Reform bail reform
72% in NY poll: Give judges more say
An overwhelming majority of New Yorkers appear to want Albany Democrats to overhaul bail reform, a new poll shows — giving Gov. Hochul ammo for budget talks to try to force more change.
Seventy-two percent of Empire State residents support giving judges more discretion to set bail for those accused of serious crimes, with a breakdown of 76% of Democrats, 71% of independents and 69% of Republicans, according to the Siena College poll.
Related changes were supported across every demographic covered by the survey of 802 registered voters. The poll had a margin of error of 4.6%, including race, sex, religion, religion and geography.
Almost all New Yorkers — 92% — believe crime is “very serious” or “somewhat serious” of a problem statewide, while 65% say the same about their own community. The 65% of black New Yorkers who favor more judicial discretion were the smallest majority.
“For more than a year, at least 90% of voters have said crime is a serious problem in the state, at least 60% say very serious,” Siena pollster Steven Greenberg said. “For more than a year, at least 63% of voters have said crime is a serious problem in their community, at least 27% very serious. And today, 60% say they are concerned they could be a victim of crime, largely unchanged over the last year.”
A boost for Hochul
Public opinion could lift Gov. Hochul in budget talks as she pushes an overhaul to bail reform, despite the resistance of the relatively left-leaning Democratic supermajorities in the Legislature.
The heads of seven New York City business improvement districts cited the survey Monday while urging members to lobby lawmakers to tighten bail laws.
As The Post has reported, some tourist hot spots such as Times Square have suffered from significant increases in major crimes and shoplifting.
“While conditions in Midtown and Times Square have improved, we hear from many of you that we still have challenges,” wrote Tom Harris, president of the Times Square Alliance, to his business-district members, providing contact information for them to voice their concerns to Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, both Democrats.
“The state budget will be decided in the next few weeks, and we have the opportunity now to impact what is included,” Harris said. “Public safety is not a spectator sport. We need New Yorkers to support the governor’s plans to remove the least restrictive standards in the bail laws and fund the mental-health services as we move forward.”
Divided opinions
The poll also found 58% of New Yorkers supported Hochul’s proposed ban on flavored tobacco, while 34% oppose the idea.
They were more divided on giving taxpayer-funded health care to undocumented immigrants, with 49% opposing and 44% in support.
A whopping 76% favored legislators’ budget plans to increase income taxes on people making more than $5 million per year, with just 19% opposed.