Statement on Commissioner Tisch’s Dangerous Choice to Keep a Murderer Employed in the NYPD

Last Friday, Jessica Tisch decided to overturn the guilty verdict against Lt. Rivera, who killed Allan Feliz while on duty and is a repeat violent offender—with almost 40 misconduct allegations and numerous lawsuits against him. She has chosen that this man should maintain access to a gun and a badge, despite his long track record of violence. In addition to the egregious harm this will cause Allan’s family, this choice will endanger the residents of NYC. I hope our next mayor will see this public safety hazard for what it is and remove both Tisch and Rivera from their respective roles. 

Everyone in our city deserves safety. Time and time again, we see that comes from investing in public services, not turning a blind eye to systemic violence.

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STATEMENT: IMMIGRATION CHAIR AVILÉS VOTES IN FAVOR OF THE CITY BUDGET

Brooklyn, N.Y. — In a statement, Council Member Alexa Avilés, Chair of NYC Council’s Committee on Immigration, elaborated on her vote in favor of the NYC FY2026 Budget: “I believe it is not only our moral obligation as leaders of NYC, but in our interest to uphold the rights, safety, and dignity of all working-class New Yorkers, particularly our immigrant neighbors. I am proud that, for the first time since I was elected to the City Council, we will pass a city budget that does not merely restore cruel cuts from the Adams administration, but goes further to produce true benefits for the working-class.

“Critically, the City Council has secured an additional $33.6m for Immigration Legal Services, $24.6m for the New York Family Unity Project, and $16.5m to support Unaccompanied Minors. Though the Adams Administration fails to recognize the crisis of violence and mass deportation before us, this Council stepped up and demanded more. The Progressive Caucus has won historic public safety programs, including tens of millions of dollars for mental health response teams, strengthened support for survivors of gender and domestic violence, and a mental health pilot program for EMS workers. These programs will bring us one step closer to true public safety, where care-based support for our fellow New Yorkers is put first. NYC will also enact early childhood education improvements, including $423.4m for childcare vouchers, $112m for 3-K and Pre-K seats, and $10m for an infant and toddler childcare pilot, all services that will ease financial burdens for working families.

“These programs and others will make New York City more livable and affordable for all. So, for the first time in three years, I voted yes on the city budget. There remains so much work to be done, equity to champion, many injustices to dismantle, and we are prepared for the tasks ahead. But today, we can say that we have taken a positive step toward the future we would like to see.”

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February 13, 2025

Following Mayor Adams’ meeting with border czar Tom Homan, the mayor announced an incoming executive order to re-establish the ability for ICE agents to operate on Rikers Island for criminal enforcement. This meeting comes days after top Washington D.C. Department of Justice (DOJ) officials interfered in his criminal case and the same day several DOJ officials resigned in protest, including the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. In response, Speaker Adrienne Adams, Council Member Alexa Avilés, Chair of the Committee on Immigration, and Council Member Sandy Nurse, Chair of the Committee on Criminal Justice,released the following statement.

“The mayor’s announcement of the intention to issue an executive order that allows the Trump administration access to Rikers is concerning, but we must see language of any purported executive order to evaluate its legality. Today’s statement by the mayor only further connects it to the resignations at DOJ over the apparent quid pro quo identified by the recently resigned U.S. Attorney for the Southern District. Local Law 58 of 2014 has clear guidelines that prohibit the use of office space on Rikers for the enforcement of civil immigration enforcement. We are prepared to defend against violations of the law, but this announcement only deepens the concern that the mayor is prioritizing the interests of the Trump Administration over those of New Yorkers. Current city laws are specific to how and when city resources can be used for federal immigration enforcement to protect the safety of our city and its communities. The Council will determine its formal response based on the executive order.” 

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February 7, 2025

It was recently reported that City Hall distributed a memo to municipal employees weeks ago that provided confusing guidance on in-person interactions with non-local law enforcement, including federal immigration officials. The memo sets a new threshold of “reasonably feel[ing] threatened or fear[ing] for…safety” for which the employee “should give the officer the information they have asked for (if available to you) or let them enter the site” without a judicial warrant. In response, Speaker Adrienne Adams, Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala, and Council Member Alexa Avilés, Chair of the Committee on Immigration, released the following statement.

“The new memo provided by Mayor Adams’ administration is highly irresponsible, confusing, and dangerous to New Yorkers and our workforce. It runs counter to what the Administration communicated to the Council at our recent public hearing and in other venues. This updated guidance is inconsistent with city law and also exceeds the policy guidance, required by local law, for how city agencies should interact with non-local law enforcement. Its effect will be to give special treatment to the extreme actions of the Trump administration’s agencies. This represents a betrayal of New Yorkers and our city. We call on the mayoral administration to rescind the problematic areas of this new guidance and instead provide clear direction that is in compliance with local laws and consistent with city policies. The Mayor and every Deputy Mayor have the responsibility to prioritize New York City and New Yorkers, not cater to the Trump’s administration’s extremism that seeks to sow fear and tear New York City families apart. The Council is considering all its legal options to reverse this appalling memo and hold the Administration accountable.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 10, 2024

PRESS CONTACT: Winnie Marion | 929-474-0156 | wmarion@council.nyc.gov

Brooklyn, N.Y. — In response to Mayor Adams’ plan to use emergency executive order to circumvent the city’s sanctuary/detainer laws, Council Member Alexa Avilés, Chair of the Council’s Committee on Immigration and Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO of New York Immigration Coalition said,

“In real time, we’re watching our mayor throw millions of New Yorkers under the bus to save himself from his own potentially criminal actions. It is a tragedy for New York’s immigrant families that Eric Adams is so desperate for a presidential pardon that he is ready to abuse emergency powers and force city agencies to work with ICE to appease Donald Trump. All of our immigrant neighbors are under threat of not only the incoming Presidential Administration, but also a mayor who is ready to upend their lives and our democracy for his own personal gain.
“Adams’ attempts to change the law will do nothing for public safety, but they will break up families, uproot vibrant immigrant communities, and majorly disrupt our economy—which relies on the participation of millions of immigrant New Yorkers—as the incoming administration has vowed to do. New Yorkers deserve better, and this Council will fight in tandem with our communities against any attempts to circumvent the law.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 5, 2024

PRESS CONTACT: Winnie Marion | 929-474-0156 | wmarion@council.nyc.gov

Brooklyn, N.Y. — In a statement, Council Member Alexa Avilés celebrated investment promises included in City for All: “When the Mayor introduced his City of Yes housing legislation package several months ago, it was obvious that the proposed zoning changes alone would not be enough to save New Yorkers from this dire housing crisis. For too long, the real estate industry has been given the power to rule over our city, fueling extreme gentrification and the constant exploitation of working-class tenants in every neighborhood. In order to truly right the wrongs of housing inequality, we must build tenant protections and put more power in the hands of the people.

“That being said, the NYC Council has been able to use the Mayor’s insufficient proposal to our advantage, negotiating through City for All to increase funding for programs such as $200M towards investigating and reducing vacancy rates in NYCHA public housing, expanding CityFHEPS rental assistance by $187M to create affordable housing options for homeless New Yorkers, and committing $2B in funding towards maintaining our parks and public infrastructure.

“While these investments will not radically change the state of our housing crisis in NYC, they will provide substantive and immediate support for working New Yorkers. That is a victory we must celebrate and why I voted in support of today’s proposal.

Now, we must all set our sights on holding our leadership accountable to these promised investments, ensuring the money is distributed equitably across our city. In addition, I urge the Mayor—who has now stated his commitment to solving the housing crisis—to address the real root of the problem. Limit the power of the exploitative real estate industry, put more tenants on the Rent Guidelines Board, and build Green Social Housing.”

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