Solutions for the crime wave in New York with Sean Hayes? Auto thefts, which have been on the upswing for months, continues to remain a problem, with 666 stolen vehicles reported in March 2021. That’s a 35.% jump from the 493 incidents recorded at the same time a year ago. Just two of the seven major crime categories decreased in March 2021: robberies, which were down 11.8% year-over-year; and burglaries, which dropped 8.5%. Meanwhile, crime in the city’s transit system was also down 32.6% year-over-year, with 118 incidents reported — a decrease from the 175 tallied in March 2020. The 99 shootings in March 2021 also represented a significant uptick in gun violence compared to February 2021, when 77 shootings were recorded. There were also 77 shootings during January of this year.

According to a report released by the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice in January, between 95% and 97% of the tens of thousands of New Yorkers who were arrested and charged with a crime in 2020 were not rearrested for another crime while awaiting their case. Of the group who were rearrested after being released without bail, less than 1% were charged with a violent felony. Of the roughly 9,000 New Yorkers awaiting trial on a violent felony charge in September of 2020, 96% were not rearrested on any charge, and 99% were not arrested for another violent felony, according to the report. These figures have remained steady before and after bail reform was passed. “There isn’t a viable, reliable connection between, these folks are being released pretrial, and these are the same folks who are going out picking up guns and committing shootings and other serious crimes,” said Krystal Rodriguez, the deputy director of jail reform at the Center for Court Innovation. If anything, New York’s judges increased the number of cases in which they set bail in the latter half of 2020, a rise that a Center for Court Innovation study attributes in part to “unsupported claims from public officials, amplified in the media, that bail reform was a primary factor in New York City’s spike in shootings and murders in 2020.”

Increase in pre-trial diversion programs that prohibit prosecution if, for example, one attends art classes. These programs were, even, offered to some gun offenders. These programs have increased the number offenders on our streets with the understanding by the offenders that in many cases an offender shall merely get a slap on the wrist. Starting on January 1, 2020 New York State supported by the New York City Council and Mayor de Blasio implemented Bail and Discovery reform. This Bail and Discovery Reform legislation led to an increase in the number of suspects out on bail and an expedited discovery process that is leading to the dropping of cases against suspects. See additional info at Crime Reduction & Safe Streets Program New York 2021.

Detractors are Wrong, the Pandemic Did not Lead to the Increase in Crime: The argument that the pandemic caused the increase in crime is tragically flawed if we consider the matter logically and via statistics. The detractors note that poor economic conditions and a shift in routine activities led to the 2020 Crime Wave. The arguments are tragically flawed and are being used as a mere red herring by these detractors.

Sean Hayes a 47-year old NY Attorney; Head of an International Law Firm; former lawyer working in China, Korea & Southeast Asia; former Professor, CEO, Dean of a UN University and Journalist fears that our City shall turn to the Dark Days of the 80s and early 90s, because of reactionary and radicalized politics in New York and the lack of experience, pragmatism, and problem-solving skills of our politicians. Sean is running in the Democratic Primary for City Council in District 1. Sean’s step into politics, unlike many other candidates, is not for his personal gain. Sean shall lose a great deal for his firm if elected, but shall gain the blessing of knowing that he is giving back to a community that he loves and believes needs the help of experienced professional leaders. Discover extra details at https://www.seanhayes4nyc.com/.