Crime reduction & safe streets program in New York by Sean Hayes, candidate, NYC Council District 1? The NYPD says it “continually deploys personnel to areas experiencing an uptick in violence” and uses “precision policing [to allow] investigators to build strong cases against those very few criminals who are the persistent drivers of violence.” Even with the March uptick, the first three months of 2021 have proven successful for the NYPD in turning back serious crime. Between Jan. 1 and March 31 of this year, the department recorded 19,551 total major index crimes, which is down 15.8% from the number tallied in the same period of 2020.

Asked about the increase in gun violence on Monday, Mayor Bill de Blasio argued that state-mandated COVID-19 restrictions are hamstringing the court system, leading to more violent crime. “Remember our court system is not functioning right now and that is making it bad for everyone,” de Blasio told a reporter. “We don’t run the courts. The State of New York needs to bring back our court system.” Lucian Chalfen, a spokesperson for the state court system, pointed out that the court system is running and regularly arraigning defendants after they are arrested. While in-person jury trials resumed three weeks ago, grand juries have been meeting since July. “Virtually, just last week, we commenced more than 1,200 bench trials and hearings (no jury) and conferenced 23,870 matters – both civil and criminal,” Chalfen wrote in an email. “On a daily basis NYC Criminal Court arraigns anywhere from 175-250 defendants, including 3 to a dozen illegal gun possession cases and holds other hearings in lieu of grand jury presentations.” Chalfen added, “The mayor should remember that the way shifting blame works is to be cognizant as to how another branch of government is functioning before doing so.”

We are in a major crime wave and all active duty and retired police, detectives, lieutenants, captains, school safety agents and other members of law enforcement I have spoken to believe that we are going to have a very bloody summer and that the crime wave shall reach to all parts of the City. Starting on January 1, 2020 New York State supported by the New York City Council and Mayor de Blasio implemented Bail and Discovery reform. This Bail and Discovery Reform legislation led to an increase in the number of suspects out on bail and an expedited discovery process that is leading to the dropping of cases against suspects. Read more details at Crime Reduction & Safe Streets Program New York 2021.

We can understand that from the closure of business because of pandemic restrictions we shall see a decrease in armed robberies, since many stores, banks and other businesses with cash were not open. However, the rise in homicides and shootings has no logical connection to the change in situations. What is the argument? Maybe we can understand an increase based on the increase in drug use during the pandemic, but the doubling of shootings is not something that can be just explained away – without argument.

Sean Hayes a 47-year old NY Attorney; Head of an International Law Firm; former lawyer working in China, Korea & Southeast Asia; former Professor, CEO, Dean of a UN University and Journalist fears that our City shall turn to the Dark Days of the 80s and early 90s, because of reactionary and radicalized politics in New York and the lack of experience, pragmatism, and problem-solving skills of our politicians. Sean is running in the Democratic Primary for City Council in District 1. We need experienced and pragmatic leadership in our City Council and not those unwilling or unable to face the problems of our City. We hear too much rhetoric and not enough solutions. Sean is the, only, candidate in District 1 with comprehensive solutions to the problems facing New York City. See even more info at https://www.seanhayes4nyc.com/.