State of the State
Gov. Kathy Hochul delivered her first State of the State Address Wednesday, her first since taking over the reins from disgraced former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Though it was just a different voice delivering the same empty promises.
It’s amazing how little substance a 237-page State of the State report can contain. Governor Kathy Hochul’s mercifully abbreviated address said even less — which tells us everything.
Six months after taking office as governor, and seven years after becoming lt. governor, Mrs. Hochul showed today that she has almost no helpful ideas for New York. Her State-of-the-State announcements were simply retreads of old, unaffordable proposals, and double-downs on failed policies implemented by her former partner Governor Andrew Cuomo.
We hoped Governor Hochul would address rising crime rates caused by no-cash-bail. We hoped she’d push back against deluded progressives like Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg who just announced that he’s forgoing prison sentences for crimes including Armed Robbery.
We hoped Mrs. Hochul would apologize for firing healthcare workers in the middle of a pandemic; that she’d speak out about racial preferences for life-saving medical care, and finally address New York’s counterproductive tax burden that’s chased a million and a half former New Yorkers, and jobs, out of state.
Instead, we got more of the same, and more of the same isn’t good enough.
New Yorkers looking for change — actual, hopeful change — learned today that it isn’t coming under this administration. Fortunately for them, this is an election year.
Listen to Congressman and Gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin deliver his rebuttal to Gov. Hochul here.
Manhattan D.A.
Insanity, that’s the only word to describe the actions of new Manhattan District Attorney.
Alvin Bragg released a memo his third day in office, ordering Manhattan prosecutors not to seek prison sentences for a number of crimes and to downgrade charges for robberies, commercial burglaries, trespassing, resisting arrest and more.
Bragg’s memo included the following instructions for prosecutors to reduce charges filed by police officers:
- Armed robbers who use guns or other deadly weapons to stick up stores and other businesses will be prosecuted only for petty larceny, a misdemeanor, provided no victims were seriously injured and there’s no “genuine risk of physical harm” to anyone. Armed robbery, a class B felony, would typically be punishable by a maximum of 25 years in prison, while petty larceny subjects offenders to up to 364 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
- Convicted criminals caught with weapons other than guns will have those felony charges downgraded to misdemeanors unless they’re also charged with more serious offenses. Criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, a class D felony, is punishable by up to 7 years behind bars.
- Burglars who steal from residential storage areas, parts of homes that aren’t “accessible to a living area” and businesses located in mixed-use buildings will be prosecuted for a low-level class D felony that only covers break-ins instead of for more serious crimes. Those more serious crimes, class B and class C felonies, would be punishable by up to 25 and up to 15 years in prison respectively.
- Drug dealers believed to be “acting as a low-level agent of a seller” will be prosecuted only for misdemeanor possession. Also, suspected dealers will only be prosecuted on felony charges if they’re also accused of more serious crimes or are actually caught in the act of selling drugs. That felony would mean facing up to seven years behind bars.
There is a cautionary note here for all New Yorkers who choose not to vote. Sometimes the danger is not simply electing someone who disagrees with you. On occasion the failure to participate can result in an actual unqualified person being elected, one who is a danger to you and your family.
Depending on how he implements his demented view, Governor Hochul possess the authority to remove him from office for malfeasance. I very much doubt she has the strength or leadership ability to take on any NYC Progressive. But I can hope.
54th Annual Conservative Party Political Action Conference Sunday, January 30 and Monday, January 31, 2022 in Albany
Come meet Conservative Party leaders and conservative thinking activists from throughout the state for a two-day series of seminars and panels on issues and political techniques designed to enhance your ability to deal with the key problems facing the state and nation.
Our growing list of speakers includes Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, National Pollster John McLaughlin, Cayuga County District Attorney Brittany Antonacci, Journalist Joe Mahoney, newly elected NYC Councilwoman Inna Vernikov, National Right to Life PAC Chairwoman Karen Cross, Senior Republican Member of the Senate Finance Committee Tom O’Mara, Elections Attorney Joe Burns, and other conservative leaders, legislators, and candidates.
Our gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin as well as other members of our statewide ticket will be in attendance.
Registration begins at Noon on Sunday, January 30, 2022 and the last session will end at approximately 6:00 PM. Monday, January 31, 2022 registration begins at 8:30 AM with Sessions beginning at 9:00 AM, and lunch is scheduled for 12:30 PM. The evening concludes with a festive Cocktail Reception and Dinner beginning at 6:00 PM with invited conservative endorsed legislators. At the dinner, we will present our 2021 Legislator of the Year awards and we release our 2022 Legislative Program.
For more information and event registration click here. Or call 518-356-7882 for more information.
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