Soft-on-crime state Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie of the Bronx district has been criticized as major crimes have surged by 27% in the precinct that covers his neighborhood. Crime statistics show increases in rape, felony assault, robbery, grand larceny, and auto larceny. Many, including Bronx activist Grace Marrero, blame Heastie’s support of bail reform for the rising crime rates in the area.
Heastie played a leading role in advocating for the state’s controversial 2019 criminal justice reforms that eliminated cash bail for most misdemeanor and non-violent felony charges. He further incited outrage by opposing Governor Kathy Hochul’s plan to increase penalties for retail thieves, arguing that higher penalties do not deter crime. Many business owners, including those in Heastie’s neighborhood, are frustrated with his stance on violent shoplifters.
Bronx activist Bernard Smith, who founded Stop the Violence after losing family members to gun violence, expressed disappointment in Heastie’s approach to crime. He shared his own experience of being sentenced to 90 days for shoplifting 40 years ago and learning from his mistake. Smith criticized the decline in seniors being out in the community due to rising fear of crime, which Heastie seems to have overlooked even after a murder occurred outside his office in 2023.
In the murder case outside Heastie’s office, a 20-year-old man was shot during a drive-by shooting and later died from his injuries. Two suspects were arrested in connection to the shooting, but Heastie was criticized for being absent during the incident. Despite the rising crime rates in his district, Heastie has not shown a willingness to reconsider his position on criminal justice reforms such as bail reform and the “Raise the Age” law.
Both Heastie and state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins have resisted Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposals to give judges more discretion over bail and roll back certain requirements. Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD sergeant and adjunct professor, noted that while crime rates have been decreasing in most New York City precincts, Heastie’s district is experiencing a surge in crime. Activists like Smith emphasize the need for more proactive measures beyond photo ops to address crime in the community and ensure safety for all residents. The concerns regarding Heastie’s policies align with the overall sentiment among constituents that his approach to crime prevention is inadequate and fails to address the root causes of criminal activity in the area.
