This morning DNAinfo reported that Council member Margaret Chin was "backing down" on her bill to punish people who buy knockoff goods with up to a year in jail or a $1,000 fine. "We're definitely getting some pushback," her chief of staff Jake Itzkowitz reportedly said. "I think [the bill] may not stay in its current form. The year of jail time may change." But Chin asks us, "Why would I back down from a bill I just introduced yesterday." Her communications director just fired off this statement:
Council member Chin is in no way backing down from this bill. The language of the bill provides for a civil or a misdemeanor penalty. This is standard text found in amendments to the “Public Safety” title (title 10) of the Administrative Code. It is included to allow the city to pursue a variety of options. The bill is drafted in this way to allow discretion on the part of the NYPD and the involvement other agencies. Ultimately, every bill submitted by the City Council is required to go through the hearing process where suggestions are made and potential modifications are made. This is the democratic process. Council member Chin stands behind the bill and welcomes constructive feedback as the process unfolds.
But regardless of who said what to whom or who didn't back down or front up or whatever, DNAinfo's story does contain some interesting news about the black market merchandise crackdown in Chinatown. At a 1st Precinct Community Council meeting last night, the precincts commanding officer, Capt. Edward Winski, said that cops have made 1,876 arrests, issued 6,341 summonses and have confiscated more than 28,000 counterfeit handbags since the crackdown began a year ago.
Also worth noting: the NYPD has gotten the city to remove two payphones on Canal Street, and they want to rip out three more, because Winski says "they provide cover and concealment for the bad guys." (Sorry, Superman.) And when asked if police would actually arrest someone for buying a tacky Louis Vuitton ripoff, Winski said, "If it becomes a law. We enforce all laws in New York City." Just not the ones they break themselves, obviously.
Here's Chin's bill:
