Many memorable guests spoke at the Albany-held Conservative Party Conference, including Chairman Gerard Kassar.
“I’m excited about Gerry Kassar, and his views and his insights,” Smithtown Clerk Vincent Puleo told The South Shore Press. Puleo had not attended the conference “for the last 4 or 5 years or so,” but knew to report this go around based on how they have "revved it up.”
On Day 1, Kassar proudly introduced the “common sense conservative” candidate for New York City District Attorney looking to shake up statewide culture as a result: non-profit consultant, community activist and former public defender in Manhattan, Maud Maron.
Between attacking every solitary item of incumbent Alvin Bragg’s track record and platform, Maron waxed poetic about her days as a 3-times elected “sports mom” serving on Manhattan’s largest school board.
Maron most notably recalls being removed at one point for adamantly challenging First Amendment-reneging “speech codes.” She was subsequently reinstated by an Obama-appointed federal judge in Brooklyn the very same day the chancellor who originally ousted her had his home FBI-raided in a larger corruption investigation.
This is not the only vindication Maron seeks, though. Not by a long shot.
“Alvin Bragg says ‘the best way to address the root drivers of crime and violence is to connect people with services they need to lead healthy and stable lives including housing, healthcare and job opportunities,’ Maron said.
As a former defense attorney, Maron indicated she preaches and practices compassion and empathy, and fully understands that people make mistakes. She has professionally crossed paths with many clients that “your heart just breaks for.”
At the same time, she believes the District Attorney of a once-great city ravaged by crime should be a prosecutor, not a social worker.
“You have to notice he’s very careful to never call a criminal a criminal,” Maron commented on Bragg’s proposal to tailor targeted interventions to ‘opportunists’ who repeatedly engage in commercial theft. “He really can't call a spade a spade.”
Maron notes that halfway through Bragg’s term in 2022, shoplifting incidents in New York had increased by 68%, compared to 2019.
She also balks at Bragg’s proposal to combat more severe criminal activity, such as gun violence, by introducing aggravated weapon-wielders to “creative art as a means to heal.”
“Enhance and beautify public spaces, planting a garden in an empty lot, painting a mural encouraging peace… learning performance skills in a safe space… these are not solutions that are going to make New York safe.”
Adds Maron: "The DA of Manhattan should be laser-focused on making Manhattan safe again."
“And that is what I will do," Maron promises. "I will work hand in hand with law enforcement to protect our citizens. And this includes advocating for a change in the current bail reform laws that enable repeat offenders to commit more crimes.
"Everyone in this room can remember a New York that was safer. It wasn’t that long ago. We just have to vote our way there.”