Syndication: Democrat and Chronicle
NEW YORK (77WABC) — Changes that NY Governor Kathy Hochul wants to make to the state’s controversial bail reform laws have yet to gain traction. Top democrats are reportedly not in support of Hochul’s proposals.
Bail reform changes in early 2020 largely ended cash bail requirements for many criminal charges. Judges can no longer consider danger as a factor in considering whether to remand a pretrial detainee.
LT. Gov. Brian Benjamin says Hochul’s changes are relatively modest compared to other proposals to address public safety.
More from Lt. Gov. Benjamin: He says Hochul wants to take a “scalpel” to the bail, focus on broad-based issues facing public safety pic.twitter.com/200RSbw7bP
— Nick Reisman (@NickReisman) March 22, 2022
“We are talking with the Legislautre on all proposals,” Benjmain said. “The governor believes we should have a scalpel-like approach here. We should only try to address things that would meaningful address what we’re seeing in our streets.”
Hochul’s plan addresses detainees who are believed to be suffering from a mental health crisis and expands the criminal charges that a judge is allowed to set bail for.
Congressman. Tom Suozzi, a rival of Hochul’s for the Democratic nomination for Governor in June, slammed Hochul’s package.
🚨#NoBailFixNoBudget@GovKathyHochul's half-baked crime plan is akin to responding to a patient in cardiac arrest by saying "take two aspirin and call me in the morning."
(1/2) pic.twitter.com/rKUqBxMZWo— Tom Suozzi (@Tom_Suozzi) March 22, 2022
“New York City has a crime crisis that Kathy Hochul has treated as an afterthought,” Suozzi said. “This past weekend, 29 people were shot in 24 different incidents. It’s Code Blue. The patient is on the table in cardiac arrest and Kathy Hochul’s response is ‘take two aspirin and call me in the morning.”
