New York City is deploying specialized “Q-Teams” to address quality-of-life issues and enhance public safety, Mayor Eric Adams announced.The initiative aims to improve the daily experience of residents by tackling minor offenses that can erode neighborhood cohesion.
These Q-Teams are comprised of neighborhood coordination officers, youth coordinators, and traffic safety officers. Their mandate includes responding to non-emergency calls related to noise complaints, inconsiderate driving, illegal vending, public drug use, reckless scooter operation, and the presence of homeless encampments. this approach is intended to foster a greater sense of security among New Yorkers, complementing the city’s efforts to reduce overall crime rates.
Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks emphasized that the Q-Teams are not a return to “zero-tolerance policing” and are not primarily focused on apprehending individuals for major crimes. Rather, the objective is to “improve daily life” by addressing the cumulative impact of smaller disturbances that can make neighborhoods feel less safe or welcoming. Banks noted that while many New Yorkers may not have been direct victims of serious crime, they often experience a “gradual breakdown of things that make a neighborhood feel like home.”
Mayor Adams stated at a June briefing that while crime has been reduced, the next crucial step is ensuring that residents “feel safe.” the Q-Teams are designed to achieve this by creating cleaner, more orderly, and more predictable public spaces.
