Today, we’re diving into a hot-button issue that’s got everyone talking—rising crime rates and the actions of New York Governor Kathy Hochul. With inflation and immigration already topping voters’ concerns, the escalating crime rates are making headlines. And guess what? Donald Trump is making noise about it, too.
During a recent rally in the Bronx, Trump laid out his plan to make New York City’s streets safe again. Meanwhile, Republican governors across the country are touting any drops in crime rates they can find. But it seems like Governor Hochul hasn’t gotten the memo.
While other leaders focus on locking up the bad guys, she’s been busy springing more people loose. Just this past Friday, she granted clemency to thirteen more individuals. Some were convicted of dealing hard drugs, and two were serving life sentences for murder. Is this really the message she wants to send with Donald Trump trailing Joe Biden by only nine points in New York?
Let’s break this down. On Friday, Hochul granted clemency to 13 people, including several convicted of drug crimes decades ago and two serving life sentences for murder. This follows a promise she made in 2021 to use her clemency powers on a rolling basis rather than just during the winter holiday season. So far, she has granted clemency to 72 people since taking office.
Here’s the kicker. A spokesperson for Hochul’s office mentioned that over 1,600 clemency applications are currently pending. That’s 1,184 applications for sentence commutations and 472 for pardons. Criminal justice advocates are urging her to commute more sentences, but New York City residents are already in a frenzy over increasing incidents of random violence, muggings, and even attacks on subway platforms.
Now, some of the individuals who received clemency on Friday have already been released after completing their sentences. Hochul explained that issuing clemency now helps those facing “threats to their immigration status” due to having a conviction on their record while being in the country on a visa. But isn’t that the point of having these laws? America welcomes immigrants who want to work and contribute, but if they turn to crime, they’re supposed to face the consequences.
Additionally, Hochul moved up the dates for two prisoners to meet with the parole board. One is a convicted murderer serving a 75-year-to-life sentence for killing a cab driver. He wasn’t supposed to be eligible for parole for another thirty years. The other is serving a 25-year-to-life sentence for second-degree murder. Hochul claimed these men “have demonstrated remorse and a commitment to rehabilitation.” Sure, they have. But the real question is whether their rehabilitation will hold once they’re back on the streets or if they’ll revert to their old ways.
This situation raises serious questions. If these releases don’t work out and someone else ends up dead, that blood could be on Kathy Hochul’s hands. Many thought we were moving past the “criminal justice reform” and defunding the police movements. The results of those efforts haven’t exactly been stellar, as seen in various cities around the country. Yet, it seems that in New York, once Democrats latch onto an idea—even a controversial one—they find it hard to let go.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul got ejected from Police Officer Jonathan Diller’s wake today.
She was previously told by the police union president not even to show up.
Hochul should’ve listened.pic.twitter.com/mf59YP6nyf
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) March 30, 2024
Folks, this is a developing story, and it’s one we need to keep an eye on. With the election season heating up, every decision counts. Governor Hochul’s actions could have significant repercussions not just for New York, but for the national political landscape as well. Stay tuned for more updates on this unfolding saga.
