“Gov. Hochul’s selection of the ‘defund-the-police’ supporter Brian Benjamin as her lieutenant governor shows us that our worst fears are becoming a reality: this governor has no intention of putting the people of New York before the desires of radical New York City socialists. During a time when violent crime is rising throughout the state, what we need is to restore judicial discretion by ending bail reform and empower our locally elected judges to keep dangerous criminals off our streets. Knowing that our state’s second-highest ranking public official does not support our police officers should deeply concern us all, and it’s ironic that he holds these beliefs knowing he will certainly receive a great degree of police protection and security if sworn in as lieutenant governor.”