New York Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, a Democrat from the Bronx, initially resisted the idea of stiffening penalties for assaults on retail workers, despite calls for tougher measures to combat rising violent crime. However, he eventually agreed to include a provision in the state budget to increase criminal penalties for individuals who attack retail workers following pressure from Governor Kathy Hochul. Heastie acknowledged the public’s desire for stronger penalties but maintained that he believes deterrence is key rather than merely reacting to crime after it occurs.
As violent crime rates continue to climb, Heastie and other lawmakers are under increasing pressure to address the issue. Despite being a driving force behind changes to the state’s bail laws in 2019, Heastie had previously stated that changes to criminal penalties were not up for discussion during budget talks. However, with the inclusion of a provision to increase penalties for assaulting retail workers in the budget, it appears that Heastie has softened his stance on the issue.
Heastie remains firm in his belief that alone, increasing criminal penalties is not enough to deter crime. He emphasized the importance of preventing crime from happening in the first place rather than focusing solely on reacting after the fact. Additionally, he pointed to other measures included in the package, such as a new tax credit to help small retailers upgrade security equipment, as ways to assist shop owners in dealing with the surge in thefts.
The retail theft package, which is expected to be part of the state budget, includes several components aimed at combating organized retail crime. These components include increased penalties for assaulting retail workers, a tax credit to help small retailers upgrade security technology, the ability for authorities to aggregate stolen goods from different stores for more substantial charges, and $40 million in funding to aid state police and district attorneys in targeting organized retail theft rings.
Governor Hochul praised the inclusion of increased penalties for assaulting retail workers in the budget, highlighting that it was a priority for her. Retail workers had criticized Heastie for his previous reluctance to address the issue of assaults on retail employees. Republican lawmakers seized on the issue to hold press conferences and draw attention to Heastie’s perceived inaction on crime in recent weeks.
Despite Heastie’s initial resistance to the idea of stiffening penalties for assaults on retail workers, the inclusion of such a provision in the state budget signals a shift in his stance on the issue. As policymakers grapple with rising violent crime rates, the measures included in the retail theft package aim to address the problem of organized retail crime while also providing support to small retailers. Ultimately, the goal is to strike a balance between deterrence and reaction to crime in order to create a safer environment for both workers and customers.
