Why We Lost the Review Board

Under New York City’s ancien regime, presided over by the amiable Bob Wagner, political hot potatoes were handled by appointing committees to study them until they were cold and dead. A year ago New York voted for a change—a change it may not be prepared to cope with. It elected a mayor who is young, energetic, and as moral—at times overbearingly so—as his predecessor was pragmatic.

It elected John Lindsay after he had campaigned for a civilian-dominated police review board. Being a moral man, he interpreted his election as a mandate to fulfill his campaign promises—including that of a review board. So he set one up, thereby making the Policemen’s Benevolent Association unhappy enough to call for a ref...