Gov. Hochul Acknowledges ‘We Still Have a Problem’ When Pressed on New York’s Crime Crisis

Incumbent Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul participates in a debate against Republican candidate for New York Governor Lee Zeldin hosted by Spectrum News NY1, at Pace University in New York on Oct. 25, 2022. Mary Altaffer/Pool via AP

New York’s Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, who is fighting a heated election battle against Republican challenger Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.), on Nov. 4 accused Zeldin of offering “platitudes” rather than real solutions to the crime crisis in the state, as the governor faces mounting criticism over her stance on the issue.

During an interview on “CNN This Morning,” host Don Lemon asked the governor: “I’ve been covering and living in New York for a long time. It’s surprising that the race is this close. Why is this race so close, Governor? Are you concerned?”

“The issue of crime has really been front and center for voters ... Violent crime is up 7.8 percent in the state,” he added. “What are Democrats not getting about crime? Why are Republicans winning on this whole crime issue?” Lemon continued.

Hochul replied: “We still have a problem, I understand that, but let’s talk about real answers and not just give everybody all these platitudes.”

The governor dismissed the tough-on-crime stance of her Republican opponents as inconsistent and uncomprehending of crime statistics that, she believes, are more nuanced than made out to be.

“If they’re going to say they’re tough on crime but soft on guns, that doesn’t add up, and I want voters to know that,” Hochul said. “Violent crime is up, but if we look at murders and shootings, they’re down about 30 percent,” she added.

For his part, Zeldin has pledged to declare a crime emergency on his first day in office, and to use such emergency powers to take tough measures including suspension of the state’s bail reform law.

Polls show that crime is a top concern for many voters in New York City and throughout the state.

Concern has risen among Hochul supporters with reports of a tightening race, with a RealClearPolitics polling average showing Hochul with a 6.2-point lead. It is unusual for a race to be so competitive in a state considered “deep blue” territory, whose electoral votes have gone to the Democrat candidate in the past nine presidential elections, often by huge margins.

Hochul has come under heavy criticism for stating, in her Oct. 25 debate with Zeldin, “I don’t know why that’s so important to you,” referring to Zeldin’s repeated raising of the crime issue. The Zeldin campaign was quick to seize on this sound byte as further evidence of allegedly how out-of-touch with ordinary voters’ concerns Hochul has been.

“NYers are getting beaten, slashed, stabbed, and pushed in front of subway cars every day, yet @KathyHochul still can’t address crime in NY,” Zeldin said in a tweet.

Hochul’s appearance fell on the day after her animated talk on the campus of Barnard College in Manhattan’s Morningside Heights, where she appeared onstage with such leading figures in her party as state Attorney General Letitia James, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Vice President Kamala Harris. Both appearances were intended to consolidate her support and galvanize Democrat voters, and women voters especially, amid the tightening race for governor.

A Political Ploy

In the view of Michael Alcazar, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a retired New York Police Department detective, Hochul’s belated acknowledgment of the crisis is a sign that she knows it is politically unwise to act as she has done in the past.

“It’s interesting to see that Hochul is now visiting the five boroughs, and specifically the subway system. I believe this is because the race is closer than she anticipated, and she’s no longer coasting to victory,” said Alcazar.

But Hochul does not want to do a full about-turn in her public comments about crime, because to do so would be tantamount to an admission that things have gotten much worse on her watch as governor, Alcazar posited.

“Obviously she’s going to deny it, because the rising crime rate is occurring under her administration. She’s like a broken record in her comments on getting guns off the streets, which is absolutely a good thing but it seems to be her go-to response whenever someone brings up crime in New York City,” he said.

“The bottom line is that she can’t speak to [the issue of] crime in New York City because the administration has failed the citizens of New York,” Alcazar added.

The Epoch Times has reached out to Hochul’s office for comment.