N.Y. Gov. Hochul outlines $45M plan to combat rising retail theft across the state
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Silive.com: N.Y. Gov. Hochul outlines $45M plan to combat rising retail theft across the state
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- With retail thefts spiking across New York, including here on Staten Island, the state’s top elected official has proposed various new measures to crack down on criminals and bolster protections for vulnerable workers.
On Wednesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul outlined her plan to tackle the rising rate of retail theft throughout the state, which was one of the focal points of her 2024 State of the State address last month.
The $45 million efforts and initiatives, which were included in the governor’s proposed Fiscal Year 2025 New York State budget, are similar to those implemented by the state in recent years to cut down on gun violence.
The governor will also push for the passage of legislation introduced by State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-North Shore/South Brooklyn) which would elevate an assault of a retail worker to the class D felony of assault in the second degree.
“This all stemmed from an assault at Bagels, Bread and Butter on Forest Avenue. I walked in one day and saw a gentleman that had a black eye because they were broken into and the guy was assaulted,” the senator said in December.
“These protections we want to put in place would be the same as the ones for cops and firefighters. We recently extended those protections for utility workers and for drivers as well. In my opinion, if you were deemed an essential worker then you should have these protections in place,” she continued.