Today closes out another highly contentious week in Albany as New York City special interests rammed through a package of controversial criminal justice reforms that many would argue are soft on crime and further endanger our community. The six bills were aimed at imposing more lenient sentences on serious criminal offenders, and expand the list by which a judge can sentence an offender to drug treatment instead of prison without the consent of a district attorney. It also mandates additional investigation into law enforcement activities where death occurs, among other provisions.

The hot button issue that passed almost purely as a party-line vote was the infamous ‘Raise the Age’ bill, which would allow some 16- and 17-year-old violent felony offenders to be prosecuted in Family Court, even if they have committed such atrocities like rape or murder. This is absolutely unacceptable. We cannot open the door for violent felons to re-enter society more quickly and absolve their responsibility to know right from wrong. We have myriad rehabilitation programs and the Assembly should be focusing on the funding and effectiveness of these programs before we let these dangerous criminals get off easy.

As the son of a NYPD veteran and strong supporter of the ‘thin blue line,’ I am always alarmed when we pass legislation that ‘cracks down’ on our men and women in blue. These are individuals that put their lives on the line each day for complete strangers, and bills that mandate written policies regarding prohibiting profiling and require special investigations into situations that involve police and death, presuppose guilt and paint our law enforcement in a negative light.

In a more positive note, I, along with my Assembly Minority colleagues, introduced the “Affordable College for All Initiative,” which would raise the household income threshold to qualify for the state’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), increase TAP awards across the board, allow graduate students to access TAP funds and provide a state tax deduction for the principal and interest amount paid on a student loan. This is in stark contrast to the governor’s free college giveaway that does nothing to help recent graduates or those pursing an advanced degree.