Photo: boonchai wedmakawand / Moment / Getty Images
The Saratoga Springs City Council will vote on a proposed civil rights settlement with New York Attorney General Letitia James. The settlement addresses complaints that the city's police violated the rights of Black Lives Matter protesters in 2020 and 2021.
The agreement, which follows a 2024 report by Attorney General James, outlines new policies and practices for handling protests. It includes a tiered protest response system and mandatory training for a "protest liaison." The city pledges not to engage in conduct that violates First Amendment rights.
The settlement does not admit wrongdoing by the city but requires changes to ensure constitutional rights are protected. It also allows the Attorney General to appoint an official to oversee protest-related arrests and permits state investigators to return if new violations occur.
Attorney Mark Mishler, representing some protesters, emphasized the significance of the agreement, citing a pattern of racially motivated civil rights violations. Saratoga BLM Communications Director Alexus Brown called it a small but important step toward progress.
The city council will discuss and vote on the settlement during its meeting on Tuesday (January 6). Mayor John Safford expects the council to approve the agreement, which requires implementation within three months.
Public Safety Commissioner Tim Coll declined to comment before the meeting. The settlement comes after two years of discussions between the Attorney General's office and city officials.
For more details, visit the CBS6 Albany website.