By Nelson A. King
Mayor Bill de Blasio on Wednesday
signed law a bill tabled by Public
Advocate Jumaane D. Williams that
codifies and protects the right of
civilians to record police officer
activity.
The enacting of this measure, the
Right to Record Act, first introduced
in 2016, comes after video of a white
Minneapolis police officer keeling on
the neck of African American George
Floyd, resulting in his death, has
spurred a national movement for an
end to policing injustice.
Officer Misconduct
Williams said videos taken at the
resulting protests have shown further
officer misconduct, triggering
a push for further reforms on city,
state and federal levels.
“We are in a moment when the
need to protect public safety and the
need to re-define it are more intertwined
than ever,” said Williams.
“The solution lies in each entity,
civilian and law enforcement working
together to keep our communities
safe and combat violence, and
in allowing for transparency and
accountability when that obligation
is not met.
Advocates
“Because of the advocates who
pushed this need for years, we are
now codifying the right to record
into city law, further protecting
the ability for the public to provide
transparency and demand accountability
as we move forward together
in a holistic strategy to have safer
streets and better policing at the
same time,” he added.
“We cannot give into the false and
destructive notion that communities
must choose between accountability
and transparency in policing or
safer streets,” Williams continued.
“The people of this city deserve both.
Working together, we can provide
it.”
Right to Record
Int. 721-B, or the Right to Record
Act, codifies into local law a person’s
right to record New York City police
officers or peace officers acting in
their official capacity, from a safe distance
and while not interfering with
police activity.
The bill was co-sponsored by
Council Member Helen Rosenthal.
Williams said the legislation
originally came after “a number of
prominent instances when civilians’
right to record was deliberately
infringed.”
Caribbean Life, JULY 24-30, 2020 3
Council Member Farah N. Louis, Community Board 17 District Manager Sherif Fraser; Davis Gayle, owner of Tropical
Paradise Restaurant; Samuel Clarke, manager; Linden Clarke, director of operations; Congresswoman Yvette
D. Clarke; and Sen. Kevin Parker. Greg Doyley
Grand re-opening of two Caribbean
restaurants in East Flatbush
By Nelson A. King
New York City Council Member
Farah N. Louis last week joined elected
officials and community residents in
celebrating the grand re-opening of
two Caribbean restaurants in her East
Flatbush, Brooklyn district.
Suede Restaurant and Tropical Paradise
Cajun Seafood Restaurant reopened,
with much fanfare, on Thursday
and Saturday, respectively, after closing
for several months amid the novel coronavirus
(COVID-19) pandemic.
“When we support immigrant,
women and minority-owned small businesses,
we are reinvesting in ourselves
and creating opportunities for the next
generation,” said Louis, the Haitian
American representative for the 45th
Council District. “Every dollar that circulates
in our small business community
helps preserve the economic vitality
of our city, cultural diversity, job and
housing security.
“We are surviving one of the most
challenging times in recent memory,”
added Louis, a member of the City
Council’s Committee on Economic
Development. “These past four months
have proven that we are resilient and
able to overcome any obstacle in our
path when we work together.
“I am excited to welcome back two
Black-owned businesses that have overcome
tremendous obstacles, re-envisioned
their business models; and, as a
result, remain right where they belong
– in the heart of our community,” Louis
continued.
She said Suede Restaurant, renowned
for its charitable work, re-opened its
outdoor dining area on Thursday after
serving as a main hub for distributing
food to essential workers.
Louis said its grand re-opening was
“a dual celebration” of its perseverance
“in spite of the COVID-19 public health
challenges while customarily recognizing
our city’s educators, who recently
completed an unprecedented school
year due to the pandemic.”
Chasen Hollancid and Chaka Bomani,
co-owners, Suede Hospitality Group,
said in a statement that “the Suede
Family was happy to host our 3rd Annual
Educators Thank You Celebration in
tandem with our Grand Re-Opening
Celebration.
“2020 has been a tough year for everyone,
but we need to take opportunities
like this to reinvigorate the community,
support our essential workers
and celebrate our shared Caribbean
culture,” they added. “Like every small
business, we have had to rethink how
our business would function in this new
COVID world.
Hollancid and Bomani said they
appreciated the support and partnership
of Brooklyn Community Board 17’s
Commerce Committee; the small business
support non-profit Brooklyn Level
Up, Inc.; and elected officials, such as
Louis, her City Council colleague Alicka
Ampry-Samuel, and Assembly Member
Rodneyse Bichotte, who is also chair of
the Brooklyn Democratic Party.
“Our business’ vision has always
been focused on creating a beautiful
dining experience for the Caribbean
community to feel welcome,” Hollancid
and Bomani said.
“It is gratifying to know that, even in
this time of social distancing, we can
still find safe ways to keep Suede and
the community connected, in accordance
with state and city guidelines,”
they added. “Suede will continue to be
a welcome home for the community to
dine and enjoy Caribbean cuisine.”
Louis said Suede Restaurant was
the first in a series of small businesses,
more specifically restaurants, to once
again serve delicious meals, infused
with Caribbean flavors, in the span of
one week.
On Saturday, local patrons and residents
gathered to celebrate Tropical
Paradise Cajun Seafood as it re-opened
its doors to the public.
In the preliminary months of the
pandemic, Louis said this restaurant
provided meals to frontline workers
“who fought tirelessly to save lives.”
Ray Martin, Mayor’s Offi ce of Media
and Entertainment; Council Member
Alicka Ampry-Samuel; Chasen
Hollancid, co-owner of Suede Hospitality
Group; and Council Member
Farah N.Louis. Hassan Bakiriddin
Mayor signs
‘Right to
Record’ police
transparency bill