At the February 6, 2022 monthly meeting of NYCD16-Indivisible, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins pushed back on critics of the criminal justice, police and bail reforms passed by the democratic majorities in Albany two years ago, and categorized the loud calls for changes to bail reform as a “Republican nationally coordinated campaign of fear.” Sen. Stewart-Cousins also condemned Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano’s remarks about Congressman Jamaal Bowman and that he should be “arrested” for voting against the bipartisan infrastructure bill, and added that Spano was already “running for Congress” and “making calls to donors.”
This was Stewart-Cousins at her best, ready to stand up to the attacks made against her leadership and willing to fight to keep the criminal justice and bail reforms made, and explain them to the voters. “It’s very alarming when we find ourselves in a situation when we are echoing the talking points of republicans and finding us at a loss for a rebuttal. It’s clear to me-listen to this-it is very clear to me that this is a republican national coordinated campaign of fear. What happened after George Floyd was the people around the world understood the importance of reforming the police and criminal justice system. People understood we can have justice and maintain peace in our community without brutality.”
Stewart-Cousins used the interview as a call to action for democrats and progressives to stand up to what she called untrue claims from republicans that blame increases in crime, and gun violence, not only in New York but across the country, on the criminal justice reforms passed in NY.
“Bail reform was done before the George Floyd murder and police reform happened after. They were pissed off that it happened at all, and now we have this backlash and a republican national campaign of fear”
“The are linking crime to bail reform. Crime is going up in some places but not in Westchester, according to the County Executive. Gun violence is a national issue that is not linked at all to bail reform. But the national republians are saying don’t look at the pandemic and the proliferation of guns. Let’s look at progressive democrats who wanted to change the criminal justice system. They want to take the focus off guns and stoke fear and create a republican backlash. And democrats in NY State and nationally are in danger of losing their majorities if we don’t respond head on to this effort.”
“They want to link the fear with democrats being in charge. Our reforms on bail was about misdemeanors and non-violent felonies. Shooting people is still a bailable offense, but no matter what the crime is they blame bail reform,” said Stewart-Cousins, who contrasted two criminal cases that most New Yorkers know about. Kalief Browder and Kyle Rittenhouse.
“Kalief Browder was held in jail for three years at Rikers Island because he was accused of stealing a backpack and didn’t have money (for bail). He ultimately killed himself. We will not criminalize poverty for non-violent misdemeanor offenses. Kyle Rittenhouse shot at three people and killed two people and he was out on bail. “
“It is clear that the police are not happy, but if we can’t beat back this effort, and allow people who are accused of non-violent offenses and misdemeanors to keep their jobs and keep their homes and keep their families while they await their court date, then we won’t be able to start having other conversations, if we can’t step up now.”
“The reality is that black and brown kids have been suspended from school and put on a pipeline to prison over the years. Black people are disproportionally overcharged and oversentenced. We can’t have justice and equality without changes in the system,” said Stewart-Cousins.
“I will sit down with any clear minded person to help make things better, but I will not respond to the republican coordinated campaign that refuses to understand the impact of the pandemic and guns, and refuses to pass a voting rights act, and is taking back women’s rights. We are not the problem, they are supressing our votes and it has to stop.”
“Do not be fooled by this coordinated republican campaign of fear. Crime is up nationally, not because of bail reform in New York. They refuse to recognize the proliferation of guns.
“You know who the vigilanites are (in the police department) now. Your mad that we did the 50a reform that put police records out there, but if they would weed out there own bad apples, i wouldn’t have to do it. But there is no willingness to do it. They don’t want to change it from inside, and they are mad when its changed from the outside,” said Stewart-Cousins.
“I don’t think there is any kind of national democratic strategy, but there are people like me who have a national voice. I will try to hammer the message. It needs to be crystalized on a grass roots level. We have to be clear that this is a national republican coordinated effort of fear, and they want to get us out of office.
“Joe Biden hasn’t been able to figure out his message. We (democrats) are all over the place. If we don’t correct this nothing else is going to happen. We are the only people who are going to destroy our ability to lead. Push back hard, because right now we could get wiped out nationallly and in terms of the senate, here in New York,” said Stewart-Cousins.
