Pataki: I fear return to the bad old days

Former Gov. George Pataki warned on Sunday that New York City is in the midst of a “regression to those dark days when criminals ruled the streets.”

The Republican said he was alarmed by the rise in shootings during the coronavirus pandemic — which has also sent unemployment rates soaring above 20 percent.

“When I took office, New York was the most dangerous state in America. People got used to safety over the last 20 years,” said Pataki, who served from 1995 to 2006, during a radio interview with John Catsimatidis on 770 AM.

“They don’t remember the time back when we were so dangerous. What we are seeing now is a regression to those dark days when criminals ruled the streets,” Pataki said. “When parents were afraid to send their kids to school. And when tourists knew better than to come to New York. I’m worried about the future of New York.”

Shootings have been rising all year, but surged this summer. During the week of July 13-19, the city recorded at least 63 incidents — up from 20 over the same period last year.

President Trump had warned that he would send in federal officers if New York couldn’t tamp down the gunfire. Gov. Cuomo said the commander-in-chief agreed to stand down after the two spoke about city crime earlier this week.

Mayor de Blasio earlier this month unveiled an “End Gun Violence Plan” that centers on increasing foot patrols, shifting deployments and hosting gun buy-back events in areas with high numbers of shootings.

But Pataki blamed city leaders for allowing “radicals” to foster an anti-police sentiment in the city.

“In a short period of time, the radicals have taken over,” he said.

Pataki also attacked bail reform — often blamed for shootings, though NYPD data suggests otherwise — as well as Democratic leaders for treating the “criminal [as] the victim.”

“I fear now with people working remotely . . . they’re going to say, ‘I don’t need the commute. I don’t need to put up with the homeless on the streets. I don’t need to put up with the crime,’ ” Pataki went on.

“We’re going backwards. It’s tragic. We’ve got to change it.”