As part of a new series of policy proposals by New York City mayoral candidate Shaun Donovan, if elected, his administration would create a specialized team dedicated to stopping attacks against people of Asian descent.
Working within the existing Mayor's Office for the Prevention of Hate Crime, Donovan's staff would collaborate with district attorneys across all five boroughs, the NYPD, and other agencies to stop and prevent hate crimes as the city continues to reel from an alarming spike in anti-Asian violence.
"During these unprecedented times, [Asian-American and Pacific Islander] New Yorkers have fought for the wellbeing of their neighbors and their city. Many risked their lives on the front lines of our COVID response," states a policy memo Donovan's campaign shared Wednesday with the Daily News. "Through this all, non-AAPI New Yorkers and the New York City government have fallen short of doing their part."
The city has seen about 40 reported anti-Asian hate crimes so far this year - compared to 29 for all of last year - according to NYPD stats. Authorities believe many crimes go unreported.
That's "mostly due to an understandable lack of trust in law enforcement," according to Donovan, a former top official in the Bloomberg and Obama administrations.
© Provided by New York Daily NewsNew York City mayoral candidate Shaun Donovan
New York City mayoral candidate Shaun Donovan (Barry Williams/)
The candidate, a Democrat, said he'd try to improve police relations with Asian communities through town halls and by adding diversity to the NYPD's ranks.
The proposals come as contenders in the packed mayoral race have sounded off on the wave of anti-Asian violence. Businessman Andrew Yang, who's been leading the polls, gave an emotionally charged speech saying one victim "could easily have been my mother."
As part of a holistic response to the hate, Donovan touched on areas outside law enforcement.
He said Education Department curriculums should raise awareness of the issue by teaching about the 19th-century Chinese Exclusion Act barring immigration of Chinese workers, the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II and other low points of U.S. history.
Donovan also repeated promises to create a "chief equity officer" charged with improving health and other areas for New Yorkers, saying that the role would address the ongoing impact of COVID on Asian and other minority communities.
Mayor de Blasio leaves office at the end of the year due to term limits. The Democratic mayoral primary is scheduled for June 22.
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