As many onNYTurf regular readers are aware, the NYPD plans to impose severe restrictions on our right to publicly assemble. The NYPD is not a group that puts Free Speech first - shocking, I know. Only the City Council can stop them, however there is a problem. Christine Quinn, The Speaker of the council, seems to be fully in support of the NYPD plan, and as Speaker she has a lot of power over the other councilors, so much that many are tight lipped on this matter. This is unacceptable. Our City Councilors need to stand up for our fundamental liberties, they need to call on The Speaker to legislate this issue.

Preferably it would be good for the City Council to take up the NYC First Amendment Act put forward by the Assemble For Rights coalition which would greatly protect out right to publicly assemble.

Now there are some City Councilors who have spoken out strongly against these rules and would like to legislate this in Council. But there are far more that have not spoken out. To help New Yorkers learn where their City Councilor stands and how to contact them about this issue, I am proud to announce today the launch of a new map that tracks the City Councilors on this issue: The NYC No-Freedom Zones Map:

How It Works

Councilors are basically broken into two groups, those for Free Speech and those Against. If you are a city councilor that has stood up to the NYPD your district is marked as a blue colored Freedom Zone, however if you have not, or if your effort is lacking in a serious way, or heck if you are like the Speaker and you actually support these rules, then your district is marked as a red colored No-Freedom Zone.

Here are some examples:

Rosie Mendez is FOR Free Speech:


Christine Quinn is AGAINST Free Speech:

How Councilors Are Scored

Some councilors are not at some extreme position, but might be in the middle. Important details about a councilor's position are noted in their popup window. However if a councilor is too passive on this issue their district is a No-Freedom Zone and that is because even mild opposition or "concern" is not going to be enough to stop this plan. The City Council must vigorously take a stand or the NYPD will simply be able to put their rules into effect.

Brief Refresher - Why The NYPD Should Not Be Making These Rules

The plan the NYPD put forward is sweeping, it affects groups of 10 or more people, not only is that offensive in terms of our First Amendment rights, but the NYPD is not a legislating body. The NYPD is a law enforcement body. Making rules that affect millions of people no matter what the specifics of the rules is the domain of the legislative branch City Council. Certainly safety and security issues are to be considered when it comes to street use, and the City Council can facilitate the NYPD giving input; this is what legislating bodies are good at, holding discussion about a topic, taking input from all parties and coming up with an appropriate solution. Only in fascist countries are the police allowed to make their own rules. That's not a wacky pinko observation, that is just reality. This issue couldn't be more "American" in nature, Thomas Jefferson would be having a fit if he saw what was happening with this.

Map Updates

The map will be updated as Councilors wish to be known as guardians of free speech. I was able to only reach a hand full of councilors. I tried calling most, some several times, and most gave me the run around, some were wonderful. Most have not tried to get their point of view out to the press, most are hiding or don't seem to care. But it doesn't have to stay that way!

If you are with a city councilor's office and you would like people to know that you vigorously support free speech please email me at will-at-onnyturf.com and the map will be updated instantly! If you are a constituent and you call your councilor's office and they tell you something different from what you learn from the map, please let me know right away!

Please check back regularly to see how the council is doing and please forward this to many people as well as media outlets, the more people know about this and the more city council knows about this then the greater the chance there is to have an affect.

Have fun with this, and if you live in a No-Freedom Zone you are welcome to come hang out in mine, which is Free, thanks Council Member Brewer!

PS, we have a graphic if you really love this and want a badge to put your site, its the same as the one running on the home page of this site as well as on the subway map. This is it.