New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin’s proposal that could place severe limits on public protest up to 100 feet from a house of worship may be a little too black-and-white for the blue.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch is seeking looser language in the bill that would order the NYPD to create rules effectively banning protests within 100 feet of churches, mosques and synagogues.
“Commissioner Tisch has concerns with the initial drafting of the bills, and she is working closely with the speaker’s office to ensure that the language of the bill maintains the NYPD’s flexibility to both protect houses of worship and facilitate first amendment rights,” NYPD spokesperson Delaney Kempner said in a statement.
The NYPD declined to elaborate on specifics. But Menin confirmed she’s planning to amend the bill, which she sponsors.
“We’re working on a couple of amendments to the bill, we’re working very collaboratively with NYPD on the bill,” she told City & State Friday. “The bill doesn’t restrict anyone’s right to free speech, which is “sacrosanct,” she added. “What they do is they restrict intimidation and harassment as someone enters or exits a house of worship.”
Menin introduced her bill after Gov. Kathy Hochul endorsed similar legislation at her State of the State address. Mayor Zohran Mamdani has been relatively quiet on the proposals, but they’ve faced criticism from left-leaning Jewish groups and some free speech advocates.