Ahead of his likely veto of two law-enforcement measures, New York City Mayor Eric Adams is mounting a push to win over local lawmakers — an effort that is colliding with growing tension in the legislative body, Politico reports. Adams’ lieutenants have been calling City Council members to gauge support and persuade them to oppose the bills as the mayor prepares to veto the measures by Friday’s deadline. One bans solitary confinement in city jails and the other requires more police reporting on low-level stops — changes the mayor says would put New Yorkers in danger. Based on the margin by which the bills cleared in December, the Council speaker has the 34 votes required to override a veto. Four lawmakers have since left the body, giving the mayor an opportunity to try to win over their replacements, as well as convince members who may have second thoughts.
The mayoral team’s calls — which include outreach from within the police department — come as Adams is speaking out against the legislation, both publicly and at private events. “There’s a bill that was passed that must not be able to become a law. I need you to rally with the Jewish Caucus and rally whatever elected official that comes to you,” Adams told attendees of a recent Bar Mitzvah. "We cannot handcuff our police,” he added, speaking in front of a giant screen featuring a digitally bedazzled Star of David. “We don’t want them doing paperwork. We want them to be protecting the people of this city. … This is our line in the sand.” This coincides with a letter from the federal monitor overseeing the Rikers Island jail complex opposing the solitary confinement bill. The commissioner of the Department of Correction said she had asked the federal monitor to weigh in. Adams did not try and hide his glee that the monitor agreed with him.