Bail reformers back Corbett while he blasts bail reform

 Malverne Mayor Keith Corbett, who is seeking the Democratic nomination to Congress, scheduled a news conference this morning to "call upon the federal government to stop funding to the state of New York until the bail reform laws are changed."

His notice says, "Crime is on the rise in New York City and if the Bail Reform laws are not changed it will infiltrate Nassau County and harm our suburban community."

Bail reform is the catch-all phrase for a series of changes to the state's criminal justice law made by the new Progressive Democratic Albany majority in 2019 that eliminated cash bail for all but the most violent offenders; they denied judge's discretion to determine whether an accused lawbreaker is a danger to the community; they directed that names and addresses of victims and witnesses be released upon request to the alleged offender, who even could ask the court for permission to tour the home of the victim if the criminal act occurred there.

Defenders said they wanted to prevent poor suspects who could not afford bail from languishing in jail while the rich go free. Critics say the changes have put repeat offenders back onto the street to commit new offenses.

Bail reform has been widely blamed for rising crime in the the city and the state.

Democrats recently tweaked the the laws but poll after poll show that voters remain very angry; Crime was listed as the top concern for voters statewide in a Siena Poll released Monday.

Despite today's news conference alert blasting bail reform, Corbett has accepted the endorsement of two Nassau Democratic State Senators who voted with progressives in Albany to enact bail reform: State Sen. Kevin Thomas of Levittown and Sen. John Brooks of Seaford.

 Corbett's notice says "New Yorkers are fed up with the lack of action in our state government and Mayor Corbett will call upon the federal government to intervene."

Of course, he could also ask Thomas and Brooks to step up to the plate.

 Meanwhile, people are asking if it was appropriate for Corbett to use village government stationary to promote a political press conference. See memo received from two sources today:

                                          

Corbett is one of six Democrats seeking the nomination to the 4th District Congressional seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-Garden City). 

They are former Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen, Nassau Legis. Siela Bynoe of Westbury and Carrie Solages of Lawrence, Insurance broker Kevin Shakil of Westbury, and Dr. Musibul Huq, whose headquarters are in Elmont.

Nassau and state Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs has indicated that he likes Corbett and Bynoe in the race while publicly doubting whether Gillen can will.

Two party Democrats, former Hempstead Town Supervisor candidate Jason Abelove and Freeport village attorney Howard Coulton, filed objections to Gillen's nominating petitions but the county elections board ruled that Gillen had collected sufficient valid signatures to qualify for the ballot.

The petition fight was expected to continue next week in Supreme Court between legal heavyweights: Attorney Howard Fensterman's firm on behalf of Gillen and Attorney Steve Schesinger's firm representing Gillen's challengers.

But the state Court of Appeals yesterday threw the petitioning process into turmoil by rejecting newly drawn boundaries for New York's Congressional districts.