these proposed changes to the law [MADE BY THE NYPD] affects YOU and yr right to free speech and right of free assembly.
i will be at this hearing; i hope some of you will take the time to protest the NYPD's bullshit powergrab attempt. otherwise, the next time you and yr girlfriend/boyfriend/grandmother jaywalk [like that never happens in nyc, YOU CAN BE ARRESTED. the next time you and 35 other people decide to walk to central park summerstage for a show, YOU CAN BE ARRESTED. the next time a cyclist pulls up next to you at a light and neither of you have those rinky dink bells on yr bikes, YOU CAN BE ARRESTED.
Action Alert!
Proposed NYPD parade rules
Stop the NYPD's bid to require everyday walkers and bikers to obtain onerous "parade permits"
On July 18, 2006 the New York City Police Department proposed changing City rules regarding parade permits. The changes will put bike rides, walks, jogs and other events under the Police Department's direct control and will greatly discourage walking and biking.
Under the NYPD's proposed rules:
Any group of two (yes, 2) or more cyclists or pedestrians traveling down a public street, who violate any traffic law, rule or regulation can be arrested for parading without a permit;
Every group of 20 or more cyclists must obtain a permit and approved route from the NYPD;
Every group of 35 of more pedestrians must obtain a permit and approved route from the NYPD.
Read the proposed changes here.
There will be a public hearing on these proposed parade permit changes on August 23rd, at 6pm, at One Police Plaza, Manhattan, and the proposed changes could go into effect as soon as August 24th, 2006.
Here's what you can to do to stop these proposed changes:
Testify at the August 23 public hearing and attend the rally outside in opposition to the changes. To testify, send notice to:
Assistant Deputy Commissioner Thomas P. Doepfner
New York City Police Department
1 Police Plaza, Room 1406
New York, NY 10038
State that you intend to testify in opposition to the NYPD's proposed changes to Chapter 19 of Title 38 of the Official Compilation of Rules of the City of New York at the public hearing on August 23, 2006 at 6pm at 1 Police Plaza.
Contact T.A. with examples of groups, events and activities that will be affected by the proposed changes:
info@transalt.org.
If you are involved with these groups, tell them about the proposed changes and urge them to contact T.A. and attend the August 23rd hearing.
Contact your City Councilmember, tell them you're outraged over the NYPD's proposed changes to the parade permit rules and ask your City Councilmember to speak out about them at the August 23rd hearing. Look up your Councilmember at:
http://www.nyccouncil.info/constituent/index.cfm
Under the NYPD's proposed changes all formal and informal bike rides, walks, jogs, runs and other events would have to go through the Police Department's bureaucratic permitting process. All routes would have to be cleared by the NYPD, and any group that leaves its permitted route could be arrested.
These proposed rules will affect:
Thousands of formal and informal runs, walks, walk-a-thons, charity runs, tours and bike rides
Thousands of routine training runs and bike rides
School field trips
School walks to the park
Site seeing tours
Historical, cultural, environmental & neighborhood walks and tours
Funerals
These proposed rules could be used to stop anyone in New York City from walking and biking and will essentially give the NYPD carte blanche to arrest any two or more persons they want.
Anyone who walks to the park with their child, friend or neighbor and jaywalks could be arrested;
School teachers who walk their classes to the park would have to get parade permits;
Any two cyclists who do not have bells on their bikes, do not ride in bike lanes or take their feet of the pedals (violating NYS VTL 1232) could be arrested;
You could not invite twenty friends to go for a bike ride without applying for a permit and getting your route approved by the NYPD, nor could you invite thirty-five friends to walk to the park for a concert or other event without applying for a permit and getting an approved route.
The NYPD is proposing these changes in reaction to a New York State Supreme Court decision regarding Critical Mass bike rides that ruled that the City's parade permit rules are too broad, but these changes will give the NYPD control over all protests, marches, vigils, walk-a-thons, charity runs, tours, bike rides and similar events in the city.
Speak out against these proposed changes at the public hearing on August 23rd, at 6pm, at One Police Plaza, Manhattan.
