No one’s life, liberty or property are safe, they say, while the Legislature is in session. Good thing state lawmakers wrap up their session this week.
Alas, they can do much harm in the remaining days. Consider bills still on the table that:
- Make it easier for yet more incarcerated people to be eligible for parole. This one is on course to pass, but it will only worsen public safety.
- Automatically seal criminal records — including violent and other serious offenses — after a period of time. The Clean Slate Act is yet another blow to public safety but seems set to pass.
- Expand eligibility for wrongful-death lawsuits. It’s a lawyer’s dream, though it will undermine access to health care and drive up costs. It, too, seems likely to pass.
- Spread a version of the city’s dysfunctional rent control statewide, fueling housing shortages and rotting buildings everywhere. At this point, this bill seems likely to fail, but you never know!
There are also bills that should pass but likely won’t. Such as:
- Legislation to replace the lapsed tax incentive for new affordable housing in the city. The lack of a replacement threatens development of badly needed housing for low- and middle-income tenants, but the idea now seems dead.
- A bill to update the state’s outdated liquor laws and allow wine sales in groceries. New Yorkers would love that, but lawmakers are caving to the liquor-store industry, which fears competition.
Then there’s the damage lawmakers have already done.
Like pass a reckless $229 billion spending plan that fails to control spending or address the high taxes and quality-of-life concerns that have fueled stunning Empire State out-migration.
Bottom line: Radicals have seized control of the Legislature, and Gov. Kathy Hochul is unwilling or just too weak to keep them in check.
The public pays the price.
Yes, lawmakers will be gone next week, but they’ll be back in January.
The only way for New Yorkers to change the sad trend is to change lawmakers.