Bill de Blasio Appoints Bratton, Rejects "False Choice" Between Safety and Privacy

The Brian Lehrer Show | Dec 5, 2013

Mayor-Elect Bill de Blasio has appointed former Giuliani NYPD commissioner Bill Bratton to once again lead New York's police department. In a statement, de Blasio said that "Bill Bratton is a proven crime-fighter" who rejects "the false choice between keeping New Yorkers safe and protecting their civil rights. This is an Administration that will do both." Bratton added that "Mayor-Elect de Blasio’s priorities are my priorities."

This comes in a week when de Blasio is announcing his first-term team, a set of advisers and commissioners who he says will help tackle his priority of reducing inequality in New York City. Today he is expected to announce Bill Bratton as NYPD Commissioner.

Meanwhile, President Obama gave a speech yesterday in which he warned of a "dangerous and growing inequality and lack of upward mobility" in the developed world. He also quoted Pope Francis: "How can it be that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless person dies of exposure, but it is news when the stock market loses two points?"

We discuss the Bratton pick, the inequality agenda in New York City, and beyond, with your calls and local analysis from Juan Manuel Benitez of NY1 Noticias and Jill Colvin of The Observer. Plus, live coverage of Bill de Blasio's latest transition announcement, scheduled for 10am.

Obama Speech on Economic Mobility and Inequality (Transcript)

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