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Debate on criminal justice reforms between Paladino and district attorneys
7:07:49
ยท
165 sec
Council Member Paladino expresses her opposition to various criminal justice reforms, including discovery laws and bail reform. This leads to a brief exchange with district attorneys who clarify their position on these reforms.
- Paladino advocates for eliminating discovery laws, cashless bail, and bail reform
- DA Michael McMahon clarifies that DAs are not seeking to get rid of discovery laws entirely
- The DAs express a desire for tweaks to the existing laws rather than complete repeal
- This exchange highlights differing perspectives on criminal justice reform between Paladino and the DAs
Vickie Paladino
7:07:49
And I I just wanna say, you know, this catch and release.
7:07:53
Okay?
7:07:54
We've seen very bad repercussions from this catch and release program.
7:08:00
And especially when it comes to the Island Of Manhattan and the DA in Manhattan.
7:08:06
And, Lincoln Ressler, my colleague, he made it a little political here today, and I really didn't wanna take that route.
7:08:15
But you know what?
7:08:16
It is what it is and, the justice system, sadly, seems to have come under a little bit of, the, political realm.
7:08:25
You guys are not political.
7:08:28
You guys are here to do your job.
7:08:31
And you know what?
7:08:32
The city owes it to you and the state owes it to you so that you could do your job.
7:08:37
And it's it's it's frustrating as Bob said that you're sitting here before us in an empty room at 05:00 in the afternoon with nobody else here to listen to the the pittance that you need from the city in order to get you guys going.
7:08:52
Your ADAs, you you need so much and yet you need so little.
7:08:56
And you know what, DA Katz, I wanna see you get that building because I bid to Queens Boulevard.
7:09:03
And let me tell you something, that's no party.
7:09:06
Alright?
7:09:06
Between the parking and you gotta go here for that and that for that.
7:09:10
It's incredible.
7:09:11
But the work that comes out of Queens, kudos to you.
7:09:14
And thank you for everything you do for us, my office, all of us here in Queens.
7:09:20
We thank you.
7:09:21
And I know how hard you the rest of you work.
7:09:24
And I have to say thank you.
7:09:26
Thank you.
7:09:27
Thank you.
7:09:27
I just hope we can make your life just a little bit easier.
Melinda Katz
7:09:30
I appreciate that, and I'm gonna yield to my colleagues from Staten Island for
Michael McMahon
7:09:34
Thank you, d a Katz, and and, thank you, councilwoman.
7:09:36
And I'm just gonna apply for, citizenship in Queens because it sounds like everything is together there, and I admire you guys having having sat on that side.
7:09:46
I appreciate you being here and delving into this testimony with us.
7:09:51
It with due with due deference and respect, I thank you for your remarks.
7:09:54
But if I could just state for the record, we are not looking to get rid of the discovery law.
Vickie Paladino
7:09:59
No.
7:09:59
I know you're not.
7:10:00
I am.
Michael McMahon
7:10:00
Oh, you are.
Vickie Paladino
7:10:01
Okay.
7:10:01
You're not.
Melinda Katz
7:10:03
I know you're off.
Unknown
7:10:03
I can't
Vickie Paladino
7:10:04
understand where you sit.
7:10:05
It's okay.
Michael McMahon
7:10:06
We're just trying
Vickie Paladino
7:10:06
I want the discovery laws gone.
Diana Ayala
7:10:08
Okay.
Vickie Paladino
7:10:09
Because I want a cashless bail gone.
7:10:11
Okay.
7:10:12
I want bail reform gone.
7:10:14
But we're not gonna get political here, all of
Michael McMahon
7:10:15
No.
7:10:16
No.
7:10:16
No.
7:10:16
This is substance, but just so you know, our message, think, is
Vickie Paladino
7:10:19
Okay.
Michael McMahon
7:10:19
The law has has good intentions.
7:10:22
It just needs to be tweaked a little bit, and it would it would make everybody a lot be more just and more fair and safer.
Vickie Paladino
7:10:28
I agree.
7:10:28
And you know what?
Michael McMahon
7:10:29
And you're welcome to Staten Island anytime.
Vickie Paladino
7:10:31
Oh, I try to go, but you're too far away.
Melinda Katz
7:10:33
Yes.
Vickie Paladino
7:10:33
You know, we all we all could meet in the middle here, and I think in our years in government thus far, for me it's only four.