NY bail law fight emblematic of Democrats’ debate on crime

By MICHELLE L. PRICE
Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — A spike in violence during the COVID-19 pandemic has Democrats eager to show they’re tough on crime ahead of this year’s midterm elections. But the party is struggling to find a common message with progressives pushing for police reform and moderates focusing on rising crime rates. In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s plan to toughen the state’s bail laws is being met with criticism from all sides. Reform advocates say the system should be left alone while police leaders and even fellow Democrats say the proposal doesn’t go far enough to roll back what they consider soft treatment of criminals.