to log basic information into a department database about every encounter they have
civilians that are investigative in nature. Under current law, officers only need to log info about so-
Level 3 stops, where there’s probable cause of a crime in progress.

Williams and other bill backers say it should take no more than 20 seconds for a cop to document
Level 1 and Level 2 stops, the first of which can be conducted without suspicion of a crime. By
requiring cops to document all encounters, How Many Stops supporters say officers will be less likely
to engage in racially-biased policing — a firewall they argue is critical at a time when the NYPD’s
federal monitor has reported that unconstitutional stops of Black and Brown New Yorkers remain
common.

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams speaks at a ‘How Many Stops Act’ rally outside of City Hall before a New York City Council
meeting at City Hall in Manhattan, New York on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023. (Shawn Inglima for New York Daily News)

But Adams says reporting on a single Level 1 or Level 2 stop would take an officer as much as four
minutes. That’s precious time taken away from policing, he argues.

He has until next Friday to decide whether to veto the legislation. If he does, Council Speaker
Adrienne Adams has vowed to override his veto.

Asked about the mayor’s gala remarks, Williams told The News on Friday it’s “the height of
irresponsibility” for him to “lie” about his bill before a group of NYPD officers.

“He sounds like a bully who’s not getting his way. It’s hard to watch,” Williams, a progressive Democrat,
said. “He thinks lies and fear-mongering are the best way to move forward. I hope he will stop.”

More in Politics

Defense Sec. Austin ordered Congress lurches toward partial Gov. Hochul, Chuck Schumer call SUBSCRIBER ONLY
strikes from hospital during government shutdown as for release of Hamas-held hostages Rep. Jamaal Bowman’s campaign
cancer care bipartisan spending deal teeters cash flow contradicts past
promises

2024 January 12

Tribune Publishing Company Info Subscriber Services

Chicago Tribune About Us Archives
Baltimore Sun Careers
The Morning Call Help Center
The Daily Press Manage Web Notifications
The Virginian Pilot Place an ad
Orlando Sentinel Media Kit
Sun-Sentinel Privacy Policy
Hartford Courant Site Map
Capital Gazette
Studio 1847

Subscriber Terms and Conditions Cookie Policy Cookie Preferences California Notice at Collection CA Notice of Financial Incentive Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
Copyright © 2024 New York Daily News