Bruce Blakeman takes aim at NY's justice system: 'A revolving door of criminality'

NEW YORK CITY - As violent crimes and repeat offenses continue to spark outrage across New York, Nassau County Executive and Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman is drawing a hard line. 

What we know:

In a recent interview with FOX 5' Lisa Evers, Blakeman sharply criticized the state's current criminal justice policies, taking direct aim at New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and outlining his plan to overhaul the system if elected.

The conversation centered on a growing frustration among New Yorkers and law enforcement: violent offenders repeatedly cycling through the justice system and back onto the streets.

‘Pro-criminal’ policies

What they're saying:

When assessing the current administration's handling of public safety, Blakeman labeled Hochul the "most pro-criminal governor in the United States."

He pointed to a specific slate of legislative and executive decisions that he argues have fostered an atmosphere of criminality:

• Cashless bail: Described by Blakeman as a "revolving door," which has led to a spike in both violent crimes and quality-of-life offenses.
• Parole board leniency: He criticized the governor's handpicked parole board for releasing "hardened criminals," including violent felons and cop killers.
• The HALT Act and non-cooperation: Blakeman cited the restriction on solitary confinement and the state's lack of cooperation with federal agents as additional catalysts for rising crime.

"When I talk to people in other states and explain to them that to buy a tube of toothpaste at your CVS or Walgreens that you got to ring a buzzer... they don't believe it," Blakeman said, highlighting the everyday impact of retail theft.

Unintended consequences of "Raise the Age"

Local perspective:

A major focal point of the interview was New York's "Raise the Age" legislation, initially designed to protect youth from the adult penal system and offer them supportive services. However, Blakeman noted that the law has created a dangerous loophole.

Gangs are recruiting teenagers because they don't commit the crimes anymore; they hire these teenagers to commit the crimes," Blakeman explained. "So now we've got teenagers involved in gang activity, committing adult crimes, no consequences, and the gang leaders are profiting from this."

Rehabilitation on a "Parallel Track"

Dig deeper:

While pushing for stricter enforcement, Blakeman acknowledged that breaking the cycle of recidivism requires more than just jail time. He advocated for a dual-track approach: enforcing strict accountability while offering tangible career training for inmates.

He pointed to a program he initiated in Nassau County that helps former inmates obtain Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDL). 

"If they stay sober, if they stay out of trouble, we train them," he said. "We want them to become productive members of society so they don't keep repeating mistakes. But you have to work on parallel tracks. You have to have those programs, but at the same time, you got to be tough on crime."

Leveraging the Budget for Change

Big picture view:

A critical hurdle for any Republican governor in New York is the Democratic supermajority in the state legislature. When asked how he could effectively change the laws with the legislature opposed to his moves, Blakeman pointed to the power of the purse.

"The governor has a tremendous amount of leverage, especially through the budget process," Blakeman stated. He outlined a strategy of hardline negotiation: withholding funding for programs prioritized by Democrats until they agree to his criminal justice reforms.

"They're not going to get that funding from me unless they give me what I want," Blakeman warned, "and that's safer communities, investing in our police, making sure that we change the laws that are making it easier for criminals to commit crimes."

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