Comments on: NYPD Has Spent $1.32M to Suppress a Monthly Bike Ride

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 18:02:50 +0000

Check out the following link to a lecture given by Commissioner Ray Kelly on the topic of security and civil liberties just a few weeks ago: http://law-library.rutgers.edu/feeds/06millerlecture.php.

Kelly describes the NYPD performance at the RNC as one of the NYPD's "finest hours," and discusses the proposed parade regulations.

By: ddartley

ddartley — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 17:39:02 +0000

I mostly agree with Bugg. There was a video on Bikeblog (linked to on this site, I think) a while back that showed about three instances where cops released CM riders they'd detained after the rider showed the cops text of the laws, and demonstrated they were within the law.

I think those clips made those particular cops look good--they saw the text of the law and they did the right thing.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 20:15:07 +0000

The study can be found here as well:

http://www.streetsblog.org/critical-mass-cost-analysis

By: Charles Komanoff

Charles Komanoff — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 19:50:43 +0000

Hi all --

The interest in the report is heartening. Thanks!

Give the credit to Time's Up -- their idea, their tenacity, their arranging the City Hall event, etc.

I'll fwd Glenn's suggestions above to XU.

By: Glenn

Glenn — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 19:42:37 +0000

Mike, CK

Can I suggest putting the report in a pdf file, adding someone's name to it as the author and someone to respond to press or other queries...

This could be a powerful argument against the new parade rules. Money talks and no one wants to waste money on excessive over enforcement of minor rules. That $1.3 million could have saved a senior center or a library or a youth after school program.

Please make this report more professional looking and it will get legs...

By: Bugg

Bugg — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 16:57:59 +0000

While you assume that NYPD is the bad guy, they get their orders from City Hall.Your ire is more properly directed at Bloomturd and DOT Commissioner for Life Weinshall. Most rank&file cops have no burning desire to have to be bothered wtih this as long as it's peaceful. And for the most part the behavior of Critical Mass, other than some traffic issues, has been exemplary. They would rather be in their typical assignments that this wasteful nonsense.

By: mike

mike — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 14:28:18 +0000

permanent link to the study:

http://www.onnyturf.com/articles/read.php?article_id=388

By: Boogiedown

Boogiedown — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 13:09:41 +0000

Fair enough, Macchiavelli.

By: Nicolo Macchiavelli

Nicolo Macchiavelli — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 12:08:49 +0000

Well Boogiedown as a matter of fact NYC Cops are relatively poorly paid, starting pay is about $13/hr. Yeah, theres health care and a pension but...Come on. People complain about WalMart and Home Depot.

Every discussion of social policy doesn't end with some poor working stiffs salary and benfits. And this excellent discussion of opportunity costs shouldn't really go there. The cops do what they are told. Winning them over as individuals is part of what this debate should do. Police overtime would be fine with me if they are writing up unsafe driving. That some guys roll that into their pensin doesn't bother me either.

The thrust of this fine piece is that these costs are experienced while actually making the streets less safe for bicyclists. Everyone has their own issues with the police but they don't set the policy.

And, to me a lot of this policy is a legacy of the Republican convention. That convention was good for the Republicans but bad for the city. The Coliseums, Casinos and Convention Centers development strategy is part of what took NYC down this road. That and having a rich guy mayor who is used to just giving orders and having them followed. Makes it hard to build permanent social relationships based on civic trust.

By: AD

AD — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 05:20:24 +0000

The comparison of the expenditures on Critical Mass policing and bicycle lanes is astonishing. Komanoff, thanks for bringing this to light.

By: ddartley

ddartley — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 04:09:45 +0000

One of many reasons NYPD should shift a lot of personnel to bicycles, and out of cars and scooty-scoots.

But of course that's just a silly idea.

By: Boogiedown

Boogiedown — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 01:36:49 +0000

Yeah, but what about all the police overtime? Cops gotta earn some BREAD! And you know that the cops pulling overtime are the ones about to retire. Wouldn't want to cut them out of the action, would you?

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 22:55:03 +0000

Any estimate of how many tons of carbon were emitted by the police in their efforts to harass Critical Mass riders?

By: Aaron

Aaron — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 22:39:24 +0000

Thanks, Mike. I fixed that error.

By: P

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 22:37:47 +0000

What a waste- and I'm don't even believe that Critical Mass is a very effective tool to promote biking.

By: Clarence

Clarence — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 22:27:37 +0000

As always, an excellent post. And I am sure CK was very conservative with his $$$ figures. If anything - I am sure there are plenty of things we could all think of that would increase the figure beyond $ 1.32 million.

For example, if the NYPD officers assigned to the ride were out fighting crime on the streets during those hours instead, how many additional crimes and injuries (or, perhaps dare we go there, possibly a murder?) could have been prevented? The $$$ value for someone losing their life/being severly injured in a crime would be tough to estimate and I am pretty sure would not be included in the study...but I am sure CK can/will answer that.

By: g

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 22:08:54 +0000

Does that figure include the cost of the fuel needed to operate police cars and motorcycles?

Either way, a protest meant to promote clean, sensible transportation options causes the police to waste gallons and gallons of gas.

Isn't it ironic?

By: mike

mike — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 22:00:20 +0000

Shouldn't that be $1.32 million over TWO years? More info here.