NYC PBA backs invoice to higher police accommodations, which house owners name `nuclear bomb’
The union representing New York Metropolis cops has endorsed controversial laws to extra strictly regulate accommodations, which house owners of inns declare will crush the Massive Apple’s lodging trade.
Intro. 991 — the Protected Resorts Act — will make it simpler to rein in problem-plagued accommodations, Police Benevolent Affiliation President Patrick Hendry stated, becoming a member of forces with the important thing labor power behind the measure, the Lodge Trades Council representing 1000’s of lodge employees.
“Whereas New York Metropolis cops acknowledge that the overwhelming majority of our metropolis’s accommodations and
motels are accountable companions inside our communities, there are a small however vital variety of dangerous actors whose properties harbor legal exercise and different public security hazards,” Hendry stated in an Aug. 2 letter to the invoice’s sponsor, Councilwoman Julie Menin (D-Manhattan).
“Cops on patrol are very conscious of such properties in our precincts, as a result of we’re known as to these areas many times for points starting from quality-of-life violations to critical and violent crimes, together with drug trafficking, human trafficking and murder,” the PBA chief stated.
“These dens of criminality and dysfunction aren’t solely harmful for lodge employees and law-abiding friends; they pose an pointless danger to PBA members each time we reply there.”
4 of the 5 district attorneys additionally again the invoice.
However lodge trade leaders declare crime isn’t a major problem on the properties and the difficulty is getting used as a ruse to micromanage the accommodations, with one likening the laws to a “nuclear bomb.”
Amongst different issues, the proposal would require accommodations to reapply for an working license each 12 months and ban institutions from subcontracting out for entrance desk and room service and upkeep work.
“New York Metropolis accommodations would not have a public security drawback, interval. Our accommodations are among the many most secure on the planet. This invoice was written to assist the personal pursuits of a only a few, and to not shield the general public security of New Yorkers and our guests,” stated Vijay Dandapani, president and CEO of the Lodge Affiliation of New York Metropolis.
The American Lodge and Lodging Affiliation, in a letter to the 5 district attorneys, additionally disputed crime statistics cited by the invoice’s supporters and famous accommodations have a low criticism price within the metropolis’s 311 system.
“Extra pointless laws will solely additional burden the hospitality trade and take a toll on town’s economic system. The Metropolis of New York ought to all the time work to enhance on crime and legislation enforcement points, however implementing one other license for accommodations to function received’t assist accomplish that purpose,” stated Kevin Carey, interim president and CEO of AHLA.
“What has labored is legislation enforcement working collectively in partnership with the lodge trade to make sure our group, staff and friends are protected.”
