In a bold move that sets the stage for a battle with the City Council, Mayor Eric Adams has vetoed a bill that would require NYPD officers to publicly disclose all of their investigatory encounters with civilians. The bill, which was passed in December, aims to increase transparency around police stops by mandating officers to provide data on low-level encounters that do not involve suspicion of criminal activity.

Speaking at a press conference at City Hall, Mayor Adams expressed his opposition to the bill, arguing that the documentation rules would burden police officers with additional work and potentially compromise public safety. He emphasized the importance of every minute counting on the scene and questioned the practical implementation of the legislation.

Mayor Adams was flanked by NYPD officials, including Patrick Hendry, the head of the city's largest police union, reflecting the political support he has garnered within the department. Members of the city's business community, including Kathryn Wylde, who heads the business advocacy group Partnership for New York City, were also present at the event.

However, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Yusef Salaam, the Council's new public safety chair, issued a joint statement accusing the mayor of creating a "false narrative" and misleading the public regarding the transparency bill. They stressed the need for increased transparency, citing constitutional violations and rising civilian complaints.

With the mayor's veto, the bill will now undergo an override vote next month by the Council, which previously passed the bill with a 35-9 vote. The 51-member Council, which welcomed four new members this year, will require at least 34 votes to override the mayor's veto, potentially posing a challenge for Mayor Adams.

The bill seeks to track discriminatory policing and expands on the NYPD's current practice of recording and disclosing data on "reasonable suspicion" stops and "stop, question, and frisk" encounters. It adds stops for encounters that may not involve criminal activity or suspicion.

Supporters of the bill have countered the mayor's concerns, stating that the legislation would involve fewer than 10 questions using a drop-down menu of responses. The answers could be submitted through a mobile app, utilizing technology already in use by the NYPD.

Mayor Adams has been actively campaigning against the bill for weeks, including at events such as the Real Estate Board of New York's annual gala. During the gala, he urged the real estate industry to join him in fighting against the bill, highlighting the need for support from various sectors of the community.

This veto puts Mayor Adams at the center of a contentious debate over police transparency and raises questions about his effectiveness as mayor, particularly in light of his declining polling numbers. As the override vote approaches, both sides are gearing up for what promises to be a heated battle in the City Council.