On MSNBC, of all places, Gov. Kathy Hochul was criticized for the state’s out-of-control crime spike, and one of the network’s ultra-liberal anchors even warned her, “We don’t feel safe.”
“Here’s the problem. We don’t feel safe, you might be working closely with Mayor Adams, you may have spent a whole lot of money but I walk into my pharmacy and everything is on lockdown because of shoplifters,” said reporter Stephanie Ruhle during her conversation with Hochul on her show “The 11th Hour.”
“I’m not going in the subway. people don’t feel safe in this town. So, you may have done these things. But right now, we’re not feeling good. We’re worried we could be San Francisco?”
Crime in New York City has spiked across the board since Hochul became governor last year, and critics say the surge is fueled by repeat offenders sprung time and again because of the state’s 2019 bail reform law.
The most heinous crimes, including homicides and shootings, were down from the previous year, and Hochul swiftly intervened, “We’ll never be San Francisco,” adding that she was taking action to address rises elsewhere.
But Ruhle seemed unconvinced.
“It doesn’t matter what’s happening in other cities or other states.The reason people don’t feel safe in New York, is why they’re starting to say, can Kathy Hochul be the right governor, right? It doesn’t really matter what’s happening in Pennsylvania or San Francisco, you need to get New Yorkers’ votes. And safety is a top issue for us.”
Hochul, who was once predicted to win easily, is now neck-and-neck with Long Island GOP Rep. Lee Zeldin.
Zeldin has been under attack from Hochul because of his anti-abortion views and his friendship with former President Trump, who is still not very well liked in the Empire State. She also cautioned that if Trump were found guilty of state crimes, Zeldin, as governor, would have the authority to pardon him.