January 19, 2024, New York – In response to Mayor Adams’ veto of the police transparency legislation the How Many Stops Act (HMSA), the Center for Constitutional Rights issued the following statement:

As unconstitutional and racially discriminatory stops and frisks by the NYPD increase, police transparency and accountability are more important than ever. The How Many Stops Act will bring critical transparency and oversight to the NYPD’s most common police actions in our communities. Mayor Adams’ opposition to this common-sense legislation is appalling and goes against the powerful movement demand for oversight that led to the How Many Stops Act being passed by the City Council with a supermajority. 

Suggestions that the How Many Stops Act reporting requirements for level 1 and level 2 stops are too burdensome are false. Implementing the How Many Stops Act is simple and doable because the NYPD already has tools, including smartphones, to record stop activities. Greater oversight of the NYPD will increase the safety of Black and Latinx New Yorkers who are heavily impacted by the NYPD’s unconstitutional and racially discriminatory policing practices. 

A large coalition of New Yorkers, including 27 family members whose loved ones were killed by the NYPD, continues to support the How Many Stops Act level 1 and 2 reporting requirements. We encourage the New York City Council to vote to override the mayor’s veto.