Where Is New York?

“The citizens of New York are tolerant not only from disposition but from

necessity. The city has to be tolerant, otherwise it would explode in a

radioactive cloud of hate and rancor and bigotry. If the people were to

depart even briefly from the peace of cosmopolitan intercourse, the town

would blow up higher than a kite.” E. B. White (Here is New York, 1948)

“We see in this last few days our city and the America we’ve made for

ourselves undone. An utter failure, not only of governance but of humanity;

not only of politics but of love. A heartbroken America of indifference and

suspicion, of violence and deadly race hatred, of greed and fear and anger

and ignorance. We see the worst in ourselves and lash out, and we now see

that America and our New York City burning.”

Loree Sutton (Leading Forward and Lifting Up All New Yorkers; June 5, 2020)

When E. B. White penned the words above in 1948, he viewed New York as

it was emerging from the wake of World War II. His admonition still holds.

In early June, I observed New York as it floundered amid deadly disease,

financial collapse, and lawlessness. On this Independence Day, I reflect on

what it means to be an American and a New Yorker. I am writing from a

place of frustration and grief.

I am not alone. A surge in emails, texts and calls over the last few days

convey a growing sense of outrage. In the words of a fellow veteran, “Is this

what I fought for in Vietnam and have continued fighting for ever since? Hell

no! This cannot be the future of our city and country. Not on my watch.”

The greatest city in the world — rich in diversity, global capital of finance,

restaurants, entertainment, theater, parks, small business, creativity,

culture, arts, monuments, tech startups and tourism — is becoming a place

of fear and anger. How could this happen — where is our New York?

Two words — political malpractice.

Preserving public health and safety is the overriding responsibility of elected

leaders at all times — particularly during a global pandemic — and can be

accomplished, and co-exist, with the sacred trust of protecting the

constitutional rights of New Yorkers to assemble and protest.

Sadly, the mayor and city council speaker abdicated this responsibility and

betrayed the city they were elected to protect and lead. These two elected

officials succumbed to politics as usual calculations to guide their actions,

unnecessarily allowing protests to devolve into public health hazards

accompanied by agitators ready to create and exploit mayhem.  

Following the tawdry budget negotiation process finalized in a heated rush

earlier this week, the mayor and speaker held separate press conferences to

announce the results. The mayor proudly touting success in “defunding” the

NYPD by $1B; the speaker squirming in place, no doubt hoping that no one

would note his reversal of historic support for the NYPD. Neglecting the 9/11

hero cops they honored just a short time ago. It was a pathetic tango to

witness in real time. 

For Corey, it’s a flip-flop over 5 years; for Bill, it’s a cave-in over 5 days. In

both cases, the lack of values-based leadership is maddening. 

To be sure, there are systemic police leadership, management and training

failures, as well as impaired officers whose misconduct demands early

intervention and prompt accountability. The current mayor must listen to his

police commissioner: the next mayor must make this a top priority. 

This is the time to work with NYPD rank and file leadership, representatives

from all boroughs, community, BLM, union and city stakeholders together to

reimagine, rethink and reform law enforcement in New York City. All parties

working together to hash out differences and find commonalities. This is the

only way to forge lasting and equitable change.

Racial bias and excessive use of force should have no part in our city’s police

department nor should verbal abuse and physical assault of police officers be

condoned. A steady and escalating pattern of mistreatment over the past 6

years — from hurling water, ice, milk, bricks and Molotov cocktails — has led

us to a number of troubling realities to keep in mind:

— Over 300 police officers have submitted their retirement papers in recent

days; this loss of seniority will lead to a hollow and inexperienced force

which will take over a generation to replace.

— The history of our country is replete with examples of how efforts to

protest against racial inequality and mistreatment are rarely taken seriously

until violent actions and property destruction ensues. Unless elected officials

can bring people together to achieve meaningful and sustainable solutions,

protesters have no reason to take them seriously.

— New York City remains the global target for those who would wreak havoc

and terrorist attacks on our country; NYPD is widely recognized as the

world’s leading expert force for combatting terrorism.

— The glorious governmental heart of our Metropolis has been taken over by

a lawless encampment, and nearby buildings grotesquely defaced.

— Police officers of color are under particular duress, given that they must

navigate their daily NYPD duties as minority members while also enduring

taunts and distrust from those who accuse them of being disloyal to their

home community. Their families and loved ones carry this burden as well.

— What you will never see or know is just how many NYPD professionals

work night and day — responding to calls, investigating crime and

preventing terrorist attacks — to keep New Yorkers safe. It’s not what they

do, it’s who they are.

— As the 9/11 retired officers say, “When we went looking in that pile for

victims, we did not ask ourselves, what race, religion, or party they were.

There was no discrimination, they all perished the same way.”

Why are we only highlighting our differences now?

We are squandering an opportunity to create an inclusive process for

listening to different points of view and bridging across differences. Instead

our public officials are locked into a destructive cycle of polarization that is

the heart of the matter. Knee-jerk reactivity, rather than a measured

response, is tearing us asunder and setting the conditions for further

tensions, resentment, and rage.

What is necessary is a different kind of leadership, characterized by

listening, learning and responding in ways that build trust and foster respect.

Seasoned leadership seeks to build coalitions, rather than exacerbate

tension. A leader who will calmly face the complexity of these issues and

lead us forward to a better New York City for all.

Serious times demand serious leadership.

Where is New York?

Loree Sutton

July 4, 2020