City Approves Agreement with State over 2020 Protests.

In their regular meeting of the new term, the Saratoga Springs City Council agreed to enact new changes to how the city handles protests after an investigation by the New York State Attorney General’s Office. 

The agreement comes after the state launched an investigation into how police and elected officials handled the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. 

Under the terms of the agreement, the city neither confirms nor denies the findings of the investigation but agrees to implement changes and recommendations to how the police conduct operations during protests and other demonstrations. 

Under the agreement the city will agree to remove all criminal penalties for failing to file a demonstration declaration or parade permit, but they may impose fines. In addition, under the agreement elected officials are specifically forbidden from ordering or influencing the Police Department to investigate, arrest, and or engage in surveillance of anyone engaged in first amendment activities. They’re also forbidden from ordering or influencing decisions on police deployment. 

The agreement also dictates various policy changes to how the Police Department handles protests and first amendment activities. Under the agreement, the department is required designate and train designated “protest liaison” officer to assist with protests over 25 people. In addition, they must implement a four-tiered response to protests and are prohibited from investigating and surveilling individuals based solely on their involvement in first amendment activities — among other requirements. 

They’re also prohibited from treating protests differently based on the message of the protest. 

Under the agreement, the city has 90 days to implement the agreed-upon changes. Public Safety Commissioner Tim Coll said the agreement will cost the city $200,000 every year.

Public opinion was mixed on the agreement, with some saying that the agreement didn’t go far enough to address past wrongs while others said the report was one sided and shouldn’t be signed by the city.

Despite these concerns, prior to the vote the agreement received the endorsement of both Mayor John Safford and Coll. Coll said that the agreement was an alternative to litigation and that the relationship between the city and Attorney General’s office. 

“Over the past 18 months, the city has had extensive and at times spirited discussions with the OAG on this matter,” Coll said. “Ultimately, we were able to find common ground and that understanding is reflected in this agreement.” 

Ultimately, the agreement was passed by city council unanimously. After the meeting, Safford praised the agreement calling it a positive thing for the city and saying that they will continue to work with the Attorney General’s Office. Coll meanwhile said that a lot of the changes in the agreement have already been implemented and that they’ve seen positive results from the changes. 

In addition, after the agreement was approved New York Attorney General Leticia James put out a statement calling the changes the “most extensive ever secured,” by her related to first amendment activity. 

“New Yorkers have the fundamental right to speak out, organize, and protest without fear of unlawful interruption or retaliation,” said Attorney General James. “Our investigation found that Saratoga Springs repeatedly violated those rights and targeted protesters because of their message. This agreement is a significant step toward rebuilding trust between the Saratoga Springs community and its police force and will ensure everyone is able to safely express their beliefs.”