I wrote last week about the issues I had both with the state budget being late and what was supposedly being discussed behind closed doors. Something that’s come to light since negotiations commenced is that there is apparently one reason in particular why the budget conversation has stalled – bail reform.

Leadership in the Assembly and Senate have both said since beginning discussions on the budget nearly all the time taken up has been about bail reform. This is pushed by the governor, who is likely finally responding to the concerns of New Yorkers statewide that want to see crime punished adequately, instead of allowing repeat offenders the chance to get away scot-free as they have been doing. That leaves us with the understanding that if the governor wants changes to the bail law, the holdup is the supermajority of Majority lawmakers in the Assembly and Senate.

Most of New York, nearly all of New York, is left in the dark as these behind-the-scenes meetings on important budget topics are conducted. With the revelation that the holdup is almost entirely bail related, we learn who the problem people are in our government; they are the ones who continue to allow lawlessness and dangerousness to run rampant in our state. The issue of bail reform has long been raised by both individuals and organizations, and the voters told New York loud and clear last November they are tired of seeing the countless news stories of our judicial system letting people off the hook because of this ridiculous regulation.

This is my call to my Majority colleagues: acknowledge the need for further pushback on crime and get to work on it. Our state is struggling under the weight of this crime wave that continues to rise, and it falls on legislators and leadership, especially those with unilateral power, to serve the wishes of the people. And the people have told us time and again that we need to crack down on crime. I am happy to work with any legislator across this state to make it happen. I hope the same can be said for my colleagues across the aisle.