A group of New York City Council members, known for their criticism of the police, have reportedly sought the protection of the New York Police Department (NYPD) following a series of death threats.
This information was obtained by The Post from reliable sources.
These council members, who have been vocal in their disapproval of the NYPD, have had their staff express concerns about the alarming threats. They have appealed to the NYPD for protection, a move that has been described as "disgusting" by one of the council staff members. The staff member, in a text message to a colleague, expressed shock at the threats directed at Councilman Chi Osse, a Democrat from Brooklyn, and noted that some of these threats were deemed credible by security and the NYPD.
A staff member for Councilwoman Shahana Hanif, also a Democrat from Brooklyn, voiced concerns about the "elevated" and "especially concerning" threats received via phone calls to her office. The staff member commended the responsiveness of the security personnel.
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Council members Yusef Salaam, a Democrat from Manhattan, and Carlina Rivera, also a Democrat from Manhattan, along with Osse and Hanif, have been prominent critics of the NYPD. They were among the lawmakers who advocated for the contentious "How Many Stops Act," which critics argue burdens police officers with excessive paperwork.
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A Brooklyn police officer, speaking to The Post, criticized the council members, stating, "Since they don't want police officers, why don't they go out and hire private security?" The council members did not respond immediately to requests for comments.
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Salaam, who chairs the council's public safety committee, attracted attention in January when he publicly criticized a police officer who had pulled him over for a routine traffic stop. Rivera's staff also drew criticism in January when they demanded that an East Village ladder company remove its "red line" US flag, which they described as "fascist" and "politically charged." The flag was raised in honor of six firefighters from Ladder Co. 11 who lost their lives on 9/11.
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The council members have also faced backlash from pro-Israeli New Yorkers for their public support of pro-Palestinian protests that have disrupted New York City and college campuses in the state. These protests were triggered by Israel's response to an attack by Hamas terrorists on October 7.
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On April 16, the NYPD responded to a 911 call from Rivera's office in Lower Manhattan after a staff member received a letter containing an "unknown white powder." Although the powder was determined to be non-hazardous, the incident left Rivera's staff feeling threatened. Law enforcement sources revealed that other council members also received threats, including a disturbing phone call to Salaam's office, which led the NYPD to conduct a "security assessment" for the councilman. Both Rivera and Hanif have reportedly visited local precincts to report threats.
This article was sourced from RVL1-AM
