Brian Mayer on WNYC, and yes, we are in our 30 issues and 30 days election series.

Let everyone else obsess on the horse race.

We continue to center the many issues in the New York

City, mayoral, and New Jersey gubernatorial races. And after our debate crawl in the previous

segment for New Jersey, today it's issue number 14 in 30 issues, criminal justice reform as an

issue in the New York City mayoral race.

Back in 2019, remember it was then Governor Andrew Cuomo who signed the bail reform law,

a priority for progressives at the time. The law stopped many prisoners from being held on bail.

It was those who had committed most misdemeanors and

nonviolent offenses, including drug charges, shoplifting, and misdemeanor assaults. Since then,

the law has faced sharp criticism with some lawmakers saying it has led to an increase in crime

and rising recidivism rates. And it has been changed

several times, as some of you know, especially to give judges more discretion in deciding when

people can or should be kept in jail before a trial. Now, in his campaign for mayor, Cuomo says

New Yorkers feel unsettled. They feel unsafe. He certainly doesn't

remind people of the fact that he signed that law, and he's calling for the hiring of more police

officers. Assemblyman Zeranamam Dani wants the NYPD to focus on major crimes, as he frames it, while creating a new Department

of Community Safety to take over certain police responsibilities that they have now.

So in our 30-issue series, we've been addressing some issues with explainers and some with

debates.

This will be more on the debate side and exchange of views with our two guests, Michael

Tunis, Republican Assembly member representing District 64, including South Brooklyn and the

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