By WSR Editorial Staff
Most of the political attention on the Upper West Side has been focused on the District 12 Congressional primary between Carolyn Maloney, Jerry Nadler, and Suraj Patel, brought to us by this year’s redistricting kerfuffle.
But redistricting created another new district for us to consider: State Senate District 47, which, for some unknown reason, was plopped between Districts 28 and 30. District 47 covers, roughly, “the West Side of Manhattan from the Meatpacking District to the Upper West Side,” according to the Gotham Gazette. Or, as one candidate running in the district, Senator Brad Hoylman, put it, “from Christopher Street/Stonewall to 103rd Street.”
As you have probably surmised from the photo, Hoylman was endorsed by Congressman Jerry Nadler, and vice versa. They are both self-described and proud “progressives.” Hoylman, who has been in the State Senate for 9 years, is being challenged by Maria Danzilo, a lawyer and former candidate for City Council, who, in 2020, came in second — albeit by a wide margin — to Gale Brewer, the former Manhattan borough president, who had held the council seat before.
Danzilo is a political newcomer who does not call herself a progressive, but rather, a “common sense candidate.” She’s focused on one issue as a big dividing line between her candidacy and Hoylman’s Senate record: bail reform. He was one of 23 co-sponsors of the controversial legislation, which Danzilo says is responsible for the rise in crime we are now experiencing in the neighborhood and city.
“They went too far, they didn’t think it through,” said Danzilo of the reforms, passed by the state legislature and signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2019. Bail reform took effect in 2020, eliminating the use of cash bail for most misdemeanors and some nonviolent felony charges.
Hoylman says Danzilo is confusing “causation with correlation. Crime has increased in virtually every city and state across the nation,” he points out. “Those other states didn’t reform their bail laws. So to say the laws are the culprit…the statistics just don’t support it.”
Here is Danzilo’s emailed response. It’s followed by a statement from Hoylman. Both were edited slightly by the Rag for length.
Maria Danzilo
Our elected leaders need to stop saying that crime is not real, or that New York crime should be dismissed because it is part of a national trend. We can’t fix the problem until we acknowledge a problem exists. The overall crime index has increased 30.5% in July, year over year, and the rates are much higher in the 20th and 24th precincts, 55.41% and 31.43%, respectively.
Under the new law, Judges could only consider whether the person is a flight risk, and, for the small number of bail-qualifying offenses, they could only impose the “least restrictive option” to assure a defendant’s return to court. Judges could not consider whether a person is dangerous, because the law did not include a “dangerousness standard.” This provision would have given judges the ability to impose bail if, based on criminal history, the person is a threat to public safety. This “dangerousness standard” is included in every other state’s bail legislation, and is even part of federal bail law.
Following public pushback, the state legislature made some modifications, adding more bail eligible crimes, but refused to address the fundamental flaw in the law: that dangerous and repeat recidivists could be released into the community.
A second round of tweaks were made in Spring, 2022, but, again, Governor Hochul and the legislature refused to fix the loophole. Adding the nationally accepted dangerousness standard into the law would address this flaw. [It]is a reasonable and pragmatic solution that will restore the balance between reform and public safety. New York’s judiciary is one of the finest in the country, and the vast majority of judges do their jobs with diligence and competence. The legislature needs to give judges the authority to do their jobs.”
Senator Brad Hoylman
Everyone wants to point to bail reform, which addressed a glaring discrepancy in our criminal justice system: If you’re rich, you get out of jail. If you’re poor, you’re thrown into Rikers to languish and, possibly, die. Hundreds of incarcerated individuals who have never had a trial are forced into cells, some, solitary confinement. We can’t accept that. That’s just not the way our country, which has due process, should operate.
Look at the uptick in crime across the country. If bail reform is responsible, why do cities like Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, and Miami have increased gun shootings and recidivist shopliftings? The best solutions, in my opinion, are the data-driven ones I’ve been working on in Albany. For example, I’ve been helping lead the efforts to re-open Midtown Community Court. MCC is the nation’s foremost problem-solving court and helps reduce recidivism by linking defendants to treatment and services as a condition of their release.
Second, every New Yorker realizes we have a mental health crisis on our streets, which contributes to recidivism. I’ve passed legislation in the Senate that will help more hospitals treat more psychiatric patients for longer. Third, I’ve written legislation to hold online platforms accountable for fencing stolen goods. Fourth, I’ve passed legislation to help law enforcement track guns and improve our clearance rates by mandating microstamping technology on newly-manufactured handguns.
And finally, we worked in Albany last year to address the concerns raised about the bail law. Repeat offenders and those charged with gun possession are, in fact, now bail eligible. And I agree with Governor Hochul that judges have wide discretion in sentencing repeat offenders; they apparently need to be better educated on how to best use these tools.
For the candidates’ positions on other neighborhood issues, check their websites: Maria Danzilo and Brad Hoylman.
I have been trying to figure out whether the NY Post was correct in saying that this crime in the Bronx is “not bailable”: a man punching another man from behind. The victim hit his head on the sidewalk and is in a medically-induced coma. The perp, caught on video, was charged by the Bronx DA’s office with assault and harassment, both misdemeanors. He was not assigned bail but merely put under supervised release: I think under a parole officer.
Was the Post lying when they said that the judge could not assign bail to this crime?
https://nypost.com/2022/08/18/sex-offender-accused-of-nearly-killing-man-with-punch-freed-without-bail-after-charges-reduced/
no, the post was correct due to the decision to charge him only with misdemeanors
The DA in The Bronx lowered the charge from a felony to a misdemeanor and for that reason the judge could not assign bail. Governor Hochul had to step in and have the alleged assailant re-arrested. This is a rare and unprecedented act and makes it clear the Governor as well as many others believe the laws fatal flaws have to be corrected. As. Many Democrats have pointed out, Democrats need to show we are serious about the crime issue, or Republicans will have a huge advantage in the Fall.
I voted for you, Maria, mostly for your well-reasoned responses and thoughts you’ve expressed in this article; I feel crushed you didn’t win. I can only imagine the swirl of your thoughts and emotions this evening.
Thank you for the time, effort and the expenses you’ve shouldered in running for the State Senate. Good luck to you dear. -L.
Well put: ” . . . Democrats need to show we are serious about the crime issue, or Republicans will have a huge advantage in the Fall.”
Reply
The person was re-arrested and would have been held regardless if the DA had kept the original charge or done their homework and found out the person was on parole! How is it the law’s fault that the DA is undercharging people? How can we trust you as our senator if you won’t tell the truth now?
she’s not lying, you are. Only reason this lowlife was rearrested was because of the media scrutiny. many others like him are not caught on video and are undercharged, leaving judges with no ability to exercise common sense.
The above is not by me, the author of the comment beginning, “I have been trying to figure out…” It is by someone who has made a profile using the screen name I have been using.
To the writer of “The person was re-arrested…” and other comments downthread: You have adopted a screen name already in use–by me. Please make a new profile with a new name unique to you.
I can’t say that I agree with the question but I definitely like the fact that a politician is questioned in a very direct and preside manner. We need people asking more detailed questions like this and have politicians answer it with explicit details.
WSR, it would be helpful if you run articles like this a bit earlier before the elections.
Thank you , Maria, you said what I said below, but much more succinctly.
Thank you for your answer. Are you the candidate, Maria Danzilo, herself?
Whether or not you like The Post, The Post is correct that the charges were not bailable. The assailant was out on probation. The police for obvious reasons (severity of the crime) reported a felony. A felony while on probation is bailable. The prosecutors for reasons unknown reduced the charges to a misdemeanor. A misdemeanor while on probation is not bailable.
Earlier this year NYS expanded the list of bailable offenses:
https://opdv.ny.gov/bail-reform-amendments.
Before that revision, which is still insufficient to reduce revolving door recitivism, the paroled assailant would not have been subject to bail, even when charged with felony assault.
In this case the question is, why did the prosecutors reduce the charges on something the police, society, and even the assailant thinks was a very serious crime? The assailant told his parole officer that he possibly killed his victim.
The reduced charges by the prosecutor granted the assailant supervised release with no bail, even though the assailant was already supervised by his parole officer, and during this supervision, he punched a random guy into a coma.
This is why we need a dangerousness standard, so judges can override the whims of prosecutors who compromise public safety. Despite what Holyman says, judges do not have that discretion now. It needs to be codified. Holyman won’t support that law. Danzilo will.
“Why did the prosecutors reduce the charges on something the police, society, and even the assailant thinks was a very serious crime? The assailant told his parole officer that he possibly killed his victim” – that is a very good question.
Hochul had him rearrested on parole violation. That is another issue disturbing on several points:
1 something as basic as parole violation wasn’t enforced the first time around. It was a lifetime parole after a serious crime.
2 Hochul has consistently refused to do anything regarding current bail laws, granting judges the discretion and removing Bragg. Yet she jumped personally into the matter to have the assailant rearrested on parole violation. That shouldn’t work this way and shows how far things got so out of hand. We don’t need her personal attention to each and every case. We need laws that prevent the situations like that from happening.
I agree with Christine E that Holyman will be a complete disaster.
Thanks for your answer. I was told by a candidate that judges can assign bail to misdemeanors. I don’t remember every nuance of the conversation, but I came away with the sense that this candidate maintained the legislature has “fixed” the bail reform law to allow judges blanket discretion. But the Daily News (I can’t link) makes it seem as though a misdemeanor is bailable only if the accused has committed some other crime that is currently being processed.
The bail reform law and updated amendment have a specific list of what crimes, categories, and/or accused status (e.g., parolee or not) are subject to bail. If the situation is not on the list, the judge cannot impose bail.
There are some situations on the list that include misdemeanor plus X plus Y plus Z… The list currently does not include misdemeanor plus parolee, for example, but does include misdemeanor for harming someone while being free/non-bailed for a felony (but not misdemeanor) harm of someone else, but not while free pending trial for some other felonies.
Basically at this point there is no true broad statement that all felonies or misdemeanors are bailable or non-bailable. The circumstances have to fit the list, and conversely there seems to be no discretion for when it does not. (Except by governor override??)
The NY Post lying? Are you from New York?? Of course they are. They are a Fox-owned right wing MAGA media outlet with the single goal of electing Trump and defeating President Biden and Democrats in the midterms, along with Governor Hochul. Danzilo is a stooge of the Manhattan Institute. She’s for lowering taxes in the rich, defunding our public schools in favor of privately run charter schools. She’s impersonating as a Democrat. Voter Beware! ⚠️
Defunding public schools? Lol. That’s not even a thing. Pull her voting record. Nice try, Corinne.
I heard those fake rumors as well that she wants to “defund” public schools. I asked her about it when I saw her campaigning before I cast my vote for her. Maria is for school choice., which includes charter schools. We spoke about how the BOE needs some improvements and mostly about how so many kids are not getting the caliber of education required to secure better local jobs. To me, education is the ticket to addressing poverty and equity issues in this city. Not govt handouts that keep classes of folks down. So glad that common sense kicked in to override DiBlasios efforts to end gifted and talented programs. I believe strongly in teaching a person to fish over just giving them one. Education is how people improve their situations. Govt should provide options over restrictions. But I do understand how this could worry the Teachers Union and foster fake rumors. Please check your sources and also try talking to Maria directly. You might be surprised what you learn.
I could care less about the NY Post. I simply wish to feel safe taking the subway again. In that regard, I think Maria is the best candidate in terms of crime and safety.
Charles oh Charles,
So the Post lies in order to elect Trump.
And the NYTimes does not report the news in order to elect Biden.
What is worse?
The Times and all other left media did not report on the Hunter Biden lap top from hell, two weeks before the election.
After the election, 15% of the people who heard about it – AFTER the election, said they would have voted GOP. Meaning – Biden would have lost.
And the Russia gate was a lie as well, but reported as truth by the drive by media.
But – the Post lies in order to get Trump in.
All others are saints.
Yep.
I know – glorifying and idolizing one source when completely vilifying another is hard to comprehend.
I already saw many times in these comments that NY Post is considered by many locals something shameful to read.
All media is biased so in order to get an idea you have to read everything and use your critical thinking to process the information. I can’t understand why people will blindly trust or complete ignore a source because of their ideological association.
Brad has the better gasp of the nuances around criminal justice, the bail reform bill isn’t perfect but it is being iterated upon
And the marijuana bill (MRTA) isn’t perfect also, but being.. iterated upon? We have illegal vans up and down Broadway idling their engines and selling who knows what to people next to schools. Iterated upon? Do that before you vote for a bill. Hoylman supported the marijuana bill which was NOT READY to be rolled out. So many unanswered questions with this bill. Part of being a good leader is making sound, thoughtful decisions and knowing when to bow out.
You said it yourself, the vans are illegal – so what does that have to do with the MRTA? It’s an enforcement problem.
There’s no law right now regulating pot sale. Only the laws allowing pot to be legal.
Whom are you trying to mislead? Repeat violent offenders out without bail – not perfect? Do we need to require a news article for each of these cases for the governor to intervene? In case you didn’t get it – here’s the recipe: Downgrade crime to non-bailable one and let the criminal free. Enough!
“Isn’t perfect” is the understatement of the year. Experts agree, it’s a disaster. I wish politicians would stop experimenting at our expense. It’s going to take a decade to undo this mess. I voted for Maria. Anyone w a business, a family or love of the UWS should too.
Let’s not forget Brad dipped his toes in other races and settled for D47 because it benefited him. He’s a musical chair politician. Time for a real NYer running for the right reasons. Not just personal benefit.
The subways and streets are full of homeless. People jump subway turnstiles without a care in the world. The streets stink of marijuana. Shoplifting and crime are thru the roof.
Yet Hoylman believes all is OK and NYC is like Mayberry.
We need common sense politicians who can fix the damage “progressives” like Hoylman have done to our city. All across the country – even in notoriously liberal cities like San Francisco- there’s an inevitable backlash against progressives.
I wish Danzilo well.
Hoylman blames “them” (the government) for the current homelessness and mental health crises unfolding on our streets and in our subways, which have caused families with children to leave the city.
Isn’t “he” “them”?
What I found very disturbing during the recent debate. Hoylman kept blaming others for problems. Its the judges fault. Its the police fault. No ownership for things he could or would do differently. He often smiled at how well he thinks its all working. THAT to me is a big problem. Q was asked abt Brad Lander and his role in auditing shelters or conflict of interest w his wife. He denied knowledge of anything and commended Lander for being a great public servant. He seems blinded by the light. And drinks the kool aid.
she is way too sane to be elected on the west side. Imagine being more concerned with the victims. Instead of the criminals
Wonderful and very helpful article, thank you, WSR.
Vote for Maria or do not complain that violent recidivists that crack innocent people’s skulls go free in NYC! Enough is enough!
https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/ny-bronx-punch-arraignment-20220818-sqdenztivzfcfik6q3qwmgegiu-story.html
Typo in Maria’s name above her picture. But look up the NYPD stats about 10 repeat offenders committing 500 crimes since the bail reform took hold. That’s 10 criminals, 500 victims. Sad.
Thanks, fixed it
Maria, you have my vote!
Please please get rid of bail reform and refund our police departments.
the NYPD was never defunded! their budget is bigger than ever.
thank god
Maria has my vote 100%, but the sad reality is the delusional leftists that comprise most of the UWS will not vote for her. I have been a card carrying Dem all my life and a social justice activist (lobbying albany and won), but the decline of the city has pushed me to vote differently. I really pray that people wake up and realize voting for the same type of “politician” over and over gets us the same poor quality of life — not to mention the oppressed people that the leftists are hell-bent on protecting are no better off and have not been well-served by the current leadership at both the city and state levels.
NY voters are, sad to say, traditionally lazy. They vote incumbents based on name recognition vs doing the homework. Doing the homework will lead to one conclusion: Brad Hoylman puts interests of criminals over public safety. Vote Maria like your lives depend on it….because they just might
And they seem to cover for each other vs challenge and debate. They are selling a dogma, know better than anyone else, and will support each other’s bills to further the cause. Its no longer abt their constituents. What happened to representation for the people by the people? But people need to get out and vote. Show up at polls. Please.
It’s over. Wish I could say it was fun to watch.
It’s not over till it’s OVER. Vote!! We need to turn the tide. Brad’s done nothing for this city but speed up its destruction and then tries to “mansplain” to an established and successful woman attorney? No thank you.
As a small business owner on the UWS, as well as a resident of the UWS, everything Maria Danzillo states has made me PRAY she wins. Every local small business should be praying she wins. The problems we face with the mentally ill, the aggressive panhandlers continually coming up to people on the sidewalk and IN our stores, the shoplifting and crimes have cost us significant business and we are fighting for our lives.
I have struggled continually with this from even before the pandemic. If you really care about your small businesses, then we need to get a grip on crime and the quality of our neighborhood. No one wants to shop our area due to the constant problems. More and more stores will leave the 80’s, 90’s and 100’s due to the excessive problems. It is not the rent.
It is CRITICAL that our neighborhood gets the support we need for safety and to have sidewalks people want to walk again. Your local small businesses are relying on it and need Maria Danzillo to win. She is a Democrat, liberal, fair and pro-choice but cares significantly about our safety and quality of our neighborhood. Your local stores need help and this is how serious this is that I feel she is my only hope.
Tell 10 friends to vote for her. This is a winnable race.
However good Maria looks on paper with her anti-crime agenda, I will vote Republican for the first time in my life. I had enough of empty promises. Look at Adams, he was elected because of his anti-crime stance. Did anything change for better? Anything at all? I’m voting Republicans not because my values changed, but because the left became corrupt and radical and are ruining our city, state and the country. Once a Republican is elected, they may come to their senses. Otherwise they will continue as usual, with no exception.
Jen, if you are planning to vote Republican for the first time in your life in November, then you probably are a registered Democrat now. Therefore you are eligible to vote in the August primary that decides the Democrat party state senate candidate for the November general election. Regardless of how you vote in November, please vote anti crime for Danzillo in this week’s primary. We need common sense crime policy on the ballot.
That’s exactly what I’m planning on doing.
Mayor Adams is probably a little limited as to what he can do. He can’t fire Bragg and Hochul won’t do it.
Then how was he planning to fight crime that he promised during his campaign? It was the most important issue that he was riding on.
He ENDORSED Bragg.
Good point? One of the things that impressed me speaking with Maria, she has actionable ideas. She has a plan for how she will try to build support for changes. All Brad talks abt is past legislation he helped pass but mentions thing that are not delivering in the help we desperately need. He chooses to see things as successes where many living it see it as worsening problems. Or someone else’s problem to fix. Still can get over him stating how judges and police have to start doing their jobs . Not his problems. He writes laws. If you choose not to see something does it mean it doesn’t exist?
What a clear-eyed assessment of what’s going on — thank you Maria, you have my support.
Well researched article. I really hope the Mayor denounces these crimes.
We need more than denunciations however! It’s not only the Mayor who counts; downballot candidates are vitally important. Everyone should take a few minutes to exit their vacay mindset and vote to save our city; I voted for Maria just for that reason.
Thank you WSR for your important and timely coverage.
This issue will define the future viability of our neighbors and our neighborhood.
I was planning to vote for Nadler, but now can’t in good conscience if he is endorsing Holyman.
The fact that ideas like “people who have been arrested for violent crimes should be held and not released on bail and the judge should be able to consider whether or not they are dangerous to be let out into the community” is considered anything OTHER than basic common sense is really disturbing. That’s progressivism for you.
If someone is a threat to the community why should the amount of cash in their bank account (or whether they have one) have ANYTHING to do with whether they are released back onto the streets? Either they are dangerous or not.
Yeah, who needs a trial? Lock em up for life, right?! Kalief Browder spent years on Riker’s Island for the alleged crime of stealing a backpack, and the charges were eventually dropped because there was no evidence. Now he’s dead because of it. I thought that in this country, you’re innocent until proven guilty. Apparently not to Maria Danzilo.
What happened to Kalief Browder is tragic. It doesn’t mean the bail reform was written properly. A lot of things were not taken into consideration which Christine E explained in detail.
Confusing “causation with correlation,” Mr. Holyman…how about a sober and simple analysis of your results over twelve years? The UWS deserves better!
Even if ‘bail reform is on the ballot,’ which it isn’t, it’s breathtaking that anyone would give any credence to a marginal, dangerous candidate like Maria Danzilo. She ran on an anti-homeless services platform against Gale Brewer, who is supporting Hoylman, and is doing the same thing against Hoylman. There are so many issues that could have been discussed in this article that would have differentiated the candidates for who they are. Why aren’t “public schools on the ballot” (Danzilo supports charter schools at the exclusion of our public schools on the UWS)? Why isn’t “taxing the rich” on the ballot (Danzilo supports lowering taxes on the wealthy)? Why isn’t “voting reform on the ballot” (Danzilo supports allowing Republicans to vote in Democratic primaries to dilute the UWS vote)? Danzilo is running an entirely negative campaign, has never even served on a local community board or block association, and has very little public record of accomplishments. Even if you take Danzilo on her word that she wants to reform the bail laws, there’s little to no evidence in my mind that she has the experience or credibility to make any difference on these issues in Albany.
You don’t think public safety is the #1 issue? You’d much rather worry about taxing the rich when we have violence in our streets and public transportation?
There is such a thing as a bad track record as well! Change is scary but sometimes the fresh ideas are what are needed to address some entrenched systemic issues. Hope you will reconsider your position and be open to fresh ideas of promising candidates vs blindly accepting the dogma of the status quo. Good luck to you .
If fixing crime is important to you, you’re going to vote for the candidate who promises to do that, not the candidate who supports the status quo — regardless of their legislative experience. Danzilo’s a lawyer. She’s no dummy. Being effective in office does not require experience. Look at AOC.
If you’re trying to raise a family here, Maria Danzilo is the way to go.
Thanks to WSR for this very helpful article. Danzilo is exactly what we need. Despite Hoylman viciously equating her with Trumpers, she is a moderate, common sense Democrat. She is pro-choice, supportive of LGBTQ+ rights, and wants to do something about guns.
However, she recognizes that quality of life is a litmus test issue for so many of us and wants to do something about it. She is not advocating for throwing everyone in jail. She just wants to move the laws a bit back towards reality. Hoylman has his head in the sand.
People are fleeing New York because of the major downgrade of quality of life. I know the Hoylman supporters say “good riddance” but these are tax payers who will support many of the programs like education, health care, affordable housing, etc. that are so important to all of us.
Please make the effort to show up and vote. This message board has had countless people complaining about these issues for years. This is your chance to actually do something about it.
Leon, If “people are fleeing NY” why are rents skyrocketing? In actuality, people are flocking to NYC.
Show up and vote? Umm… I am relaxing on the beach in East Hampton, thank you very much. You want me to schlep all the way into the city on a Tuesday to VOTE???!!! /s
Yes, VOTE!
Vote for Brad! HIs focus in Albany on expanding access to mental health and substance abuse support services are the EXACT strategy we need.
What strategy? I haven’t heard one strategy that provides medical treatment and bringing mentally ill chemically addicted individuala off the streets where they are a danger to themselves and others. In fact if you watched that hells kitchen debate ( shame on cb7 for not hosting one) he had no answers at all.
You are right! He acknowledged homelessness and mental illness. Commenting how it’s a problem everywhere. Hells Kitchen has really taken a hit. For someone with 12 yrs of experience and nuance as the gentleman above cites, I would expect an incumbent to have more dexterity in articulated solutions or proposals. It didn’t seem he feels this falls into his purview. He write laws. Maria wants to get oversight to look into why the providers are not taking proper care of the many who fall under their care. If a law doesn’t address a problem does the fact it passed mean anything? It’s about results achieved.
The fact that Brad Hoylman continues to insist Bail Reform and the inability to set bail for dangerous criminals is not part of the problem is mind boggling. He is willfully blind to data. His suggestion that Danzilo is “confusing” causation with correlation” is an insult to Danzilo’s intelligence. Yes Brad, when a serial criminal gets out the day they commit one crime and go commit another because they aren’t being held on bail, that is CAUSATION. A relatively small group of serial offenders is terrorizing the city, those who work at small businesses, and innocent citizens going about their day. 49 states have a provision allowing judges to set bail based on the danger posed by the criminal to cause more harm to innocent victims. We need new leadership in Albany who will support amendments to bail reform. That is one of the reasons I’m voting for Maria Danzilo.
Such interesting points. Part of being an effective leader is recognizing when you made a mistake or the thing isnt working as it should. Nobody says erase it all but tweak to fix the flaws. It doesn’t appear that Brad has the leadership or self awareness to admit that there are some problems in his solutions that need to be fixed. Just gaslighting others with statements telling others they are confused. Its a bit pompous actually….
the plain fact of the matter is that Hoylman has not focused on quality of life issues affecting the families and children and adults who call UWS home.
Agreed. Not to mention, he’s not focusing on hate crimes to minority communities, nor to attacks on vulnerable seniors. Himself “splaining” the issues to a successful professional woman is offensive.
I can’t understand how people continue to vote for the same people while NYC crimes are going up every day. Holyman has had 4 years to address mental illness and was behind deblasio 💯. Wake up and vote, he’s the mastermind of bail reform, passed it in a sweeping vote and hasn’t even attempted to amend it, he actually thinks it’s working! Nadler and him are responsible for all the victims that have been attacked by repeat offenders. We’ll have no more businesses if the daily theft without consequences continue. We need to vote in Maria, she has common sense solutions that need to be implemented right now.
Public safety should be the number one priority of an elected official. The 2019 Bail reform in practice has made so many of us feel less safe. That our elected representatives have remained largely unresponsive to the need to amend their 2019 reforms sends a loud message of the need for change – Vote for Ms Danzilo.
Brad Hoylman just made his case to be permanently voted out of office. Crime LA / SF / Chicago – all due to progressive DA’S and no enforcement of any crime. This is exactly why Boudin was recalled, Gascon has now faced 2 recalls, and Kim Foxx is a joke. The NY dems undermine every election with a summer primary bc they know many voters are not even here before schools. If they actually cared about having high voter turnout, they would demand a September primary when schools are in session. Instead they choose 2 dates when families or workers can take any time to take vacation. Frankly Brad Hoylman does not want the job- ran unsuccessfully for MBP, couldn’t squeeze in for d10. The exodus of 300,000 people fr NYS, and our zip codes being the highest in Manhattan should show everyone that Brad has made conditions WORSE for our community. We can only pray people vote, bc he’s just as unpopular as Nadler and Linda. She needs to go next.
I was always wondering why such important elections are held in August when the city is most deserted. Absentee ballots are helpful but not the answer.
The primaries are in August because of a court order by a republican judge in steuben county – can’t blame the libs for that one!
I didn’t blame anyone. Just asked a question.
As an attorney I find Hoylman’s response to Danzilo’s well articulated comments manipulative and even misleading to voters. Danzilo, herself a lawyer with a history of fighting for free speech and advocating for immigrant small business and shop owners during the height of the pandemic, correctly explained the legal sequence of the incident in which Hochul intervened. Hoylman’s claim that she confuses “causation with correlation” comes off as mansplaining and a veiled attempt to discredit her logical position for political gain, one which even our very progressive DA has acknowledged at this point. Crime has multiple causes, yes, including the pandemic and poverty, but not all or most in poverty are committing crimes, and let’s be clear that the issue here is repeat offense of dangerous to the public crimes. No one is saying we should lock people up for stealing bread. Yes, crime has increased for multiple reasons across the country, but we can do something to prevent those who commit dangerous crimes from going right back out and committing another one, and that’s what is at stake and what we have all seen occur newly in the last two years. That is part of the increase, and we need legislative action to address it. We need brave voices like Maria who spoke out on the “nuances,” which she clearly does understand, even in her City Council race, at a time it was less popular to do so. Now the results of Criminal Justice Reform are undeniable, but no one on the ticket is saying to discard it entirely. As a Democrat I do not want that. It’s seeking judicial discretion to set bail where there is demonstrated reason to believe the public is in danger. Lives lost this past year, including innocent children, could have been saved by that. Let’s also remember that we elect these local judges, so we’re not talking about our Scotus. I find it particularly distasteful when a career politician like Hoylman uses the convenient 2020 argument that a lifelong liberal like Maria is for the “rich.” Maria was raised in Brooklyn by small business owners and raised her children here while working full-time as a lawyer and is a lifelong Democrat with a history of advocating for Democratic principles. That should not include ignoring a disturbing trend in violent crime. We should learn more about Brad from his patronizing comment that a woman who has worked as a lawyer for decades is “confused” than anything else. It’s a cheap shot and moreover a dangerous one. As a mother and lawyer who fights for underprivileged every day, I will vote for the candidate who not only understands the nuance, but is brave enough to speak out on it to protect our City and will also fight passionately for core Democratic principles in the State Senate, Maria Danzilo.
Why does money even enter into the equation here? Bail is a tool to address people skipping future trial dates and is an ill-suited (and crappy) tool to keep “dangerous” people locked up. Either someone is an imminent threat to the community, and should stay locked up (regardless of how much money they have or can rustle up) or they are not a danger and should be released until trial. We can argue whether bail is effective at getting those people to return to future trial dates, but that is an entirely different conversation. If I am arrested after a domestic dispute and have made numerous threats against the life of my significant other, I get released to go hunt them down because I have a solid credit rating? WTF kind of system is that? The focus on bail specifically as a tool to keeping potentially violent individuals locked up until trial is so insanely misplaced that I am left with essentially no other choice to believe that there is some other ulterior motive behind police groups and others pushing against it. Is it the funding that bail provides? Is it the bail bonds businesses pushing it? Does it give police more power (in that the threat of even a knowingly unjustified arrest is more of a nuisance to people who are therefore more likely to comply with police demands)?
Point is, either keep potentially violent threats locked up or don’t. But there is ZERO reason bail needs to b e a part of that conversation.
Judges can set bail for repeat offenders, and violent crimes are bail eligible on a first offense. Yes the judge can’t consider “dangerousness” (whatever that means), but they can consider the seriousness of the crime, prior offenses, and whether anyone was injured as a result of the crime, along with a whole host of other factors. If you want to talk about nuance, let’s talk about the actual nuances of the law, which people like Danzilo want to ignore when they sell the public the idea that criminals can walk free no matter what they do.
All that the legislation that Hoylman has passed has contributed to the mess that NYC streets have become. I’m done with him and Nadler. I already sent in my absentee ballot and I voted for Maria Danzillo. We need to get rid of these political hacks and get people with common sense ideas into office.
It seems that standard should be is whether violence or the threat violence of any kind is alleged. Dangerousness seems to leave open the tendency for implicit bias. People who have hurt someone should not be able to walk out until trial. That seems like common sense and for the life of me I don’t know why that hasn’t been considered
Judges can consider whether someone was hurt as a result of the crime. What they can’t do is make some guess as to whether somebody is “dangerous” without a trial or any evidence.
You can’t be serious. Multiple violent offenders not to mention robbers were caught on camera and not once and this is not enough to keep them locked up?
I agree with you. It seems such a strange this to have to debate. Many of these perps seem to have a long list of convictions related to physical violence. What is the saying, fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me? Stay safe.
Thank you for this article, WSR. I only wish this were posted 10 days ago ahead of early voting. I’m voting for Maria Danzilo as she’s my only hope of restoring some common sense in Albany. Pols like Hoylman, Linda Rosenthal and Brewer have been aligning with the more extremist portions of the Democratic Party, mainly WFP, legislating for criminals while abandoning their victims. Enough is enough
“In essence, there is no real evidence that New York’s bail reform contributed to an increase in crime. In reality, most folks released did not get re-arrested, and for those who did most did not get re-arrested for a violent offense. According to one analysis, only 2% of people released due to the 2020 bail reforms went on to commit a violent felony.”
https://pappalardolaw.com/2022/04/bail-laws-revised-ny-2022-2023-budget/
So many conflicting views. Aargh.
I work with statistics every day, that’s what I do for a living. Every time I read that such as a such percent did this and that it makes me laugh. They don’t tell you many other important criteria that was or most often wasn’t included (for ex. number of people researched, geographical area, time and duration, age, etc. ). Same statistics could be interpreted as 80% instead of 2%.
That’s what papers and politicians are great at – gathering and interpreting statistics that benefit them.
Good point. Each high profile crime that shows up in press always seem to deal with a repeat offender. The violent perps never seem to be first time offender? No signs or warning. Something is off and if you are the one who gets hurt do the stats really matter?
I posted the link from Pappalardo. YOU have come on to reply two comments later, using my screen name, with your “Good point…” If you want to contribute, make a new profile with your OWN screen name. Stop using my screen name or else demonstrate that your profile with that name was created before I created mine.
This duplication of screen names is bad for West Side Rag. I am very surprised that the platform allows identical screen names to be attached to different people’s profiles. Not good for the WSR.
Why not use your real name? Hiding behind a moniker seems….well, its a lot easier to post nasty things or make accusations when you are anonymous? Would you say as many mean things if ever knew who you were?
There are several different people commenting using Neighbor. We suggest adding initials or numbers after your screen name to distinguish it from the others.
OK I’ll try it.
Sadly we can’t rely on that 2% stat. We know that DAs change violent crimes from felonies to misdemeanors.
Here’s some data for data-happy Brad. 20% of the businesses on the tiny single block of Columbus Ave beteeen 86th and 87th have been robbed at gunpoint in broad daylight (5-5:30pm) in the past 6 days. Why is this acceptable to Brad. And how will my kid walk home safely from school in a few weeks.
Brad had years to implement these reforms. Unfortunately the only one that passed is the most destructive. He doesn’t read the room. People want change. Maria is responsive to our community and will do her job.. which is serve her constituents. Brad only serves the ultra left “progressive” agenda, no matter what his constituents want.
In order to save the NYC we love Vote MIARIA
Bail reform? Shouldn’t this be people reform? Society is raising generations that don’t have to be responsible for their actions. Do-gooders say it’s not fair to certain groups to have to be accountable. Maybe these same bleeding hearts need to advocate for programs that try to change the lives of those that have succumbed to thinking crime is their only option? Some folks may be able to get off the crime hamster wheel.