NEW YORK (PIX11) -- Harlem City Councilmember Yusef Salaam had little to say Sunday when asked at an unrelated press event about Friday's traffic stop.
"I'm not making any comment at this particular point in time," said Salaam when pressed by PIX11 News.
On Friday, police pulled over Salaam while he was driving with his family. Salaam, who now chairs the Public Safety Committee, said the officer never gave a clear reason for the stop, exemplifying the need for increased police transparency.
The NYPD said Salaam was stopped for tinted windows and that the officer acted legally and professionally. Body camera video of the interaction shows the officer letting Salaam go when he says he is a city councilmember.
In light of the stop, Salaam declined to participate in a police ride-along Saturday night with fellow council members. The city council is pushing to override New York City Mayor Eric Adams' veto of the 'How Many Stops' Act. Adams said it would bog down police with unnecessary paperwork for low-level interactions. Council members say it will lead to more transparency.
When asked why Salaam did not attend the ride-along, he said that he 'has something in the future that we will be doing' but did not elaborate.
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