It is very easy to manipulate crime statistics and for City Hall to claim the city is safe.
It’s not.
How can any New Yorker feel safe and secure in Gotham when armed uniformed police officers are brutally assaulted by a gang of hoodlums? Five of the suspects, all migrants living in city shelters, have already been arrested on felony assault charges which made them eligible for a bail condition, yet four were released on their own recognizance and only the suspect who resisted arrest is being held on $15 thousand bail. The four that were released were given a next court date because the Manhattan DA’s Office did not ask for bail when they could have, based on the charges. The four released suspects are believed to have left the state en route to California. Police are looking for eight other suspects.
Now New York politicians are performing theater for the media and scrambling to mitigate their involvement in the laws and policies that gave birth to this lawlessness while feigning support for the police. Unsurprisingly, the City Council, City Hall and the Governor’s Office are not accepting any blame for this egregious assault on police officers but they are quick to take all the credit for anything good.
Unlike the weather, crime is within the government’s control but many politicians pursue personal agendas instead of keeping New Yorkers safe. Common sense laws that are not counterproductive to safety in New York City must be passed and police must be supported in order to carry out their legal authority. Legislatures must understand that not everybody willingly obeys the law and sometimes force must be used, that’s why it’s called law enforcement.
There are many parts to the law enforcement eco-system. The New York State legislature, the New York City Council and the DA’s Offices, among others, must all do their part to keep people safe. The police cannot keep order alone but even in the midst of flagrant disrespect and vicious attacks they are still willing to protect New Yorkers.
Are we reaching a point where New Yorkers will be seeking sanctuary in their own city?
