Welcome to the ticket. I'm Isaac Dauver.

Protest continue around the country over police violence. It's been incredible to

see how quickly the politics around the issue has changed. Only a few weeks ago, few people had even heard the phrase defund the police.

Now it's a slogan animating politics.

So today I wanted to talk to someone who's been working on these issues for years. A progressive

politician who's worked to remake the system, gotten actual results, and thinks this

is actually a unique moment for broader change.

Jumani Williams is the public advocate for New York City, the second highest elected

post in America's largest city.

He was a tenant advocate and activist who rose through New York politics as a vocal critic of the city's stop and frisk policing.

He spent a decade representing part of Brooklyn on the City Council, and as a council member in 2013

co-sponsored the Community Safety Act which established an Inspector General

to oversee the New York Police Department and create an enforceable ban against bias-based profiling.

The bill was passed over the veto of then Mayor Mike Bloomberg.

Weeks later, a federal judge ruled stop and frisk unconstitutional,

dealing a final blow to the program.

Now Williams holds the second biggest job in New York City government.

You may not have heard of the public advocate

before, but it's often a stepping stone to bigger things. His two predecessors are Letitia

James, now the state's attorney general, and before her, Bill DiBlazio, the current mayor.

I should also note the job doesn't put Williams in the DeBlazio administration.

In fact, he's been a very public critic of the mayor.

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