Republicans call for new public safety proposals

ALBANY, N.Y. » New York State Republican Legislators and law enforcement professionals from around the state recently called for an immediate restoration to public safety in New York.

“Restoring public safety must be job one to ensure that citizens, communities, and small businesses are safe from the ongoing wave of violent crime that’s threatening the security of all New Yorkers. Reckless, misguided, softon-crime policies advanced by radical Democrats have empowered criminals and hamstrung law enforcement. Repeal of the discovery and bail reforms enacted by the Democrats can help restore the balance of justice and result in a state that’s safer and more secure for law-abiding New Yorkers,” Sen. Daphne Jordan (R,C,I-Halfmoon) said.

Assemblyman Jake Ashby (R,C,I-Castleton) joined with Assembly and Senate colleagues to demand immediate action by the State Legislature to enhance public safety in response to the unprecedented rise in crime over the past year.

“Despite only being in effect for little over a year, the overhaul of our State’s Judicial and Cash Bail systems has proven to not only be a tremendous failure but also a driving force in making our communities less safe,” Ashby said.

“It is imperative that we empower our Judges and law enforcement officers with the ability to properly carry out the oath they take to protect and serve our community,” Ashby added.

“No New Yorker should ever feel unsafe in their homes, neighborhoods, and local communities. Regrettably, the radical extremists now running the State Legislature have placed the interests of dangerous criminals above the rights of everyone else, including crime victims, law-abiding citizens, and the dedicated law enforcement professionals who keep our communities safe. The results are painfully clear, and New Yorkers have had enough. Today, the Senate Republican conference will be introducing a hostile amendment that will repeal the discovery and bail reforms that passed in 2019 and 2020. It’s time to restore common sense and public safety to our state now,” said Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt remarked.

“The safety of our citizens should be the top priority for anyone who holds public office. But year after year, Democrats have done everything in their power to undermine our laws, pardon violent criminals, and make it harder for police to protect the communities they serve. Those who supported and celebrated ‘bail reform’ as a means to make the community safe have lost all credibility on issues of law and order. They are responsible for establishing a system that enables crime and ignores criminal behavior, and it’s time to reverse course. Liberals’ platform on criminal justice isn’t simply misguided — it’s actually dangerous,” Assembly Republican Leader Will Barclay noted.

“The bail and discovery reforms enacted two years ago have led to record increases in crime in New York State. Judges must have the ability to make decisions about remanding dangerous criminals to jail for the safety of the communities they serve. We hope that the legislature will make common-sense changes during this legislative session. Positive changes to the bail reform agenda are vital to the safety of every New Yorker,” Chief Patrick Phelan, Executive Director, New York State Association of Chiefs of Police added.

Some of the public safety challenges New York is facing include:

• A 46.7% increase in murders from 2019 to 2020;

• Overall index crime in New York City increased by 21.3% in November 2021, compared with November 2020;

• Hate crime rates in NYC increased 97% from November 2020 to November 2021;

• Firearm-related violent crime increased by 28.9% from 2019 to 2020 in New York outside of New York City; and

• According to the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, New York has the highest demand for domestic violence services in the country.

For years, Republicans successfully led the fight to support and fund law enforcement, as well as enact landmark, tough-oncrime policies such as Megan’s Law, Kendra’s Law, and many others designed to toughen penalties for violent criminals and sex offenders — and to provide services to those in need.

The Republicans’ 2022 agenda to restore public safety includes:

Protecting Those Who Protect Us:

• Invest in law enforcement;

• Provide them with the support they need to make our communities safe and serve those in need; and

• Fight Democrat efforts to “Defund the Police.”

Rejecting Dangerous “Reforms” like Cashless Bail:

• End cashless bail, restore judicial discretion, and reject proposals like “Clean Slate”;

• Require state agencies to be transparent about the effects of public safety policies; and

• Enact policies that get dangerous individuals off our streets.

Reforming the Broken Parole System:

• Re-center the Parole process around the protection and rights of crime victims and their families;

• Ensure that cop-killers, serial killers, child killers, and other dangerous murderers can NEVER be released; and

• Reject dangerous Democrat proposals like “Elder Parole” and “Fair and Timely Parole.”

Passing a Victims’ Justice Agenda:

• Strengthen penalties for violent and repeat offenders, as well as hate crimes;

• Create and support more victims’ services and resources; and

• Invest in proven mental health, addiction, and homeless programs.