Albany, N.Y. - Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced late Monday afternoon that he supports New York Governor, Andrew M. Cuomo's bid to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana, which has resulted in a huge number of arrests particularly in the minority communities. The New York Police Department as well as top prosecutors have also voiced support for the legislation.
The support comes unforeseen. It was expected that the mayor along with the NYPD would be opposed to the proposal since it clashes with the Bloomberg administration's stop and frisk policies. However Bloomberg told the New York Times that the proposal "strikes the right balance," still allowing police to arrest those who smoked the drug in public.
The unexpected support harbingers a possible bi-partisan support for the bill in the Republican-controlled State Senate in Albany.
Bloomberg's support for the legislation will also soften the heavy criticism he's received for his stop and frisk policies. The Stop and Frisk tactics adapted by the NYPD has allowed them to stop and search any random civilian they observe to be suspicious. The criticism has sprung from the number or black and Hispanic men being stopped as opposed to others, suggesting that there is an element of racism in the execution of the policy.
Cuomo argued that people being stopped for a different reason are often found with tiny deposits of marijuana and thus arrested. These arrests have inadvertently affected employment chances particularly for the minority community.
According to minority advocacy groups and lawmakers, the administration's policy has had a negative effect on the employment rate of the black and Hispanic community. Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, told the New York Times, "For individuals who have any kind of a record, even a minuscule one, the obstacles are enormous to employment and to education, When it's really a huge number of kids in the community who go through this, and all have the same story, the impact is just devastating."
The New York Times reports that in 2011, the NYPD has arrested more people for the possession of marijuana in small quantities than for any other defense. The number according to the newspaper exceeds 50,686.
Cuomo seems to be the champion of the minority, after involving himself in the controversy over hailing livery cabs and requiring fingerprints for food stamp applicants, he will take on this mission at the end of the legislative session on June 21, as reported by the New York Times.
