Presented by

Watchdog groups are growing increasingly concerned by pedestrian stop data from the New York Police Department.

Earlier this week, a federal monitor released a report accusing a controversial unit within the department of engaging in unlawful stop-and-frisk tactics. The anti-crime unit was disbanded under former Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2020, but revived by Mayor Eric Adams when he took office.

And a broader set of data, recently obtained by the New York Civil Liberties Union and provided to POLITICO, shows the NYPD as a whole is stopping more New Yorkers than in years past — most of them Black and brown — and turning up fewer results.

During the first quarter of 2023, police stopped 4,193 people — a 14 percent increase from the year prior and the highest tally since the fourth quarter of 2015.

Out of the people who were stopped, 6 percent were white, a slightly lower percentage than during the height of stop and frisk, when the share was around 9 percent. The first quarter data also showed 70 percent of stops ended with neither a summons nor an arrest, an uptick from the previous quarter and pre-pandemic norm.

“What is alarming about these new numbers is how quickly stops are reverting to what we saw years ago: marked racial profiling and rampant stopping of people who have done nothing wrong,” Christopher Dunn, legal director for the NYCLU, said in a statement. “And we know from 15 years of data that increasing stops does almost nothing to address crime; instead, it just poisons police-community relationships.”

NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said in response that more stops have helped the administration lower crime after coming into office facing double-digit spikes in several categories. Shootings and murders along with rapes, robberies and theft are down citywide.

“We know that there’s still work to be done, but our officers are more engaged and focused than ever,” Sewell said in a statement. “They’ve increased the numbers of arrests by focusing on the drivers of crime, which has resulted in historically high gun arrests and the corresponding seizure of firearms off our city streets.”

On Tuesday, Adams addressed the findings in the report and sought to focus on victims of gun violence. He noted the latest stats are an order of magnitude lower than the height of the stop-and-frisk era, when police conducted nearly 686,000 stops annually.

Adams highlighted his own advocacy against the abuse of the practice when he was in the NYPD, and that 90 percent of both gun violence victims and people carrying illegal guns are Black and brown.

“So when the monitor writes her report, we should also talk about how many of the almost 10,000 illegal guns we removed off our streets,” Adams said.

IT’S WEDNESDAY.

WHERE’S KATHY? In Albany and New York City, delivering remarks at the investiture of Court of Appeals Judge Caitlin Halligan and at opening night of the Tribeca Film Festival.

WHERE’S ERIC? In New York City, holding a press briefing on the smoke from Canada’s wildfires. Later, he will deliver remarks at the city’s inaugural “Commissioner for a Day” event and make an announcement at the Tribeca Film Festival with Robert De Niro.

“New York City air quality reaches hazardous levels due to Canadian wildfires; risk to persist for days,” New York Daily News’ Josephine Stratman and Brian Niemietz: “While Tuesday’s air quality impacted the city pretty evenly, pollution and air quality are worse in low-income and minority neighborhoods like Harlem and the South Bronx. That means that preexisting conditions like asthma are also worse, leaving them at higher risk.”

“Orange, Rockland barred from enforcing county orders targeting migrants,” WNYC’s Herb Pinder: “The narrow order doesn’t apply to proceedings in state court that also challenge Mayor Eric Adams’ plans to send hundreds of migrants north, meaning the city administration’s bid to ease pressure on its overburdened shelter system still could be upended. Nonetheless, the New York Civil Liberties Union, which challenged the Orange and Rockland orders on constitutional grounds, hailed the judge’s ruling as a victory.”

“Late tweaks to Election Law pushed by Democrats in Albany,” Times Union’s Joshua Soloman: “Under the proposal, filed late Monday evening in the final week of the legislative session, absentee ballots that are received by boards of election without a postmark, but up to seven days after the election, can be counted if the voter affirms their ballot was mailed on or before Election Day. The changes also specify the process for hand recounts, which are for particularly close elections.”

“With new bill, Clean Slate looks closer than ever to becoming law,” City & State’s Rebecca C. Lewis: “The new version of the proposal has two substantive changes compared to past versions, but otherwise remains largely similar. Under the new language, someone convicted of a felony would need to wait eight years after their release from incarceration before their record automatically seals. Before, it was seven years. The latest version also excludes sex crimes and most Class A felonies, whereas earlier versions only excluded sex crimes.”

“Potential changes to publicly financed campaigns draws rebukes,” Spectrum News’ Nick Reisman: “Currently, contributions are matched with public money starting at $250 or lower. Lawmakers are expected to propose higher donations that would qualify for the same match. For now, no agreement has been reached on the specifics.”

“Cuomo’s attorneys ask judge to order Lindsey Boylan to turn over records,” Times Union’s Brendan J. Lyons

“Roadblocks and Red Tape: New York’s Cannabis Effort at a Crossroads,” New York Times’ Ashley Southall: “Although Gov. Kathy Hochul suggested last fall that more than 100 dispensaries would be operating by this summer, just 12 have opened since regulators issued the first licenses in November.”

“Workers Blame Low Pay and Understaffing for New York’s Benefits Backlog,” New York Focus’ Alex Lubben: “New Yorkers are struggling to get public benefits — and the workers tasked with helping them say they’re mistreated by the same system. ‘When I first got here, I’d say to my clients, “There’s no difference between you and me except the desk and the phone.” They’re treated like shit by the government and so am I,’ said one social services worker.”

“Mayor Adams said he’s open to housing migrants in his own residence,” WNYC’s Giulia Heyward

“George Santos Loses Bid to Shield the People Who Guaranteed His $500,000 Bail,” Bloomberg’s Anthony Lin and Chris Dolmetsch

— Outdoor activities at city public schools were cancelled Wednesday because of the poor air quality from the Canadian wildfires.

— Lawmakers approved a bill that would expand penalties for violating the “Do Not Call” telemarketing list.

— A bill to overhaul the state’s wrongful death statute will again head to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s desk, less than six months after she vetoed the measure.

— The city will pay the federal government $1.6 million to clean up a former Queens chemical plant.

— Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has moved to vacate over 300 convictions connected to corrupt NYPD officers.

— The city has sued a Queens public library over a lack of accessibility.

— The Nassau district attorney is investigating Oyster Bay’s approval of a $2 million cybersecurity contract.

MAKING MOVES – Daniel Hendrick is vice president of government affairs at REV Renewables. He was previously Clearway’s head of external affairs, east.

“Icon Parking slammed by another lawsuit,” Crain’s C.J. Hughes: “A Turtle Bay apartment building that leases space to an Icon facility has sued the parking garage company over allegedly skipping out on rent dating back to the pandemic and not being forthcoming about its finances in the process.

“It’s not the first time that Icon has ended up in court over rent issues. Indeed, in multiple cases going back to 2020, Icon has been ordered to fork over at least $10 million total, based on a review of legal filings and news reports. And some of the city’s top landlords have gone after the company, which, with 200 sites in the region, appears to be the city’s biggest parking garage operator.”