The New York City Council and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams have taken legal action against Mayor Adams for his emergency order to suspend elements of a law banning solitary confinement in city jails. The mayor signed the order on July 27, citing safety concerns. The council’s lawsuit argues that the mayor overstepped his authority and violated state law. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams called the order an abuse of power, and a spokeswoman for the mayor defended it as necessary for public safety.
The lawsuit stems from a resolution passed by the council, giving them the authority to defend the law. The order suspended provisions of Local Law 42, including restrictions on emergency lock-ins, use of restraints, and confining detainees in their cells for extended periods. The mayor’s decision was based on concerns raised by the Department of Correction and the federal monitor tracking jail violence.
Mayor Adams defended the move, stating that solitary confinement had been eliminated in city jails in 2019 and that the law would hinder efforts to reduce violence. Public Advocate Williams criticized the mayor’s actions, accusing him of maintaining dangerous conditions on Rikers Island.
The lawsuit is part of a broader challenge to the mayor’s use of emergency executive orders. Adams has signed over 700 executive orders during his tenure, many of which were emergency orders related to Rikers Island and migrant influx. The lawsuit argues that the mayor’s suspension of Local Law 42 sets a dangerous precedent for future mayors to abuse emergency powers. This legal battle highlights the ongoing tensions between the city council and the mayor over jail conditions and the use of emergency powers.
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