Mayors team up vs. costly new law

A group of mayors has launched a petition drive to protest elements of the state’s new evidence-discovery-reform law, which they say imposes massive new costs that will lead to property-tax hikes.

In a change.org petition, Stopthediscoverytax.com, the New York State Conference of Mayors is calling for Albany to overhaul new rules requiring prosecutors and police to turn over to criminal defendants all evidence against them within 15 days of arraignment or indictment.

“Stop Governor Cuomo’s Criminal Discovery Reform Tax . . . The State’s incorporated villages, the State’s District Attorneys . . . are against the Governor’s, Senate, and Assembly imposed tax hikes,” the petition says.

The requirements also cover people accused of minor crimes such as motorvehicle infractions and building violations, said Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy, a Democrat who is president of the mayors group.

Police departments and courts will have to hire more staff and provide overtime in order to comply with the law, government officials have said.

Kennedy and other mayors claim Gov. Cuomo and the Legislature have failed to provide adequate funding to cover those costs.

The Village of Freeport last week raised property taxes by 5.7 percent, blaming the new law for the hike.

The conference has also drafted a resolution recommending changes in the law.

Among other things, it calls for extending the deadline for revealing evidence to defense lawyers from 15 days to 60.