 |
| File Photo |
“To those hiding their heads in the sand about the crime wave that’s sweeping across our state, one simply needs to hear about the eight-year-old boy shot in Gordon Heights while sleeping,” said Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano in pointing out that crime is escalating not only in the cities, but the suburbs as well.
“That criminals think it's okay to fire away in our neighborhoods is unconscionable,” DeStefano continued. “They’re not worried about the repercussions since New York has become practically lawless as misguided politicians make it harder and harder for police to do their job and crack down on crime.”
The boy was not critically injured from the three bullets shot through his house, one hitting him in the side and the others just missing his 11-year-old cousin. Suffolk police from the Sixth Squad are investigating the Cedar Lane shooting.
“Let’s hope the perpetrators are quickly caught and not released hours later because of the state’s failed criminal justice policies,” DeStefano said.
The shooting was about six miles from another suburban incident where bullets struck the Shirley home of then-Congressman Lee Zeldin, who was running for New York governor at the time. Shortly after, Zeldin was attacked during a campaign stop by a knife-wielding assailant who was freed a few hours later under the state’s cashless bail laws.
“There are a number of bills passed by the legislature that, taken individually, are bad. Taken collectively, they're a disaster,” said Suffolk District Attorney Raymond Tierney, who frequently joins legislators, victim families and other prosecutors to lobby for changes in the state’s criminal justice laws. “As the district attorney of Suffolk County, when I see something that is not in the best interest of our citizens and public safety, I'm going to talk about it.” Tierney has written to Gov. Kathy Hochul urging her not to sign bills on her desk that would allow criminals to challenge old convictions and prohibit employers from finding out about a job candidate’s criminal record. “These laws are not just bad for public safety; they’re disastrous for public safety,” Tierney said.
“Keeping residents safe should be the number one priority of our elected officials,” stressed Brookhaven Supervisor Edward Romaine. “We will continue to see crime on the rise until we change cashless bail and undo Defund the Police and the other anti-law enforcement policies in Albany and Washington. We have to be able to provide a safe atmosphere in Suffolk County for our families.” Romaine, who is running for county executive, said he expects the endorsement of all of Suffolk’s law enforcement organizations. “I am running on an anti-crime platform and my policies will be the direct opposite of the pro-criminal Democrats,” Romaine said.
“Our children aren’t safe anywhere anymore, not even in their own homes, thanks to the soft-on-crime policies coming out of Albany,” according to Jennifer Harrison, executive director of the Victims Rights Reform Council. “This has to stop,” she said, adding that shots rang out in her Mastic neighborhood recently during a media interview about the state’s crime wave.
Community activist Rosalie Hanson agreed: “These policies don’t deter crime, they’re making it worse. The criminals don't feel threatened, and who pays the price? Innocent children in our communities.”
“New Yorkers fear for their lives and the safety of their families,” DeStefano concluded, referring to a recent survey showing 61% of residents worry that they’ll be a victim of a crime. “I condemn anyone who thinks this is okay. This should not be the new normal in our state.”