NYPD forms new task force designed to
stop hate crimes against Asian Americans
BY TODD MAISEL
The COVID-19 pandemic
not only made many
people sick and killed
thousands, but it motivated bigots
to lash out at Chinese and other
Asian Americans across New
York City.
The NYPD tallied no fewer
than 21 hate crimes against Asian
New Yorkers since the pandemic
began in the spring. To help solve
these cases, better communicate
with victims and bring the perpetrators
to justice, the NYPD
announced on Aug. 18 the formation
of a new, 25-member Asian
American Hate Crime Task Force.
Chief of Detectives Rodney
Harrison introduced the new
task force and its commander,
Deputy Inspector Hisao “Stewart”
Loo from Manhattan South
Detectives, at a Tuesday news
conference at One Police Plaza.
Harrison said the hate crimes
began when the public first
learned the origin of the coronavirus
from China. He said most of
the hate crimes in New York City
hit in May; the most recent case
one occurred in August.
Deputy Inspector Loo talks about the new taskforce flanked by Chief Harrison and some of
those detectives.
He said it was important to
have detectives who understand
the language, including several
versions of the Chinese language
to help victims trust detectives.
In the past, police would call
in interpreters, making it more
diffi cult for detectives to earn
the trust of Chinese Americans
who were sometimes reluctant to
prosecute suspects in hate crimes.
“There was a lot of anti-Asian
rhetoric after the start of the
COVID-19 pandemic and there
have been 21 anti-Asian incidents
with 17 arrested,” Harrison said.
Harrison said many victims
were afraid to testify and needed
the support of the Asian American
detectives who spoke their
language and understood their
concerns.
PHOTO BY TODD MAISEL
“We had people afraid to go
outside because of fear for their
safety,” Harrison said. “These
detectives have the resources
and the language skills that are
important in these investigations.”
Deputy Inspector Loo said
many in the Asian community
accused the NYPD of not caring
about them. He said this proves
something different.
“Everyone was saying the
police don’t care – we are showing
we do care,” Loo said. “We
would previously respond with a
translator, but the problem with
a translator is that you need to
build a rapport with victims and
it was diffi cult to do using translators
because they could only pass
along the message. These detectives
can break the barriers.”
Acting Queens Borough
President Sharon Lee applauded
the creation of the taskforce saying
many of these cases were in
Queens.
“The rise in hate and bias
incidents during the ongoing
pandemic was further illuminated
when, earlier this year, the NYPD
Hate Crime Task Force had to
create an entirely new motivation
category of crimes called ‘Other
Corona,’ and a substantial portion
of those targeted were of Asian
descent,” said Lee. “Words matter
and have consequences, especially
when misnomers like ‘Chinese
Virus’ and ‘Kung Flu’ are promulgated.
Hate and bias crimes,
however, are oftentimes extremely
tough to prove and require assets
to allow for serious investigation.”
New report shows the importance and
growth of cycling in Lower Manhattan
BY THE VILLAGER STAFF
The Alliance for Downtown
New York has released a
new report that details
bicycling infrastructure in Lower
Manhattan, with a focus on biking
as an alternative transportation
method in commuting to
work in the district.
“The ongoing COVID-19 crisis
has forced us all to rethink many
of our most basic routines,” said
Jessica Lappin, President of the
Downtown Alliance. “For both
employers and employees, having
a robust collection of options of
how to get to and from the offi ce
will now be more important than
ever.”
The Alliance’s study documents
that, in Lower Manhattan,
more than 2.3 miles of bike lanes
and 28 Citi Bike stations supplement
the neighborhood’s 15 ferry
routes, 13 subway lines and two
PATH lines — helping make
Lower Manhattan among the
most easily accessible downtowns
in America.
The study also reveals that:
Over 20% of Lower Manhattan’s
workforce already either
walks or bikes to work.
Among those living in Lower
Manhattan, over 30% walk or
bike to work.
In 15 minutes or less by bicycle,
the district can easily be reached
from most of Manhattan south of
23rd Street, as well as from key
neighborhoods along the waterfront
Brooklyn.
The neighborhoods where
the most people currently bike
to Lower Manhattan are seeing
their populations grow. These
communities are home to more
than 508,000 New Yorkers.
You can read the entirety of the
“Bike Infrastructure And Commuting
In Lower Manhattan”
report at DowntownNY.com.
Schneps Media August 20, 2020 3
/DowntownNY.com
