NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Gov. Kathy Hochul is reportedly trying to revise bail reform through budget negotiations—and it’s not going over well with some members of her party.
The Democratic governor is said to be proposing a 10-point public safety plan that includes rollbacks to the controversial 2019 state law.
The changes would give judges more discretion on setting bail based on criminal history, while also expanding the list of crimes eligible for bail, according to reports Thursday.
Among other things, the plan makes crimes against subway and bus passengers bail-eligible, as well as crimes involving guns.
Mayor Eric Adams, who pushed for changes to bail reform during a visit to Albany last month, released a statement Thursday, saying, “The governor’s proposal includes significant steps, which I have advocated for, that would make New York safer, while not undoing important reforms.”
“It is a big step forward that these proposals are being discussed at the highest level in Albany, and I am grateful to the governor and the legislature for their partnership,” the mayor said.
Adams and others in the city are concerned that bail reform has led to a revolving door for repeat offenders. But they haven’t found much support from Democrats in Albany to change the law, which eliminated cash bail for most misdemeanor and non-violent felony charges in an effort to make the system fairer for people who couldn't afford to pay bail.
Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt supports the proposed changes. But he questioned Hochul’s timing and wondered if it can even get passed by the April 1 budget deadline.
“Whatever the reason, it’s welcome, but I still think there’s some significant obstacles, namely the Senate and Assembly Democrats,” Ortt said.
Advocates for bail reform feel it’s not responsible for a spike in crime, which in the city is up over 45% from last year. They said rolling back bail reform will only hurt people.
Marvin Mayfield, of the Center for Community Alternatives, said this is a knee-jerk reaction by the governor.
“There is no data or evidence that says bail reform was not working. Bail reform was working and is still working,” Mayfield said.
Marie Ndiaye, of the Legal Aid Society, feels it’s a political move by Hochul.
“The governor’s office is pandering to law enforcement and opponents of bail reform,” Ndiaye said.
“We are going to see the crises at Rikers and at jails across the state be exacerbated,” she said. “The people who are going to feel the brunt of it are poor Black and brown New Yorkers.”
The governor’s office hasn’t commented on the reported proposal.
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