When Public Advocates Attack

Another wise negotiating tactic on the part of the mayor’s team:

Anticipating that a new administration would drop Mr. Bloomberg’s suit, unions representing police officers filed their own challenge to the law along similar grounds.

“Our opposition to this legislation has been and continues to be that it penalizes our members and the public rather than addressing bad policies,” Patrick J. Lynch, the president of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, said.

Whether or not to continue that suit could figure into current contract negotiations between the police unions and the city, union officials said.