New York City Mayor Eric Adams, alongside NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, has announced the boroughwide expansion of the NYPD's Quality of Life Division "Q-Teams" to Staten Island. The expansion comes after what the office deems a successful pilot phase, promising to curb issues that impede the sense of safety and well-being of residents, such as illegal mopeds, derelict vehicles, and public drug use, as per an official release from the Mayor's Office.
Since the pilot's commencement in April, the specialized teams have managed to notably reduce non-emergency response times by an average of 50 minutes citywide. They have also been actively towing vehicles and seizing illegal bikes. These efforts have broadened the city's approach to public safety, shifting to also focus on enhancing living conditions. According to statements gathered by the Mayor's Office, the "End the Culture of Anything Goes" campaign aims to properly help those with severe mental illness and address the health crises evident on city streets, in hopes to connect suffering individuals with treatment.
The statistics show that Q-Teams have responded to over 41,000 calls from both 911 and 311, with the initial pilot commands handling 18,031 of these calls. They've towed 710 abandoned vehicles and seized 322 illegal e-bikes, scooters, and mopeds thus far. The teams first moved to cover the entirety of Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens, and now Staten Island adjusts to embrace this change.
The efforts of the Q-Teams are being recognized by local authorities as critical in maintaining healthy and safe neighborhoods. Richmond County District Attorney Michael E. McMahon praised the initiative for its focus on prevention and community partnership. In a sentiment echoed by Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella, he underscored that the teams are reinforcing the priority to improve Staten Island's living conditions. This includes managing issues like abandoned vehicles and illegal mopeds to keep neighborhoods "safe, clean, and welcoming," as lauded by New York City Councilmember Kamillah Hanks.
Mayor Adams emphasizes their comprehensive city-wide dedication, stating, "New York is a five-borough city, and I am a five-borough mayor," highlighting the importance of every part of the city to its collective success. Commissioner Tisch noted that Q-Teams stand as a swift and consistent response to the concerns of New Yorkers, ensuring quality of life remains at the heart of NYPD's daily operations, according to the Mayor's Office official release.
