Dominican-born lawmakers, Bloomberg showdown looms over Stop and Frisk

New York. – One day before a City Council to vote that seeks to override mayor Michael Bloomberg’s veto of two ordinances on the controversial Stop and Risk measure by police, Dominican-born elected officials stated their support to reform the "harmful" policy.

The reform of the two resolutions would create an inspector general with oversight of law enforcement, particularly Stop and Frisk -under the city’s Investigations Department- and the second would allow victims of the unpopular policy, to sue a police officer for an unjustified search.

"The way the police have used the Stop and Frisk tactic violates the Constitution 4th and 14th amendments, as Federal Court Judge Shira Scheindlin reiterated last week," said councilman Ydanis Rodriguez.

He said the judge ruled to correct the police tactic’s "abuse" with a federal overseer for changes in Stop and Frisk, until its unconstitutional aspects are removed.

Bloomberg’s office appealed the judge’s ruling, heralding a showdown with the city’s Hispanic leaders who support the verdict, since the practice targets Latinos and African Americans (89%) the most, despite that there were no arrests in most cases (88%).

Assembly member Gabriela Rosa

Assembly member Gabriela Rosa also called Stop and Frisk "an abusive" tactic, "which has plagued the color and latino communities for years."