NEW YORK CITY: De Blasio Names Guiliani-Era Bill Bratton As NYPD Chief

New York City Mayor-Elect Bill De Blasio has named Bill Bratton as NYPD Commissioner. Bratton served under Rudy Giuliani for three years in the mid-90s and most recently spent seven years as the police chief for Los Angeles. This is a controversial selection for De Blasio, who campaigned heavily against the stop-and-frisk practices of the NYPD under outgoing chief Ray Kelly.

Via NBC New York:

While Bratton led the LAPD, the department's use of stop and frisk dramatically increased, according to the Daily News. In 2002, cops made 587,200 stops, and by 2008, they made 875,204 stops, an increase of 49 percent, the News said, citing a 2009 report from the Harvard Kennedy School. The majority of those stopped were black or Hispanic, the News said, but the number of stops that led to arrests was far higher than in New York. The NYCLU, which has been highly critical of the NYPD's use of stop and frisk, said in a statement that it looks forward to working with de Blasio and Bratton "to ensure that fundamental changes are made to the NYPD, including a top-to-bottom culture shift that ends racial profiling and the abuse of stop and frisk."

More from the New York Times:

The selection of Mr. Bratton, a well-known and generally well-regarded figure in law enforcement, appeared to reflect the tricky spot Mr. de Blasio finds himself in as he moves to reshape the Police Department’s street tactics, while sustaining the decline in serious crime. New York is much changed since Mr. Bratton first took the reins in 1994. Crime rates were much higher and the issue dominated mayoral politics. With his hard-charging, press-friendly style, Mr. Bratton managed to garner considerable acclaim for the drop in crime on his watch, even as crime was falling in many other big cities as well. Now, Mr. Bratton returns to a city where crime has continued to fall and where there is less acceptance of some of the most aggressive and confrontational policing tactics. He and Mr. de Blasio will most likely be judged on whether the city can continue to be kept safe from crime and terrorism while quieting criticism over the excesses of policing, especially in minority communities.

De Blasio is holding a press conference at this writing to formally announce the appointment.

Anti-Quinn Group Posts Video Denouncing Her Support For NYPD Head Ray Kelly

WARNING: This video includes a scene in which the NYPD shoots a dog on an East Village street. Details of that incident are here.

NOTE: This video was posted to a YouTube account with the name "BradHoylman2014." In fact, openly gay state Sen. Hoylman has endorsed Christine Quinn.

Bloomberg Vetoes NYPD Oversight Bill

Mayor Bloomberg today vetoed a bill that would create an office to oversee the NYPD and that would make it easier for citizens to sue the police for abuses. Gothamist reports:

The Community Safety Act, which is comprised of two separate laws meant to crack down on the NYPD's racial profiling, was passed by the City Council with enough votes to override Bloomberg's veto of the measure. Many view Bloomberg's veto as a stalling tactic until he can pressure enough City Council members to change their votes. Should the override succeed, Bloomberg has hinted at a court challenge, arguing that the bill conflicts with state law. (He's also been looking at other ways to get back at council members who support it.) "There is no need for additional oversight of the NYPD," Bloomberg wrote of his veto. The override vote could happen in August, just a few weeks before the mayoral primary.

The bill was supported by Christine Quinn, although she only backs the portion that would create the Inspector General office. When the bill passed last month, NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly, whom Quinn has pledged to keep on if she is elected (but maybe fire later), said, "Take heart al Qaeda wannabe's because the City Council has found a way to undermine our partners."

After today's veto, NYC Public Advocate and mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio issued a press release: 

"Today, Mayor Bloomberg continued to turn a blind eye to the racial profiling that takes place in our neighborhoods each and every day. I believe we need a real change, and encourage City Council members to stand by their votes and override the Mayor's veto. Our young men cannot afford for us to waver in the face of intimidation from City Hall."

Mayor Bloomberg And NYPD Chief Hold Joint Press Conference On Hate Crimes

Mayor Michael Bloomberg and NYPD Chief Ray Kelly last night held a joint press conference on the wave of violent anti-gay hate crimes sweeping New York City. From the mayor's remarks:

"Last Friday, the murder of a young man named Mark Carson shocked our city. He was murdered because of his sexual orientation - and only because of his sexual orientation. It was a cold-blooded hate crime that cut short a life full of promise - and brought back awful memories for people who were once afraid to walk down the street with the person that they loved. No person - regardless of what they look like or who they love - should ever walk down the street in fear. Thankfully, we have come a long way from those days - but the murder of Mark Carson is a tragic reminder of how far we still have to go."

Kelly then provided numerous details about the assault in the East Village. The suspect has since been arrested.

Does Christine Quinn Have Secret Deal To Keep NYPD Chief Ray Kelly Out Of Race?

The New York Post sure thinks so.

The police commissioner and council speaker have cut a private deal that will keep him as top cop for a fourth consecutive mayoral term with a Quinn victory in the November race to succeed Mike Bloomberg, sources said. Confidants in both camps confirmed the secret pact — which will bolster Quinn’s anti-crime credentials while allowing Ray Kelly, 71, to keep the powerful post he loves. “Ray is going to stay on if it’s Quinn,” said a source close to Kelly, adding that the commissioner decided months ago that he would agree to keep his job if the next mayor asks him.

Republicans have longed for Kelly to run for mayor as the two other declared GOP candidates (MTA head Joe Lhota and billionaire grocer John Catsimatidis) are considered very long shots against Quinn or any other Democrat. While Quinn's alleged "secret deal" would take out her best-polling GOP opponent, keeping Ray "Stop-And-Frisk" Kelly in the top cop job will surely sour many prospective Quinn supporters, who could turn to Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, one of stop-and-frisk's loudest detractors.