Two CUNY Law alums sponsored bill to repeal 50-a

State Sen. Jamaal Bailey, a CUNY Law alum, (left) hugs State Sen. Zellnor Myrie after the Senate passed the bill to repeal 50-a. Photo courtesy of CUNY Law

By David Brand

The two state lawmakers who sponsored legislation to repeal 50-a share more than a drive to reform policing. They have the same alma mater, too.

State Sen. Jamaal Bailey and Assemblymember Danny O’Donnell both graduated from Long Island City’s CUNY School of Law — Bailey in 2012 and O’Donnell in 1987 — and each sponsored the bill to eliminate thee 1970s law that shielded police personnel records from public view in their respective chambers. The measure passed both chambers of the state legislature June 9 and Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed to it into law three days later.

Opponents of 50-a have long criticized the law for masking patterns of abuse and brutality by officers. People of color impacted by police violence have worked with justice reform organizations like Communities United for Police Reform to push lawmakers to do away with 50-a for years.

Senate and Assembly Democrats decided to act after the police killing George Floyd in Minnesota set off weeks of protests in New York City and across the state.

Bailey, who represents the 36th District in the Bronx, credited his time at CUNY Law for revealing the power of legislation for fostering social change. 

“It’s allowed me to keep that mentality when drafting and defending legislation, especially issues that relate to social justice, basic transparency and fairness, which is to what the legislation that Assemblymember O’Donnell and I passed concerning 50-a relates,” Bailey said