Store owners call on Albany lawmakers to combat shoplifting

One of the most contentious issues in this year’s budget is public safety. Gov. Kathy Hochul wants further revisions to the bail reform law, but Democrats in the legislature are resisting.

And retail shop owners want some attention as well — they held a rally in Albany to call for a crackdown on shoplifting.

Shop owners traveled to Albany on Tuesday to ask for changes to the bail laws and new legislation that would punish people who assault store workers.

“This is new legislation. This is what we did for utility workers a couple of years ago,” Democratic state Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton of Staten Island said. “This would create a Class D felony, which will make it bail eligible. But honestly the intent is worker safety.”

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