Latest news with #Tisch
New York Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
NYPD Commish Jessica Tisch defends e-bike crackdown before city council members who fear it will harm immigrants
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch defended her new crackdown on e-bikes to peeved City Council members who claimed the blitz of criminal summonses could cost immigrant delivery drivers their licenses — or even lead to deportations. 4 Commisioner Tisch defended the NYPD criminal summons against e-bike drivers. Luiz Rampelotto/ZUMA / 'This is not a war on e-bikes, this is a response to very real concerns that are widely held across virtually every borough, every New Yorker in this city,' Tisch said in front of the council at the executive budget hearing Thursday. Advertisement Progressive council member and Deliverista advocate Tiffany Cabán (D-22) grilled the commissioner and her colleagues on how the new criminal laws are being enforced, and doubted that officers were being objective in their handling of spots. 'It does not increase public trust in how this is being enforced if you cannot even articulate for me how officers are using this discretion,' Cabán argued, saying the brunt would fall on people of color and those who are at risk of being deported. 4 CM Tiffany Cabán has been an outspoken advocate for deliveristas. Michael Nagle Advertisement 'A person who is more likely to be a person of color may end up in deportation proceedings, It's not just right,' she said. The NYPD began issuing criminal court summons for e-bike riders who break standard traffic rules — like running red lights or riding on the sidewalk — on April 28 of this year, in what Tisch said was a direct response to safety concerns she was hearing from New Yorkers. Council member Lincoln Restler (D-33) has been at the center of the conversation around the speedy bikes, after a string of incidents at a Brooklyn bike lane in his district have resulted in multiple child injuries. Just last weekend, a 3-year-old tot was struck by a speeding cyclist in the Bedford Avenue lane — which has heightened neighborhood concerns about safety. Advertisement Despite this, Restler also expressed worry about the criminal summons. 4 There are around 65,000 deliveristas in NYC, its unknown how many of them are undocumented. Gina M Randazzo/ZUMA Press Wire / 'I'm concerned about more people getting swept up in our criminal justice system who don't need it,' said Restler. 'We have a Trump administration that's trying to sweep everyone up into their deportation machine thath they can,' the Brooklyn lawmaker said. Advertisement Around 65,000 delivery drivers or 'Deliveristas' in NYC rely on some type of high-powered two-wheeler to maneuver orders around the five boroughs, and it is not known how many of them are undocumented immigrants. 4 Gina M Randazzo/ZUMA / The shift toward criminal summons by the NYPD was a result of the previous civil summons' failure to address issues effectively, as they were mainly geared toward licensed vehicles. Tisch lamented that she had come to the council before to flag the current law's limitations. 'I called on the council to change the laws,' she said, though she still thinks the current criminal enforcement is doing more good than harm. 'Anecdotally, I think it's working,' she said noting that she see's the e-bikes stop more frequently now at red lights. 'We cannot live in a consequence-free environment (and) e-bikes were generally living in a consequence-free environment,' she said.
New York Post
6 days ago
- New York Post
NYC shootings fall to 32-year record low over Memorial Day weekend: NYPD
Memorial Day weekend in the Big Apple saw the fewest number of shootings of any holiday since such data were first recorded 32 years ago, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Tuesday. There were seven incidents of gun violence in New York City from Friday through Monday – breaking the previous record of 10 set in 2013, according to the department. 'We had the safest Memorial day weekend in terms of gun violence that New York City has ever seen,' Tisch said on Fox 5's 'Good Day New York.' 3 NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the Big Apple had the lowest number of shootings over Memorial Day weekend in the last 32 years. FOX 5 'We have more cops out there than ever before – 1,500 additional cops this summer, and we were also very precise about the locations where we deployed our cops – looking at historical data about where the gun violence has occurred.' Tisch explained that the department's summer plan, which began on May 5, shifted deployments to focus on problem areas with a history of violent outbreaks — with shootings in these hotspots down nearly 60%. 3 Data showed there were seven shootings between Friday and Monday, a decline from the 17 reported last year. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock 'Given the results we've had over the first weeks of the program, and especially this weekend, we think that for this first go, we picked the locations correctly,' she noted. The city saw two gunfire incidents Friday, one Saturday, and four Monday — as Gotham marked its first shooting-free Sunday during a Memorial Day weekend in 32 years, the department said. The previous record was three shootings reported in 2004, 2013, and 2017. 3 Fleet week had a safe time, as Gotham marked its first shooting-free Sunday during a Memorial Day weekend in 32 years. Michael Nagle There were 17 gun-related incidents recorded over the long holiday last year — with five shootings on Saturday, and four shooting each on Friday, Sunday and Monday. This year, data showed seven people were impacted by the acts of gun violence — a sharp drop from the staggering 21 shooting victims reported over the patriotic weekend in 2024. 'I think that the department has a lot of very rich data that we can mind and we can use to inform our operations,' Tisch said, touting the department's data and analytic team. 'One of the things I really enjoyed about this job, which is a difficult job, is getting to work with those talented data analysts to see how they pick where they're going to deploy the cops. And I'm very pleased that it's worked so far as well as it has.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
2nd suspect surrenders in SoHo crypto torture case; man allegedly held for weeks
The Brief A second man has turned himself in after a victim was allegedly tortured inside an apartment in order to get him to give up his Bitcoin password. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch made the announcement on Good Day New York. "So far, it's those two that we're looking at. There may be others," Tisch said. NEW YORK CITY - A second man has turned himself in – NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Tuesday morning on Good Day New York – after a victim from Italy was allegedly tortured inside an upscale SoHo apartment in order to get him to give up his Bitcoin password. The man, identified as William Duplessie, 33, of Miami, FL, is charged with: Assault in the 2nd degree. Kidnapping in the 1st degree. Unlawful imprisonment in the 1st degree. Criminal possession of a firearm. "So far, it's those two that we're looking at. There may be others," Tisch said. What we know Cryptocurrency investor John Woeltz, 37, was also charged with kidnapping the man and keeping him locked up for weeks in the apartment, where authorities say he was beaten, shocked and led to believe that his family was in danger if he didn't give up his Bitcoin password. Woeltz was arrested Friday night after the victim escaped from the eight-bedroom town house and flagged down a traffic officer on the street for help, according to prosecutors. He was arraigned Saturday on charges of kidnapping, assault, unlawful imprisonment and criminal possession of a firearm, court records show. The backstory The 28-year-old victim arrived in New York City from Italy in early May, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The victim said he was bound by the wrists and tortured for weeks inside the apartment. His captors, according to prosecutors, drugged him, used electric wires to shock him, hit him in the head with a firearm and, at one point, carried him to the top of a flight of stairs, where they dangled him over a ledge and threatened to kill him if he didn't share his Bitcoin password. Believing that he was about to be shot, the victim was able to escape on Friday after agreeing to give up his password, which was stored on his laptop in another room. When the suspect turned his back, prosecutor Michael Mattson said, the victim ran out of the apartment. The victim was taken to a hospital and treated for injuries that Mattson said were consistent with his descriptions of being bound and assaulted. A search of the town house turned up a trove of evidence, Mattson said, including cocaine, a saw, chicken wire, body armor and night vision goggles, ammunition and polaroid photos of the victim with a gun pointed at his head. What we don't know It's not clear how or if the two knew each other, but the district attorney's office said in an email that prosecutor Michael Mattson told a judge Saturday that the victim, whose name has not been released, was abducted on May 6.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
First NYPD class since recruitment standards were eased is sworn in as city vows to get ranks to 35K
The first new batch of NYPD cops since police brass lowered the admission standards earlier this year was sworn in on Thursday — with Mayor Eric Adams setting a target of 35,000 cops in uniform next year. More than 670 probationary cops took the oath in the latest class, with city officials banking the reduced requirements will help replenish the dwindling ranks of New York's Finest in recent years. 'This class was formed under our newest recruitment strategy, partnering with our fraternal organizations to expand outreach and the results speak for themselves,' Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. 'You represent 39 foreign countries and speak 26 different languages. Over 60% of you live right here in this city. You now serve,' she said. 'You reflect the rich diversity of New York, and you will bring that strength into every neighborhood of every borough.' The department currently has about 33,500 officers on the job. The new recruits are part of about 8,000 NYPD candidates expected to apply this year, a far cry from the 18,000 who signed up in 2017 — a 55% drop in the annual number of New Yorkers looking to serve. Typically one in eight candidates make it to the swearing-in ceremony. In an effort to boost the ranks, Tisch announced changes to the hiring requirements in February. 'We need more cops, and I'm not going to sugarcoat it,' she said while making the announcement. The changes reduced the minimum number of college credits required to enter the police academy to 24 instead of the current 60. Police the NYPD is one of the last major police forces in the country to have college credit requirements, which disqualified 29% of applicants in 2023. The new rules also give police recruits more credits for completing the six-month academy training regimen based on a recent assessment by the National College Credit Recommendations Service that determined that completing the rigorous training is equivalent to 45 credits, up from the current 36. Tisch also reinstated the longstanding timed-run requirement axed in 2023 by controversial then-Chief of Training Juanita Holmes. It requires recruits to run the 1.5-mile course in under 14 minutes, 21 seconds. The 673 new cops sworn in Thursday join about 200 probationary cops sworn in between July and January and 600 who took the oath earlier this year, with 600 more expected to graduate next month. Adams, a retired NYPD captain, welcomed the new class Thursday — and cautioned them. 'This city is great because of public safety, public safety is a prerequisite to prosperity,' the mayor said. 'But don't kid yourself, this is a hard job and it's not made for everyone. This is the moment when you must be more disciplined than ever. Everyone has a camera. Everyone wants to criticize you. 'But the overwhelming number of New Yorkers love to see you every day,' he added.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Israel Day Parade 2025
The Brief The 2025 Israel Day Parade began at 11:30 a.m. today, May 18. The parade was streamed here from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. NEW YORK CITY - The annual Israel Day Parade began at 11:30 a.m. today, May 18, and will traverse Fifth Avenue from East 62nd to East 74th Street. The Israel Day Parade, also referred to as the Celebrate Israel Parade or The Salute to Israel Parade, was first held in 1964 to celebrate the creation of the state of Israel, though its route was far shorter. The first official parade took place one year later, and set the precedent of marching along Fifth Avenue. This year's parade will commemorate Israel's 77th anniversary. The theme for this year is "Hatikvah," meaning "the hope," which is the title of Israel's national anthem. The route takes about 45 minutes to walk, and the parade typically features various organizations and institutions. "We will not tolerate any attempts to disrupt this event or endanger those who come to celebrate." New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch Viewing areas will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis; access points will be located at East 61st, 63rd, 66th, 70th and 73rd streets off of Madison Avenue. Pedestrians will only be able to cross Fifth Avenue at East 51st, 59th and 79th streets once the parade begins. The following streets will be closed at the discretion of the New York Police Department: Formation: 5th Avenue between 52nd Street and 55th Street 52nd Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue 53rd Street between Park Avenue and 6th Avenue 54th Street between Park Avenue and 7th Avenue 55th Street between Park Avenue and 6th Avenue Route: 5th Avenue between 74th Street and 55th Street 60th Street & 62nd Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue Dispersal: 5th Avenue between 79th Street and 74th Street 78th – 74th Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue 73rd -76th Street between Madison Avenue and Lexington Avenue 78th Street between Madison Avenue and Lexington Avenue 72nd Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue 70th Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue 69th Street between Madison Avenue and Park Avenue 77th Street between Madison Avenue and Park Avenue 64th Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue Festival: 63rd Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue MTA buses that travel along the route will be rerouted down Second Avenue. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch discussed security for the parade at a briefing last Friday, May 16. "The NYPD has been preparing for this event for months," Tisch said. "We've worked closely with parade organizers, elected officials, faith leaders, and our local, state and federal partners on a comprehensive security plan." The NYPD will be employing metal detectors to screen all attendees, and spectators will not have access to the parade route from Central Park. Certain items, such as backpacks and coolers, will not be permitted in the spectator areas. The full list can be found here. New York Governor Kathy Hochul, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York Attorney General Letitia James have been spotted marching in the parade, along with other city officials. New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo was also seen marching in the parade. The Source This article includes reporting from a briefing given by the New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch, as well as an announcement from the New York City Department of Transportation.
