With Election Day a month away, New York State Republican Chairman Nick Langworthy is running a hardcore law-and-order campaign, attacking the criminal justice changes that have come out of Albany Democrats in the last two years.
Speaking at an event in the Village of Lancaster Thursday, the chairman pushed for election of four law-and-order Republicans, two running against Democratic incumbents, one running for the seat vacated by the retiring Assemblymember Robin Schimminger and another for the Senate seat vacated by Rep. Chris Jacobs.
Langworthy blasted what he says Democratic changes like bail reform have done.
"Safety and security of our friends and neighbors and those voters are everywhere, and they have watched what has unfolded with horror and disgust," he said. "You see what happens in the streets of the City of New York where the riots, the unrest, the looting -- and it happens and it has gutted what is the capital of the world. New York City has been decimated by this change and this revolving door criminal justice policy."
Many of the changes were made through the state budget, rather than through the standard legislative process of public meetings and committee hearings before an open vote. Langworthy said public policy on an issue like this can't be done by burying historic changes inside the state budget without participation by law enforcement, prosecutors or anyone else.
North Tonawanda Alderman Bob Pecoraro is running for Schimminger's Assembly seat.
"These aren't kids stealing packs of gum from convenience stores. These are hardened and violent criminals. They are accused of committing crimes including theft, arson and homicide," he said. "This law grants cashless bail to these criminals, allowing them to back out into the streets and to continually terrorizing our community."
Joshua Mertzlufft is running against veteran Democrat Sean Ryan for the State Senate seat vacated by Chris Jacobs, who is now in Congress. Mertzlufft defended police and the public.
"As we see the leadership and the majority party in Albany back away from our law enforcement officers and pass laws such as bail reform, that is taking and switched the shoe that is on the feet of society and keeping society safe and put it on the shoe of criminals to keep criminals safe," he said.
