NYPD Officer (Unsplash)
April 27, 2021 Op-ed By John J. Ciafone
Crime is out of control in the City and in our neighborhoods.
Every day citizens are being victimized by the criminal element which is unabashed in committing violence. There is no more safety, whether at home, on the street or in the subways. We have succumbed to the criminal element.
We have our elected officials to thank for extreme bail reform laws which have placed violent and dangerous criminals on the streets. We have too many emotionally disturbed people roaming our streets because psychiatric wards and departments are being closed. For instance, an individual was able to be arrested three times and released, all within 24 hours.
Astoria has recently witnessed over five gun shootings with three deaths. One innocent, a mother of two, was walking home from Walgreens and was killed by a random bullet.
This is outrightly unacceptable! Our government, at a minimum, needs to provide safety to everyone in our community. Our government is failing to protect us while extending rights and privileges to criminals, whilst punishing innocent victims.
It all starts with the radical philosophy that is shared among politicians and people running for office— that the police are the enemy of society. They recklessly state that the police are inherently racist even though there has never been so much diversity in the rank and file of the NYPD.
They falsely state that the police are responsible for the oppression of African Americans and other minorities. These dangerous beliefs have resulted in unwarranted attacks against police with devastating results of looting in communities, in turn, hurting small businesses.
Our communities are only as good as the safety felt by each and every individual. Yet, these radicals want to de-fund the police and even eliminate the police altogether so that violent gangs and criminals will run our neighborhoods.
We can not demonize the police but need to support their mission in deterring and rooting out crime. The radical philosophy calls for the elimination of all jails. Where would we put our criminals—in hotels?
John J. Ciafone (Photo: QueensPost)
The radical agenda has extended into our schools. They want to jeopardize the safety of our children by eliminating school safety officers who protect our children.
Eliminating school safety officers supervised by the NYPD will result in increased crime and gun violence in schools and cause gangs to prey on our children. Our future is dependent upon our children and we can’t afford to endanger them.
Why do these radicals use a broad brush to attack the police? While no doubt, there are bad police officers. There are also bad lawyers, doctors, judges, teachers and even politicians. So, should we eliminate all of these professions?
The hypocrisy is further buttressed by the City Council that requires police checkpoints and presence to protect the chamber. Comically, then we call for a war on guns but let out the gun violators on the streets through broken bail reform laws.
We cannot have a cookie cutter approach to the bail system. We must make judges accountable for releasing criminals. They should have the discretion, otherwise there is no need for criminal judges.
Most importantly, we can’t lose our communities to crime and the radical element that supports anarchy and bedlam. We can NOT allow gangs and criminals to run our streets, schools and neighborhoods.
John J Ciafone is a candidate for NYC Council District 22. He is running as a Democrat in the June 22 primary.
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3 Comments
This guy really loves to use the word “radical”, you’d think he’s a Republican by his tone but would a Republican deceive the public? Hmmmmmm
Climate change…that’s the ticket…climate change is causing all these problems
Thank the Almighty you aren’t in control!
You sound like a Fox News version of PBA head Patrick Lynch.
The NYPD is grossly over-funded, over-armed, and under-trained.
They are useless except for taking reports of past crimes, and writing tickets.
I’ll take my chances with the criminals, thank you.