New York mayor savages legal system for going soft on crime

ERIC ADAMS, the mayor of New York, has attacked Democrat lawmakers for going soft on crime, saying they are out of touch and have even proposed policies including “letting anybody out” of the notorious Rikers Island jail.

As well as lashing out at members of his own party, Mr Adams took aim at prosecutors and judges for turning the city’s criminal justice system into “a laughing stock”, claiming “bad guys no longer take them seriously”.

The former police officer praised the NYPD for being “laser-focused on the shooters” and making arrests, but demanded that “the other team must do their part”.

“The courts have to prosecute. Judges have to make sure they stay in,” the 62-year-old said. “Everyone has to do their part. If not, they go out and come back.”

Expressing his frustrations at a press conference in Brooklyn, Mr Adams said: “People no longer believe that you can’t do a shooting in the city. No one takes criminal justice seriously anymore.

“These bad guys no longer take them seriously. They believe our criminal justice system is a laughing stock of our entire country.

“We have to get serious about this because innocent people are dying.”

New York has been hit by a major crime wave since Mr Adams became mayor, despite his pledge to crack down on offending. In March, there were 36 per cent more major crimes, including murders and shootings, than in the same period last year.

“Sometimes, I just feel with some lawmakers that they’re just not dealing in the reality,” said Mr Adams.

“I’ve had lawmakers say to me that young people are carrying guns because they feel unsafe and so it should be understandable that they’re carrying guns. No! No! It’s not understandable.

“I heard a lawmaker say that ‘if you want to deal with the Rikers issue, just let anybody out.’

“I mean, what is the reality here? That is not what New Yorkers want.

“We’re hoping that they listen to what we have been saying to make our city the safe city that we deserve.”

A damning report into Rikers Island last year found that it had spun into chaos and the population of about 5,000 prisoners had almost seized control of entire units.

The mayor was able to share some positive news, however, as tourism once again surged in the Big Apple.

Last week, hotel demand hit 95 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, with midweek numbers higher than the weekend, showing the growth in business travellers.

‘I heard a lawmaker say that “if you want to deal with the Rikers issue, just let anybody out”’