NYLPI - New York Lawyers for the Public Interest Inc.

10/04/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/04/2024 13:42

Event Recap: NYLPI Director of Disability Justice Ruth Lowenkron Testifies to NYC Council Regarding MyCity Platform

Event Recap: NYLPI Director of Disability Justice Ruth Lowenkron Testifies to NYC Council Regarding MyCity Platform

October 4, 2024

CCIT-NYC, Disability Justice, Health Justice, News, Transforming Mental Health Crisis Response

NYLPI Director of Disability Justice Ruth Lowenkron presented testimony to the New York City Council Technology Committee regarding the MyCity Platform.

"We testify today to share our concerns about how people with disabilities will be affected by law enforcement collecting data and posting it to the MyCity portal. We urge the City Council to question the risks associated with expanding interagency data sharing, data use, and data access to MyCity - particularly for individuals with mental health treatment records. We are counting on you to protect the privacy rights of New Yorkers with respect to their mental health, substance use, and other sensitive information.

Agency employees, including the union president representing park patrol officers, have expressed 'outrage,' noting that park officers were 'never supposed to be viewed as police officers carrying guns in parks, playgrounds, and beaches,' but rather, were supposed to 'give comfort, information, [and] stewardship.' He went as far as to say that the NYPD 'brings a 'hardcore' culture of enforcement, including stopping and frisking New Yorkers.'"

Read Ruth's full testimony here.

Photo: Ruth Lowenkron testifying at another oversight hearing.